Roger Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam champion is one of the most celebrated professionals in the sport. He receives love for his style of playing the game as well as for his down-to-earth and caring nature. Further, Federer alongside Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have formed the ‘Big Three’ of tennis.?

Even a non-tennis fan likely knows who they are. In fact, they are the standard against which fans often measure other professionals’ caliber. So if someone is regarded as good as Federer, that means they hold the capacity to rule the game one day. Speaking of playing like the Swiss maestro, here’s one of the most unexpected claims that ever arrived.??

NBA star Joel Embiid believes his tennis is as promising as Roger Federer

In 2017 NBA star Joel Embiid, when asked to rate his skills on different types of courts, revealed his tennis abilities. He at first said, “It’s really good.”

Then the Philadelphia 76ers’ center, in a humourous tone, added. “I’m a really good server. They call me the Black Roger Federer.”?

Read more: ?Disappointment Felt Like Fireworks in My Head? ? Roger Federer Reveals ?the Worst Hour? of His Career

Nevertheless, the confidence with which he uttered those words was a relief for his fans as he was struggling with career-harming injuries. Further, coming to Roger Federer?who has since retired from the sport, left behind a legacy of records and memories that will undoubtedly stand tall for decades.??

The end of Federer’s marvelous career

The eight-time?Wimbledon champion walked out of the circuit after last year’s Championships. He incurred a quarter-finals defeat against the Pole, Hubert Hurkacz in the greens of London and subsequently decided to undergo surgery to cure his pestering knee injury. Federer stayed on the sidelines for over a year and was looking forward to a comeback. He even enrolled his name for the Laver Cup and his home-based ATP 500 tournament.

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However, his body was in no state of handling the pressure of professional tennis anymore. Therefore, paying attention to his physical state, the 41-year-old announced his retirement. He participated in the fifth edition of the Laver Cup and, alongside his biggest rival and best friend Rafael Nadal, he played his last match.?