Tennis Today: Roger Federer ‘retirement twist’ and Novak Djokovic serves up some smiles

Michael Graham
October 8, 2019

In Tennis Today, Roger Federer reveals yet another talent, but anyone hoping for a ‘retirement twist’ for Feds may well be disappointed.

What’s on the site
Andy Murray may not be winning titles right now, but he is winning far more important battles, as Kevin Palmer beautifully recounts for us.

Murray’s latest on-court successes has seen him, first, jump 200 places in the ATP rankings as a result of his performance in the China Open before getting on the winning trail again in Shanghai.

Roger Federer, meanwhile, has given an injury update ahead of his Shanghai Masters campaign.

And if you want a little help in trying to bash the bookies this week, then our man Deggsy has you covered with his betting guide.

What’s in the news
Fans of Roger Federer, and let’s face it that’s all of us, may read the headline offered by The Express and get pretty excited today.

It reads: “Roger Federer teases plan to continue playing for another five years in retirement twist.”

It starts off pretty positively too, quoted Federer saying that ‘winning solves a lot of problems, winning makes you happy.’

But, alas, that’s as far as it gets before it literally makes a mockery of its own headline.

‘However, he stopped short of confirming whether he would not be playing tennis in five years when talking about his future plans,’ the article continues.

Federer goes on to say: “But I don’t know if I’m going to be playing tennis in five years but lets just say hypothetically I wasn’t, I hope that the transition is going to be smooth for me.

“Not that I’m worried by any means, we’re able to keep a great group of friends around us while we’ve been travelling around the world and a lot of people now, especially at the back end of my career, wanting to come see me play at the end so we’re able to stay in touch.

“I don’t worry so much about the transition.”

So, sadly, the ‘retirement twist’ is that Federer doesn’t seem to be dreading him stopping playing tennis as much as the rest of us do, but there is certainly no ‘plan to continue playing for another five years’ teased.

What’s on social media

Acting aside, is there anything that Roger Federer can’t do?

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Meanwhile, behind the scenes… @rogerfederer is manning the grill at the Player Restaurant. All in a day’s work for Fed… #RolexShMasters 📸 Rolex Shanghai Masters Mike Frey

A post shared by Rolex Shanghai Masters (@rolexshmasters) on Oct 7, 2019 at 5:30am PDT

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Is there anything Roger can’t do? 😅

A post shared by ATP Tour (@atptour) on Oct 7, 2019 at 4:08am PDT

Kristina Mladenovic sported a bold new look…

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My look at tonight’s theme players party “Golden 1920’s” ⚜️😃😊 @wtalinz #upperaustrialadieslinz #wtalinz

A post shared by Kristina Mladenovic (@kristinamladenovic93) on Oct 7, 2019 at 1:57pm PDT

Novak Djokovic ‘served up some smiles’ in Shanghai…

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🤳 Selfies anyone? @djokernole is serving up some smiles for his fans. #rolexshmasters

A post shared by Rolex Shanghai Masters (@rolexshmasters) on Oct 7, 2019 at 1:24am PDT