As a young tennis player living in Miami, I always find myself inspired by the legends of the sport. Recently, I’ve been following the news about Roger Federer’s continued involvement in the tennis world, even after his retirement in 2022. Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam champion, has been making appearances at various tournaments and events, including the 2024 edition of the Laver Cup held at the Uber Arena in Berlin and his recent visit to Shanghai for the Masters 1000 tournament.
Federer’s presence at these events has been nothing short of exciting for fans and players alike. He was spotted in the stands during the final match between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic in Shanghai, chatting with fellow tennis legends like Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Alcaraz. This interaction was captured on camera multiple times, generating a lot of buzz on social media platforms.
Boris Becker, an ATP legend, couldn’t help but joke about Federer’s presence in the stands: “Would love to be fly on the wall and listen to exchange between Roger and Carlos while they watch the final.” This light-hearted comment highlights how much respect and admiration there is for Federer’s contributions to tennis.
In a recent interview in Shanghai, Federer reflected on the changing landscape of tennis in 2024. He noted the retirements of Serena Williams and Andy Murray, as well as Novak Djokovic’s challenging year despite winning an Olympic gold medal. Federer observed that with players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz consistently winning major titles, there is a clear shift happening in the sport.
“They are consistent and they’re fantastic to see play,” Federer said about Sinner and Alcaraz. “Seeing Alcaraz live at the Laver Cup in Berlin was very impressive. He’s a wonderful player and I think a lot of people are going to have a lot of fun watching him in the future too.”
Federer’s insights into the evolving techniques and technologies in tennis are also noteworthy. He mentioned how advancements in racket and string technology have made it easier for players to iron out technique issues, allowing them to hit the ball harder and more accurately.
“The game is where it was, but just a step higher,” Federer explained. “Perhaps just a lack of variation but that’s because we have all double-handers these days and they don’t use the slice as much. Naturally, we don’t see as many drop shots. Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev try to add it to their game, which I think is a great play but you need to train it a lot – the transition game.”
These observations from Federer resonate deeply with fans who are witnessing this new generation of talented players take over the sport.
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