"Probably that it was easier than I thought" - Roger Federer touches on Hall of Fame induction as he opens up on reunion with fellow 'Big Three' members

Roger Federer has been announced that he will be joining many stars of the game into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. It is a prestigious achievement in the sport only offered to the best of the best. 20-Grand Slam trophies, Six ATP Finals triumphs and 103 Tour-level titles equal an immense career. He told Tages-Anzeiger about his journey into the Hall of Fame, life after tennis while touching on the 'Big Three' rivalry.

"Probably that it was easier than I thought," Federer stated. He looked back at his journey to the top. "I would never have believed that I’d make it into the Tennis Hall of Fame or win Wimbledon, and so on. I simply hoped that I’d make it onto the professional tour. I hoped it wouldn’t turn out to be a mistake when I left school at 16. But then everything went a bit easier and faster than I’d thought. Although, of course, I also had my struggles and setbacks."

While it was 'easier than he thought,' there were still many low points in his career. Despite how tough it could get, Federer would not change it for the world. "No, nothing at all. I’d want to experience it all again, with all the highs and lows. All these experiences made me the person I am," Federer acknowledged. "I never tried to pretend to be someone else. Except on the court, of course, where I put on a poker face to protect myself from my opponent. But otherwise I always tried to stay authentic. Whether in success or failure. It was a wonderful journey. Sometimes it was tough, often it was emotional. I experienced the full range of emotions."

It was not tennis that he pursued after retirement, but golf as he switched up the scenery. "After retirement I did a lot of rehab. So it wasn’t as if I’d been doing a lot of sports and then suddenly stopped completely," he said. "I continued training. But I stopped playing tennis to protect my knee. I did Pilates and tried golf. Surprisingly, I had no pain there. So I played more golf and tried to improve. What I’m learning in golf now can benefit me later. It’s like riding a bike or swimming—you don’t forget it. But now I’m back in the gym more."

With his injuries becoming more comfortable, he is able to engage in the sport he once was the master of once more. "Yes, exactly. My knee feels better. I’m playing much more tennis again now. In the summer I played occasionally with Ivo Heuberger (a former Swiss pro player). Because my children are playing more often and better now, I join them from time to time, too." He noted his main ambition: to get back onto the court. "My goal is still to be able to play a few exhibitions again. Maybe something will happen in 2026. I’m now doing a mini build-up until the end of the year," Federer said.

When asked whether his intentions were to step back into tennis as a mentor/coach/commentator, the 44-year-old brushed these away with a more cherished focus. "Not at the moment. I’m concentrating on our children. It’s an interesting, important time now before everyone leaves home. We like being together as a family, and there’s so much to do. Juggling everything with four children is demanding. No matter who asked now, I’d decline. I don’t have time. I think everyone knows that. That’s why nobody asks," he laughed. "But never say never. Stefan Edberg hadn’t thought he’d spend two years on tour with me either. But I’m open to mentoring. If someone has a question, I’m happy to give advice. Or if I’m in Dubai at the end of the year, a player is welcome to drop by. I’m open, but I can’t be everywhere."

"The 2009 US Open final against Juan Martín del Potro," Federer picked out. "I should have won that one. Back then I had back pain in the warm-up and then missed so many chances. That was one of the matches I shouldn’t have lost. It also broke my streak at the US Open."

He had won five in a row at Flushing Meadows and was heading for a phenomenal sixth before the Argentine snuck ahead for his only Grand Slam title. Five seemed like the magic number for Federer, who a year earlier saw his Wimbledon win streak come unstuck. "My streak also ended at Wimbledon 2008. Every time a streak was on the line, the whole thing got even bigger. But at Wimbledon it somehow had to be that way. Rafa had deserved it so much. That’s why I thought afterwards: That’s okay. But against del Potro I should have won," Federer said ruefully.

He was asked about the potential of playing exhibitions with his old foe Nadal. This was something he would be down for. "It would be nice if it worked out. If we now played exhibitions after our careers, we’d have more time and wouldn’t have to immediately rush to the next thing. I could imagine combining the whole thing with a good cause, raising money for my foundation and inspiring kids. At the moment nothing concrete is planned. But I see a few cool things that could come from it."

Federer, Nadal and Novak Djokovic were members of the 'Big Three.' In their day they were unstoppable, dominating the landscape of tennis for a decade. As with all rivalries, it has come to an end with the Serbian the only one still competing at the age of 38-years-old.

While they may have been enemies on court, Federer would be open to the idea of sitting down and chatting with them one day over a drink. "Sure. Rivalries like that create a huge bond. I see it very differently today than before, with much more distance," Federer explained. "Novak doesn’t know what that’s like yet. Rafa is slowly getting there. When you’re still playing, you can’t think about it the way I do today. The more time passes, the less you identify yourself as an individual player and the more you see the big picture. What’s funny is: Someone might have taken something totally personally—and you can’t even remember it anymore. I’m definitely up for sitting down together and talking about the good old days."

His legacy on the court has been shown by his induction into the Hall of Fame. Federer stated that he was delighted to be a part of a generation which boosted the sport's growth around the world and hope to continues that long into the future.

"Many have told me I helped lead the sport into a new era—that means a lot to me. I hope I was able to help strengthen tennis globally: that more spectators come, tournaments grow, and players earn more. And that tennis stars are also recognised beyond the sport. When you talk about the most famous female athletes in the world today, you often mean tennis players—a great achievement for our sport, also thanks to pioneers like Billie Jean King. Of course there are difficult political issues in tennis. But overall I hope I’ve contributed to ensuring that the sport I love continues to flourish," he concluded.