The big boss is back! Roger Federer, the legend himself, has re-entered the arena where he bid an emotional farewell to the tennis world. As he gears up to watch some epic tennis action at the latest edition of the Laver Cup in Berlin, fans couldn’t be more excited. But while everyone hoped for a little more magic from the Swiss maestro, it seems Federer has decided to stick to spectating this time around. In classic Federer style—calm, collected, and always graceful—he politely declined an offer to hit some balls at the tournament.

The 43-year-old was seen entering the Uber Arena, where the Laver Cup will soon begin on September 20. In a video shared by the official X account of the Laver Cup, he was seen engaging in discussions with several well-known figures in the tennis community, including John McEnroe and his brother Patrick McEnroe. However, what caught the attention of tennis fans was his polite and subtle denial to play tennis.

As soon as John McEnroe saw Federer, he couldn’t help but ask the founder of the tournament, “Would you like to hit some?” However, Federer appeared hesitant and gave a skeptical response. Responding to McEnroe, the Swiss Maestro said, “I would, I’d be ready to go… Just, just a few shots you know.” But he did not engage in any action and quickly moved towards McEnroe’s brother, Patrick, to ask about his well-being. This indicated his lack of desire to be involved in a playing role once again. Interestingly, Federer has often expressed that he enjoys his time away from the tennis courts.

In an interview with GQ Magazine in March this year, Federer said, “I don’t miss it (tennis), I really don’t. I feel really at peace, I think it’s also because I know that my knee and my body and my mind don’t allow me to be out there. Do I feel like, Oh, I could hit that shot? Yeah, okay: Maybe I could right now. But I feel like I squeezed the lemon out. I tried everything I had. And I’m so at peace.” His latest gesture has reiterated this sentiment, which may have disappointed fans who were hoping to see the legend hit some balls again. However, Federer’s love for the tournament and its uniqueness has been clear, and the 20-time Grand Slam winner believes it to be of great help to players. 

“Laver Cup is an amazing combination…” Roger Federer’s true feelings for the tournament

The Laver Cup is indeed an important tournament for Roger Federer, who shares a strong bond with it. He not only founded the tournament in 2017 but also chose it as his retirement venue in 2022. Just a year later, he highlighted the significant aspects of the tournament and how it helps players bring out the best in themselves.

Speaking of the importance of the tournament in 2023, Federer said, “The Laver Cup is an amazing combination of being in a team with other heroes and being together, having dinner together, lunch together, talking tennis all day, and just feeding off one another, and hopefully leaving the Laver Cup motivated and inspired to go on and do great things, and win every tournament you possibly can.” He further highlighted that the tournament helps players understand the nuances of the sport and improve their skills.

For now, it will be interesting to see if Roger Federer can overcome his hesitance and participate in some on-court activities as the tournament progresses.