Roger Federer Is ‘Really Relieved’ He Retired from Tennis: ‘I Don’t Miss It'

The 20-time Grand Slam singles champion said he feels "really at peace" since retiring from the sport in 2022

• Tennis great Roger Federer said he's "really relieved" he retired from the sport in 2022

• Federer said he feels "really at peace" with the decision in an interview with GQ

• The 20-time Grand Slam champ explained that his knee and body "don't allow" him to be on the court

Roger Federer is still feeling confident in his decision to retire from tennis.

Federer, 42, announced his departure from the sport in 2022, and in a new interview with GQ Hype, the former tennis star said he's "really relieved' by his decision.

“I’m really relieved, if that makes any sense," he said. "I mean, the last few years have been tough with my knee. You could feel the end coming closer."

Federer continued, "So when it’s all said and done and you’re over the line and you’re retired officially, you take a deep breath and you’re like, 'Wow, okay, that was good.'"

A 20-time Grand Slam winner, Federer said he doesn't miss competitive tennis in retirement. “I don’t miss it. I really don’t. I feel really at peace," he told GQ, explaining that he thinks "it's also because I know that my knee and my body and my mind don't allow me to be out there."

Federer said he feels like he "squeezed the lemon out" when it comes to his competitive play. "I tried everything I had. And I'm so at peace."

In Sept. 2022, Federer announced that he'd retire after that month's Laver Cup tournament in London. He explained the decision in a video shared on Instagram.

"As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries. I've worked hard to return to full and competitive form," Federer said. "But I also know my body's capacities and limits and its message to me lately has been clear. I am 41 years old. I've played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years."

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"Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career."

Federer called it "a bittersweet decision" at the time, and said he "will miss everything the tour has given me," in the 2022 video. "But at the same time, there is so much to celebrate. I consider myself one of the most fortunate people on Earth. I was given a special talent to play tennis and I did it at a level that I never imagined, for much longer than I ever thought possible."

Federer became a professional tennis player in 1998 when he was just 16 years old. He won his first Grand Slam singles title in 2003 at Wimbledon, and went on to win a total of 20 over the course of his career.

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