‘This city is special to me’ – Roger Federer reflects on ending career in London
Roger Federer is happy to end his career in London despite the bittersweet feeling of hanging up his racket.
The 20-time Major champion will take to the court for one last time as a professional at the 2022 Laver Cup in a city that has been the site of 10 of the great’s 103 career singles titles.
Of course, those are his eight Wimbledon trophies and two ATP Finals triumphs in 2010 and 2011 in the O2 Arena, the same venue for this year’s Laver Cup.
Tennishead asked Federer how it feels to end his career in London, the Swiss responding: “That was clearly part of my thinking, as well: Where is the place? I contemplated a lot of other things. Before the US Open maybe, but this was before Serena announced [her retirement].
But I said I was not going to be there. So I’m just going to announce it, not going to be around? People think I’m going to be a stranger to the game and to everybody, and I don’t get a chance to properly say goodbye to the fans and everything?
“So [that] made me wait another month all the way to here. I wish I could have announced it earlier, but it all worked out.”
Of course there were multiple venues where Federer could have made his final competitive appearance, whether it be his second home of Wimbledon or actual home of Basel at the Swiss Indoors.
“I’m happy to do it here in London,” Federer continued. “After then thinking about it, this city has been special to me. Maybe the most special place with Wimbledon down the road and here at the O2.
“I just thought it was very fitting. I have always enjoyed the crowds here as well. Having Bjorn Borg on the bench with me for my final game [will resonate] also in a big way with me.
“Having all the other guys around just felt like I was not going to be lonely announcing my retirement. Not that I wanted to hijack this event or anything, but just, I always feel sorry for players who sometimes retire on the tour, say, I’m going to play one more match, then at one point you lose and there you stand all alone.
“Obviously 99% of the time you will lose at one point because only one guy wins the tournament.
“I just felt like this works very well here. But I always wanted to keep the integrity of the event alive. That’s why I had a lot of conversations with everybody. I’m really looking forward to these next few days. It’s going to be very special.”
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