• While fans across the globe await his grand return to the court as does most of his rivals, Federer dropped a shocking retirement bomb, giving the clearest indication about his future.

Roger Federer was slated to make his official return to tennis in Wimbledon 2022, but his return has been extended to September later this year, with the 20-time Grand Slam champion all set to make an appearance at the Lave cup followed by the Swiss Indoors. While fans across the globe await his grand return to the court as does most of his rivals, Federer dropped a shocking retirement bomb, giving the clearest indication about his future.

Federer last appeared exactly a year back at All England Club, where he lost to Hubert Hurkacz in the quarterfinal. Following the defeat, Federer underwent a treatment on his knee which left him on the sidelines for over a year. And now the Swiss maestro has also fallen out of the top 1000 players in the ATP rankings for the very first time in 25 years.

Speaking to a Dutch newspaper,  Federer hinted that the time to draw the curtains on his illustrious career is near.

He said:  I am a winner lover, but if you're not competitive anymore, then it's better to stop. I don't think I need the tennis. I am happy with the little things, like when my son does something right and when my daughter comes home with a good grade.

 Tennis is part of, but not my entire, identity. I want to be and remain successful, and put a lot of energy into business - probably give more than I should sometimes, but that can also be done outside of sports. I know a professional career can't last forever, and that's okay.

This was for the first time ever in his career that he missed the Wimbledon since making his debut back in 1999.

  It feels very strange for me not to play Wimbledon this year and to watch it on TV, as I've been there every time since 1998.

  But I've been on the road for so long that it was also nice to experience a little more peace and to be in one place more often, which already happened due to the coronavirus. It gave me the opportunity to selectively sort out my travels and give something back. Many friends always came to see me, now I could turn it around.

  The tennis itinerary was sometimes excessive, especially with having to organize that for the children too.

  It's nice to have a break from that now, and for them too, although they miss the travelling. We have friends all over the world and have developed routines for them as well. We haven't seen our friends in New York and Melbourne for a few years now.

  But I can honestly say that I am very happy at home. And that it is a great advantage that I can now make an appointment for a Tuesday morning in three weeks. And that I can actually do it without reality overtaking me.

  At times, we miss travelling the world, and of course I also miss the sport, but also feel: life at home in a normal way, is also good.

Family

 Federer is married to former Women's Tennis Association player, whom he met while they were both competing for Switzerland at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.  She retired from the tour in 2002 because of a foot injury.

 They were married at  Villa  near Basel on 11 April 2009, surrounded by a small group of close friends and family. In 2009, she gave birth to identical twin girls. They had another pair of twins in 2014, this time fraternal twin boys.

 A versatile all-court player, Federer's perceived effortlessness has made him highly popular among tennis fans. Originally lacking self-control as a junior, he transformed his on-court demeanor to become well-liked for his general graciousness, winning the Stefan  Sportsmanship Award 13 times.

 He has also won the  World Sportsman of the Year award a record five times. Outside  competing, he played an instrumental role in the creation of the  team competition. He is also an active philanthropist. He established the Roger Federer Foundation, which targets impoverished children in Southern Africa, and has raised funds in part through the Match for Africa exhibition series. He is routinely one of the top ten highest-paid athletes in any sport, and ranked first among all athletes with $100 million in endorsement income in 2020.