Roger Federer says he is happy that he "does not feel like an alien" in his return to tournaments as he acknowledged that certain questions can irk a retired player and make him never come back.
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After the Swiss tennis icon officially walked away from pro tennis during the Laver Cup in 2022 September, there were rumors that the Australian Open organizers were pushing hard to have him as a guest during the 2023 tournament edition. But the former world No. 1 declined that invitation as his first appearance in a tournament as a retired player came in 2023 July at Wimbledon.
Since then, Federer also attended last year's Laver Cup in Vancouver and he was also a special guest at the Shanghai Masters in October.
This summer, the 43-year-old came to visit Wimbledon and the US Open while he is in Berlin this weekend for the Laver Cup.
Federer: I don't feel like an alien...
Im happy I went back right away to some tournaments. I feel I ripped the band-aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there. I dont feel like an alien, which is a good thing because you can feel like that very quickly. People (and) players ask you 'what are you doing here?' and you're like 'exactly -- if you keep talking like this, I will never come back.' I'm happy I'm still able to feel comfortable in a setting like this because it would be so much easier just to stay home, get comfortable at home and realize you don't need to be on tour anymore," the former 20-time Grand Slam champion said in Berlin.
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As you probably already know, the Swiss co-founded the Laver Cup with his long-time agent Tony Godsick in 2017 so he being present at the event isn't a surprise because he has to do his part on the promotional side.
It will be interesting to see if Federer makes some other guest appearance before this season ends.
