Roger Federer: Retirement can wait, I’m really enjoying the ride
He has achieved everything there is to achieve in tennis, but Roger Federer is still enjoying the ride.
At the age of 36 Federer continues to break records as he became the oldest world No 1 earlier in 2018 while he also made his best start to the season as he won his first 17 games.
He is often asked about when he will hang up his racquet and, although he admits his “life was complete as a tennis player” a long time ago, the Swiss Maestro insists he is still having fun on the ATP Tour.
“I have been content for a long, long time on the Tour. I guess ever since I became world No. 1 back in 2004 and won Wimbledon in 2003, my life was complete as a tennis player. Those were my dreams as a little kid,” he said.
He added: “That’s why retirement can wait, and I’m just really enjoying the ride. I’m really having a good time on the Tour.”
The 20-time Grand Slam winner’s unbeaten start to 2018 came to an end on Sunday as he was beaten in the Indian Wells Masters final by Juan Martin del Potro.
Although he has had plenty of defeats during his career, Federer was still frustrated by the manner in which he lost as he had three match points in the deciding set.
“I feel frustrated, you know, that I let an opportunity like this go by. Serving 40/15, any game I probably win – I don’t know what the stat is – 90-something per cent,” he said.
“So it should sting, like you said, for a bit. The question is how long? It won’t be long, but it’s disappointing talking about a great match like this, losing, even though I was right there.
“Obviously there is not too much time to dwell over it. Like I said, I’m happy for Juan Martin. It’s a tough one. And I still had a good week here. I still see the positives at the end of the day.
“It was a great match, honestly. Good fun. Good intensity. We enjoy that. And also it was tough and fair on the court. It was Juan Martin and myself. At the end you saw we are appreciative of the finals that we played against each other, which I think is really important for both of us.”
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