Tennis legend, Roger Federer, is set to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, as the 45-year-old Swiss looks back on his 25-year career with fond memories, saying he “had the best time” on tour.
Federer, who will be honoured alongside broadcaster and former player Mary Carillo in Newport, Rhode Island, said his career was about much more than winning titles and collecting trophies.
While victories helped establish his place among tennis’ greatest players, Federer said he also treasured travelling to different cities, meeting people and forming friendships with fellow players, fans and tournament officials.
It was only after retiring that he began to fully appreciate how much those relationships contributed to his legacy.
“I think when you retire, I think I said it before, that there was a lot of talk also about maybe my personality and what I brought to the game overall when I wasn’t on court, which I was a little surprised,” Federer said. “I thought it was about, in the moment, forehands and backhands and saving break points and victories and all that stuff.
“But actually it becomes a little bit, not irrelevant eventually, but it’s about what were you remembered for, how did you behave in the locker rooms or in the corridors or maybe with the media, or with the tournament directors, the ball kids.”
Federer’s induction gives him an opportunity to reflect on a career that took him to virtually every corner of the tennis world.
Surprisingly, despite his extensive travels, Newport will be a new destination for him.
He regularly competed in major cities such as New York, London and Paris for Grand Slam tournaments, while also participating in major exhibition events.
Among them was a match against Rafael Nadal in Cape Town, South Africa, which attracted nearly 52,000 spectators, and another against Alexander Zverev in Mexico City that drew more than 42,000 fans.
Those exhibitions came toward the latter part of Federer’s career, when health concerns forced him to reduce the number of tournaments he played.
The decision was difficult for him because of his love for travelling and competing in different locations.
“For me, if I look back, that’s kind of what I’m very happy about, that I went through 25 years on tour, and actually felt like I made a lot of friends and a lot of people miss me,” Federer said. “Same with fans. They come up to me and say, ‘What a shame you’re not playing anymore.’
“Then I get a flashback saying it was an amazing time, and I say it every time. I loved it, and it’s a shame I can’t be on the tour anymore. But it was a great, great time and I miss it dearly.”
Federer’s popularity remains evident among tennis fans.
His recent return to the U.S. Open for an exhibition, his first appearance on the Flushing Meadows courts since 2019, attracted huge crowds, with fans lining up to enter Arthur Ashe Stadium well before the tournament began.
During his illustrious career, Federer won five consecutive U.S. Open titles between 2004 and 2008.
From 2004 to 2006, he recorded 247 victories against just 15 defeats and reached a record 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals between 2005 and 2007, winning eight.
He finished his career with 1,251 match victories, 103 tournament titles and 20 Grand Slam championships.
“He’s the best I’ve ever played against,” Andre Agassi, whom Federer defeated in the 2005 U.S. Open final, said in a video played by the U.S. Open before Federer took the court.
Beyond his exceptional ability, Federer became admired for the manner in which he conducted himself.
He combined an attacking and entertaining style with a calm temperament, avoiding the outbursts sometimes associated with elite competition.
He won the ATP Tour sportsmanship award every year from 2004 to 2009 and again from 2011 to 2017. He was also voted fan favourite every year from 2003 through 2021.
Federer earned nearly $130.6 million in prize money during his playing career.
Since retiring, he has remained connected to tennis.
He occasionally plays with his children and attends selected tournaments each year, keeping him involved with the sport that defined much of his life.
“I’m in a very comfortable place today, but I’m still happy to be out there and being in the tennis world from time to time, because it is the glue to everything that surrounds me still today,” Federer said.
“I had the best time, had a lot of friends on tour, from players to people who were organizers, et cetera. So I hope that a lot of the players who retire also feel the same way about the game, because I care dearly.”
