Roger Federer is retired, but he’s not done with tennis. In an interview with Tages-Anzeiger, he open the door to a return to the field, not on the ATP circuit, but in a series of exhibition matches with Rafael Nadal.
The idea has been circulating for a while. Last month, Tony Godsick, CEO of Team8 and Federer’s agent for many years, said a joint exhibition tour with Federer and Nadal was realistic. Today, Federer himself confirmed that he liked the idea and saw potential in it.
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“It would be great if it could be done,” he said.
He explained that an exhibition format would give them more freedom than touring ever did: “If we played exhibitions after our career, we would have more time and not have to rush to the next competition. I could imagine combining all this with a good cause, raising money for my foundation and inspiring young people there.”
Fans immediately made the connection with their past exhibitions, from Zurich and Madrid to the record-breaking 2020 event in South Africa – where both men put their exceptional tennis to good use for charity. These matches proved that a Federer-Nadal would be a world draw.
Federer and Nadal could reunite for post-career exhibition matches
Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images
Federer still plays tennis, even outside of competition.
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“I played four hours of tennis the other day here in San Francisco and then in Los Angeles also an hour and a half before. So I’ve been playing a lot, so I’m trying to stay in shape,” he said.
He also thinks Nadal would be up for it: “And I know Rafa is also totally open to maybe playing tennis. It sounds terrible, senior tennis, for us, but maybe we can create a tour, like a Fedal tour or something.”
For the moment there is no planning or marketing, it is still just an idea. But coming from Federer himself, it seems less like a fantasy and more like a question of “when” and “how”.
Far from the spotlight of competition, Federer is selective in his commitments. He still competes in the Laver Cup and is involved in the sport but his priority is clearly off the field. “I focus on my children. It’s time to focus on what’s important before they leave home,” he says. said.
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