Tennis celebrates Roger Federer’s birthday: “From the ball boy to the royal box!” © Photo provided by Tennis World USA
It’s been almost a year now since Roger Federer announced his resignation. It was a Friday evening in September 2022 and it was the first day of the Laver Cup: a double match with his friend and rival Rafael Nadal was the last game played by the Swiss champion after more than twenty years of career.
Yesterday, August 8, 2023, the Swiss Maestro turned 42 and many congratulations reached him on social media, especially on Twitter. Roger celebrated the Wimbledon tournament with these beautiful words: “Our eight-time individual winner turns 42 today.
From training as a ball boy to being a guest in the royal box, it was great to welcome Roger Federer back to Wimbledon this year.” Billie Jean King wrote: “Happy Birthday to 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.” Rafael Nadal’s academy posted: “Happy Birthday Roger Federer!
Have a great day! VAMOS!”
The Tennis World Germany team wishes Roger a happy birthday!
Our eight-time singles champion turns 42 today ð
From Ball Boy training to Royal Box guest, it was so great to welcome @rogerfederer back to #Wimbledon this year ð pic.twitter.com/UoZPFzbhjP — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) August 8, 2023
Happy birthday to 20x Grand Slam champion, Roger Federer!
pic.twitter.com/qyYrj6dnAY — Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) August 8, 2023
Happy birthday @rogerfederer! Have a great day! 𥳠VAMOSâ¼ï¸ pic.twitter.com/xUXw0AEFRp — Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar (@rnadalacademy) August 8, 2023
😠Today is tennis’s birthday.
The elegance. The perRFection.
Today is 42 years old, Roger Federer! 🎂🎠pic.twitter.com/tzHAODsWfM — ESPN Tennis (@ESPNtenis) August 8, 2023
The legend turns 42 today.
⨠Happy birthday Roger Federer â¨
We miss you.
pic.twitter.com/TOLxPlkSHI — We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) August 8, 2023
We’re celebrating Roger Federer’s top 3 tweeners at the US Open on his 42nd birthday! ð pic.twitter.com/cMEATSdJT2 — US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 8, 2023
Roger talks about life after retirement
Present at an event for Uniqlo and interviewed by The New York Times, the 20-time Grand Slam champion returned to the sentiments he experienced after retiring from tennis.
He explained: “Life without the game, life without the fans and life without the show that has ruled my life for 25 years was definitely something I didn’t know how to deal with. For a long time I tried to to come back and give myself another chance to get out of this sport healthy, but that just wasn’t feasible.
But the good and bad thing about Covid and my knee surgery is that everything has slowed down in the last three years so it’s not like I come in after 100 games and then boom, it’s over.
Ultimately, I think I was relieved and happy to be retiring. It ended perfectly at the Laver Cup. I was surrounded by my biggest rivals and my family and friends were there. To me it was like, ‘Okay, I’m fine now.’
Retirement allowed Roger Federer to broaden his horizons. From co-chairing the Met Gala to attending the royal box at Wimbledon, to appearing on stage at the Coldplay concert in Zurich, a new life has begun for the Swiss tennis player.
He said: “I’ve always been strict and serious about being a professional athlete, but I would eat hamburgers, eat desserts, have a glass of wine. There was nothing unusual for me to eat a hamburger, but this one looked perfect, so I had to post a picture of it.
I do things that I couldn’t do when I was playing because it would have taken too long.”
2023-08-09 21:21:49
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