#roger federer retirement

[rafasbiscuits]

we are entering a new year, 2023, I think it's time for a throwback.

[gymtennis]

ROGER FEDERER on the Arthur Ashe stadium US OPEN 2024

[zingaplanet]

Oh man we are so fcked they been hanging out for months behind our back n just full on gatekeeping to squeeze our hearts at the right moment

[rafole]

forever young

[lifeisahighway]

roger posting to his ig story about rafa going to the laver cup. with a pic of them playing doubles FROM THE NIGHT ROGER RETIRED AT THE LAVER CUP oh god it’s happening isn’t it 😭

[loveisparpall]

there’s a published article analyzing that phone call and apparently people close to rafa were not informed about it, which makes sense because why does he have to inform his circle about a private phone call with roger, mr. journalist? yes, we’re all aware about it now because roger talked about it on national television but STILL - why is there a phrase by phrase analysis of roger’s statement about rafa???? this is so hilarious to me 😭

[alexturntable]

Roger’s instagram story for Domi

[channelslam]

[rafasbiscuits]

god i miss fedal

tennis havent tennised for me since they dissapeared from tennis

[a-swiss-and-a-spaniard]

How dare you?! (x)

[wilsonwandmagician]

maybe "this is us @rogerfederer" will be our "special" always?

[mailmiocuoredipietratremaancora]

I just rewatched Twelve Final Days and I think I suffered more than the first time, if it’s even possible to suffer that much

[i-regret-a-lot]

tennis players need to stop retiring I can't cope with it any more

[janesurlife]

Roger : I know you’re deflecting by making jokes about how hot you are.

Rafa : It’s not a joke.

Rafa : *sniffles*

Rafa : I’m a legit snack.

[youreamonocoque]

we all ready to cry over Roger's retirement again?

[zingaplanet]

I've seen bits and pieces of Nadal's movistar interview and it's very fascinating. He's always more open and expressive in Spanish but there's just something that's different. I knew he was a realist and has a very grounded/realistic outlook on his life, I just can't help feeling a bit sad on this one. Though he's literally stating nothing but facts, it hits too close to resigned acceptance this time and feels a bit like a retirement interview.

I've always seen him as the accept-the-problem-let's-move-on kinda guy, you can see this a lot in his tactic discussion during laver cup matches and it's what makes him a great player I suppose. He's a problem solver, he doesn't really worry about things outside his control, "He's hitting a good serve, that's fine nothing you can do about it, you have to wait it out," "the wind is not perfect today but that's tennis, nothing you can do you have to adapt" etc etc. He was never really one to dwell on the past, always with the it happened let's move on kinda attitude, which I think is crucial for top level atheletes to not get bogged down by your wins or losses.

But it seems like he talks a lot about regret in this one. He said there are times he prioritised his competitive urges more than his health and life, like in Roland Garros this year where he shouldn't have stayed that long. He talks about pain, about the tiredness of living with chronic pain, about not being able to walk down the stairs, about making life choices of what really matters and what doesn't.

He's very honest and raw, he said he didn't congratulate Djokovic yet on his 24th slam because it honestly hasn't crossed his mind and because he might also had to adjust to someone new having the most GS.

What's perhaps more painful is what seems like this feeling of resigned acceptance that the sport is moving on without him. He's being very realistic, fair and honest about it. He said he's very proud of Alcaraz and congratulated him for his achievements but then admitted he's not that in the field anymore. Tennis will always be a part of him, but he doesn't really have friends left in the sport, except for Federer, who he calls from time to time. It's fascinating that he referred to tennis in general instead of just the current next generation ATP players who he never really competed against (and hence wouldn't have known anyway) as Federer is clearly also no longer in the sport.

I have no idea what his life is like these days but it gives the impression that he's seemingly trying to make peace with no longer having any relations with professional tennis (apart from his secluded academy of course) and Roger's the only one he still occassionaly keeps in touch with. He talks about the future a lot, about the many things he could decide to become tomorrow if he wants to, about being president of Real Madrid, about his academy that he cares deeply for, about maybe one day getting into coaching.

If I'm to make something at all out of this, Rafa seems.. ready. He says an illusion is for him to come back and win another Australian Open or Roland Garros (still with that little twinkle of hope in his eyes 🥺), but what's not an illusion is him trying his very best one last time to go back on court, to enjoy the ride, play the sport that defined his life, compete in the stadiums he loves the most, to properly say his goodbye.