An athlete’s life is no cakewalk—literally. While the rigorous training on the tennis courts is one thing, extreme control over diet and lifestyle is another. For years, tennis stars like Roger Federer have had to say no to their favorite foods and indulgences, all in the name of peak performance. But retirement brings with it a sweet freedom, allowing these stars to finally relish the simple pleasures they missed out on during their careers. Federer, however, is now embracing the joys of life off the court—indulging in a bit more of what he loves. 

But Federer’s longtime friend and rival, Andy Murray, just couldn’t resist poking some fun at him. He had a go at the legendary player with a lighthearted comment to his Instagram post.  Remember, the Swiss Maestro is currently in New York City for the ongoing US Open. During his time away from the stands, the tennis great is enjoying some great delicacies. 

In a post shared by him, Federer can be seen enjoying a big pizza as the happiness is evident on his face. Captioning the image, he wrote, “Here for a NY Minute 🥨🗽🎾🍎🚕.” However, it was met with a lighthearted dig from Murray. Responding to the post, the Briton wrote, “Wow, you’ve really let yourself go in retirement. What a shame 😞” Federer’s love for food is not unknown to the tennis world.

The tennis great has often revealed how much he loves delicacies. “I like my ice cream, I like my chocolate. That’s my diet,” Federer said during the Australian Open in 2017. “I like my treats, I don’t feel bad about it. “I like it. I can do it and play tennis at the same time.” He also revealed that he eats pasta before his matches. On the contrary, Andy Murray is known for a strict diet that consists of proteins and carbs. 

In an interview in July 2024, Murray revealed his diet. “I need to consume at least 4,000 calories a day. I’ll usually start off with a smoothie which I make myself, and some fruit. I’ll then make a bagel with mashed banana or egg, and finish with a yogurt” But despite the friendly dig that Murray took, the friendship that he shares with Federer is special.

When Roger Federer shared a heartfelt message for Andy Murray

Roger Federer and Andy Murray were one of the fiercest rivals on the tennis courts. Yet, outside of the court, their camaraderie took a beautiful shape. In a video shared by the official Instagram page of the ATP Tour in August, Federer was seen sharing his regards for his friend Murray as the latter bade adieu to the sport.

Speaking in the video, Federer said, “Hey Andy. Many Many congratulations my friend on an incredible career. Wimbledon champion, US Open Champion, Davis Cup Champion, Olympic champion, and many more things, you have achieved. So many Masters 1000s as well. World No. 1 and a Sir. So Sir Andy Murray, incredible effort on the most wonderful of careers.”

For now, it would be interesting to see if Federer uses his wit again and comes up with a cheeky response to Murray’s comment on his Instagram post. That would surely add a fresh angle to the banter.