"Not retiring anytime soon": Federer eager to battle the best again

“You don’t want to ask that question. You know I get very mad, very upset, very angry.”

Enter the trolling side of Roger Federer. When presented a question about retirement, the 20-time major champion poked some fun during a live chat for On, the footwear company he began a partnership with at the end of last year.

“No, I’m joking,” the grinning Swiss cleared up.

It’s a topic Federer has faced for several years, shrugging off doubters in multiple instances—most notably in 2017 when he ended a four-and-a-half-year major drought by winning three of the next five Grand Slam events. And while he’s 39 now and coming off multiple surgeries on his right knee, Federer insists he’s “not retiring anytime soon.”

“I feel like maybe there’s a little bit more left in me,” he said. “And if not, that’s it too. I’m definitely not stepping away [from] the game right now.”

In 2020, Federer appeared at just one event, the Australian Open. He advanced to the semifinals, saving seven match points in a gripping quarterfinal comeback over Tennys Sandgren. Then No. 2 Novak Djokovic halted his Melbourne run, posting his sixth straight major victory over Federer dating back to 2014 Wimbledon.

“Nothing has changed. I’m still fighting for my comeback,” Federer said. “I want to be back on the tennis court. I would love to play against all the legends of the game and the best players.”

Throughout the chat, Federer covered a range of topics submitted by his fans. Asked about how he unwinds, Federer's sense of humor once again came out.

“I was going to say chasing around my children, but I'm not sure that's relaxing!

“I'm still a guy who likes to put on the TV, kick his feet up and maybe watch some sports.”