Federer rules out comeback: “I took the lemon, squeezed out every drop. There was none left”

The 20-time Grand Slam champion said he is looking forward to playing some exhibition matches in the future

Tennis TV

October 13, 2023

Roger Federer was the guest of honour at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Friday, taking questions as part of a special event to honour him in front of some of his most dedicated fans.

And amid a number of questions about some of his memories of great matches in Shanghai, and in the company of Chinese great Li Na and rising star Zhang Zhizhen, he was asked whether, in the 12 months since his retirement, he has considered making a comeback.

“I’m extremely happily retired,” he said, chuckling. “For me, no, no, there’s no coming back. I had an absolute blast on the Tour. I feel like I took the lemon and I squeezed it out ’til the last drop. I gave it all I had and there was none left.”

shanghai celebrates roger federer pic.twitter.com/S8c6VGoje5
— enrico maria riva (@enricomariariva) October 13, 2023

Federer played his last professional match at last year’s Laver Cup in London, having given in to father time and the knowledge that his knee injury was not going to get any better. In his year away, he’s kept in touch with tennis, popping in to Wimbledon, Halle and the Laver Cup in Vancouver.

But though his professional days are over, the Swiss said he hoped to be back on court at some stage.

“Now I’m just a super tennis fan like all of you,” he said. “But what a journey it’s been…it’s been incredible. Of course I miss those moments but now another chapter has begun and the last year has been terrific. Now, less tennis (himself), more tennis with the children but I hope down the road I can play an exhibition match here in Shanghai and around the world so I can play in front of you all again.”