Roger Federer not ready for skiing holiday, but wants to take his kids on adventurous African trip

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Roger Federer interview

Roger Federer won’t be skiing any time soon as his “knees are so-so”, but he is planning more adventurous holidays with his family and Africa is high on the to-do list.

After more than two decades as a professional tennis player, the 20-time Grand Slam winner retired in September after struggling to overcome a knee injury.

The 41-year-old had battled with the problem since the beginning of the 2020 season – undergoing three operations – but after several attempted comebacks he finally decided to call time on his illustrious career with his last match as a pro a doubles clash alongside his great rival Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in London.

Federer has hinted that he will have a farewell tour at some point – when the knee allows it of course – stating: “I know is I would love to go and play places I have never played before or go say thank you for years to come to all the people that have been so supportive of me.”

That farewell tour, though, is unlikely to take place any time soon as his knee is still not 100% with the Swiss great admitting during a recent UNIQLO event in Tokyo that he is still struggling and he is a “little bit scared” to do sports like skiing.

However, one positive aspect about retirement is he can plan “creative” holidays with his family.

One such vacation is likely to be a trip to Africa with his wife Mirka and two sets of twins – girls Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, and boys Lennart and Leo.

“I am still a little bit scared [when it comes other sports] right after retirement as my knee has been a little bit so-so and that [skiing] has to wait,” the former world No 1 said.

“As time goes by I will be able to do more trips and we are always planning our vacations and I want them to be really fun. They can become a little bit more creative.

“I would love to take my kids to Africa whereas before vacations always had to be relaxing because my life on the road was so busy, but now our vacations can be a bit more adventurous.”

Federer, of course, spent many childhood vacations in South Africa as his mother Lynette was born there while back in 2020 he played an exhibition match with Nadal at the Cape Town Stadium to raise funds for the Roger Federer Foundation. However, he didn’t have much time for travelling as he was still playing on the ATP Tour.

READ MORE: Rafael Nadal’s beautiful tribute to Roger Federer: ‘A part of my life left with him’

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