Federer’s joyful retirement

Roger Federer is just fine being done with tennis, said Zach Baron in GQ. After playing more than 1,500 pro matches over 24 years, the 20-time Grand Slam winner retired from competition in 2022, in part because of an injured knee that required multiple surgeries. “I could feel the end coming closer,” says Federer, 42. “So when you’re retired officially, you take a deep breath and you’re like, ‘Wow, OK, that was good.’ I feel really at peace.” He hasn’t entirely left the sport behind. “I just booked a court with my wife for the first time in my life. We went to play next to my kids, who were having a lesson, and it was so much fun. I always thought, How is that moment going to be when I go back on a court and actually don’t have to improve?” With his kids—two sets of twins, 9 and 14—“I’ve told them I’m not the coach. But sometimes I can’t control myself. I come in and go like, ‘Let me just quickly teach a little fundamental thing.’” He had a similar urge recently while watching his agent’s son play with the tennis team at Stanford University. Federer grabbed a racket to demonstrate different ways to hit a forehand, “and every one I hit was perfect. And I’m just thinking, my God, it’s still there.”