By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, September 13, 2024

The Maestro nonetheless makes the strings sing.

But today Roger Federer's tennis play is primarily together with his children and household mates. 

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Former world No. 1 Federer shared he "play much tennis anymore, other than with the kids.”

In a new interview with the Wall Street Journal, Federer said his court time is limited to family, friends and the occasional clinic he conducts, as he did in New York City last month for his apparel sponsor, Uniqlo and shoe brand On.

Don't fret: Federer isn't giving up on tennis to pursue a pickleball career.

Federer said there are two main reasons he doesn't play much tennis: he's still rehabbing is surgically-repaired knee and it can be tough to find someone who can hit at GOAT-level on short notice.

“As a former player, to book a court and get someone to hit with you is a process, so you end up not doing it,” Federer told Wall Street Journal. “On vacation, I just played with our friends in the Hamptons. I’m not super competitive. It’s just nice to be out there and then sit on the terrace and let the sweat go a bit.

“I’ve had quite a bit of knee issues, so I’m constantly rehabbing. I haven’t been able to do much cardio - mostly weights, core exercises, exercises for my quad-strengthening.

“I have a physio I’ve been with for seven years, and we see each other four times a week. He does treatments, massages, stretching, and he also runs me through exercises.”

The 20-time Grand Slam champion stated his two units of twins—daughters Charlene Riva and Myla Rose and sons Lenny and Leo—are all enjoying tennis today although they do not all the time take their well-known father's recommendation.

“I’m not the coach, I am the dad and the dad’s advice, as we know, only goes so far,” Federe instructed CNN. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve won Wimbledon or not, you’re still the dad and sometimes they don’t want to hear what you have to say.

“I try to be funny, but at the same time I also try to be straight sometimes and just teach them. I come in more, I guess, as a technical coach so I try to teach them about all the tennis racquets.

“I don’t think we were the crazy tennis parents who said: ‘Girls, you’ve got to go and play every day for two hours.’”

The 42-year-old Swiss celebrity stated he is at peace with life in retirement and relished his return to Centre Court Wimbledon in July at a member of the group moderately than as a competitor.

“My dad leaned over and asked me, ‘Wouldn’t you want to be on the court right now instead of just sitting here?’ And I was, ‘Oh, my God, no. I’m so happy sitting here.’ " Federer told Wall Street Journal. "I felt very content and at peace, sitting and not playing,” he instructed the Wall Street Journal. “Because a year before, when there was the 100th-year celebration of Centre Court, I felt that I maybe didn’t want to be there. It was important for me to be there, but it was a crushing feeling I had, a twisted feeling I had.

“This year, I was very happy to be back there. And the people were happy to see me happy.”

The man who captured 5 consecutive Wimbledon crowns between 2003-2007 appeared to relish his new position as tennis fan.

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Seated between Princess Kate and spouse Mirka at SW19, Federer stayed to look at reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina towards American Shelby Rogers. The Swiss Maestro chatted with Princess Kate and Mirka all through the opening set of the Rybakina vs. Rogers opener.

Relishing the view from the Royal Box, Federer caught round to look at former rival Andy Murray rating his first-round win.

Six years in the past, Federer joined rival Rafael Nadal for the official opening of the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy in Mallorca. On that day, Federer stated if his children ever wished to play tennis, he would undoubtedly ship them to Nadal's Academy to be taught.

Well, Federer saved his phrases as sons, Lenny and Leo, have educated at Rafa's Academy on Mallorca whereas daughters Charlene and Myla, lately frolicked coaching on the John McEnroe Tennis Academy within the Hamptons the place the Federer household visited final month.

“The girls didn’t love it in the beginning but as they get better, they’re enjoying it and playing points now. They were up at McEnroe Academy in East Hampton, and the boys were in Mallorca at the [Rafa Nadal] camp for a couple of days," Federer said. “When I have time—and I try to make the time—I go on the court with them and try to teach them a little bit. It’s obviously an interesting dynamic, because I’m the dad, and not a former player. It is what it is.”

Photo credit score: Uniqlo Facebook

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