I don’t think I need tennis, says Roger Federer, who is missing from the ATP rankings after a quarter of a century

Although there were no tennis ranking points at this year’s Wimbledon, there were a number of shifts in the rankings. One of the most notable is the one that befell 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer. The 40-year-old Swiss, who last played just a year ago at the All England Club, has dropped out of the ATP rankings after 25 years.

He first appeared in the rankings on September 22, 1997, when he was 16 years old. At that time he was ranked 803rd. Since then, he has achieved 103 singles triumphs on the most prestigious tennis circuit and led the ATP rankings for a total of 310 weeks.

11. but on July 2021, he dropped out of the rankings, having lost the last 600 points he had accumulated thanks to Wimbledon 2019. Long-term problems with his knee, for which he has had surgery three times, are to blame.

Still, he wants to come back. In September, the Laver Cup, which is owned by Federer’s company, is on the schedule and he would like to be on court in a Team Europe jersey. A month later, there is a tournament in his native Basel. He would also still like to make an appearance at the London grass grand slam.

Is he nearing the end of a great career?

In an interview with Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, however, Federer hinted that he is not necessarily turning to a sporting career alone. He said that there are other things that are important to him besides that, such as family and business.

“I’m a lover of winning, but if you’re not competitive anymore, it’s better to quit. I don’t think I need tennis. I’m happy with the little things, like when my son does something right or when my daughter comes home from school with a good grade,” Eurosport quotes one of the greatest legends of white sport.

“Tennis is not my whole identity, although it is part of it. I want to be and stay successful and put a lot of energy into the business – probably sometimes more than I should. But you can do that outside of sport. I know that a professional career can’t last forever, and that’s okay,” Federer continues.

In his words, it was strange to watch Wimbledon for the first time since 1998 only from the position of a spectator. However, he also adds that the tennis calendar tends to be very busy, so he is very happy to be able to spend time at home.

“It’s a great advantage when I can make a Tuesday afternoon appointment three weeks in advance. And it’s good that I can keep to my schedule without reality getting ahead of me.”

“Sometimes I miss travelling the world and, of course, sports. But I feel that a normal life at home is also good,” reflects Roger Federer. So the question still remains whether we will ever see him on the court with a racket in his hand again.

Source: ATP, Eurosport, Algemeen Dagblad