Ciao Roger - A farewell almost without tears, right?

Oliver Fischer

16.9.2022

Translation: machine translated

That Roger Federer's official retirement is not in the too distant future is something I've been saying with conviction for three or four years now, isn't it? Nevertheless, the news on Instagram caught me on the wrong foot - and I briefly felt so connected to the grand seigneur of world tennis that I had a tear in the corner of my eye.

All eyes on Roger Federer

In his official retirement statement on Instagram, Roger Federer thanks all those people who have accompanied him through his career, supported him and believed in him
.
And this - I imagine - is how these people have seen Roger Federer over the past up to 24 years:

Mirka

Since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Roger has been Prince Charming to Mirka. [[image:68673766 "Bild: shutterstock"]]

Children

What else could a dad be but (at the very least) Superman - and playmate - to his children. [[image:68673748 "Bild: pixabay"]]

Parents

No matter how big, old or global superstars children become, for parents they always remain "their baby." [[image:68673757 "Bild: unsplash/kennyeliason"]]

Sister

Boxing bag, role model, playmate - a big brother can be many things, but above all a constant companion. [[image:68673756 "Bild: unsplash/kevingent"]]

Coach

Whoever was the oldest number 1 in the world rankings at 36 and was still working on his comeback at 41 probably only knows "beast mode". Although he never described himself as a world champion in training. [[image:68673754 "Bild: unsplash/aloragriffiths"]]

Swiss Tennis

Without wanting to hurt anyone's religious feelings, Swiss Tennis can no longer see Roger Federer as anything other than THE saviour, at least since his first Grand Slam title in 2003. [[image:68673753 "Bild: unsplash/davidecantelli"]]

Current team

No question who was the alpha dog in Roger's wolfpack, is there? [[image:68673752 "Bild: shutterstock"]]

Sponsors

I know as little as anyone about exact figures. But the return on investment should have been okay for Roger's sponsors. [[image:68673751 "Bild: unsplash/jakeallen"]]

Opponents

The (sheer) invincible Titan (okay, a much more sympathetic Titan than Marvel supervillain Thanos) Roger was for his opponents for years. [[image:68673750 "Bild: pixabay"]]

Fans

Roger does love the Swiss mountains. But not because of that, his fans see him as Geiss. But because for them he is the GOAT (Greatest of all times). [[image:68673749 "Bild: unsplash/rayaucott"]]

That's what Roger Federer has been in the eyes of so many people over the past 24 years.

And that's probably how most of these people have felt since the retirement announcement:

They are desperately trying to hold back the tears ... [[image:68683509]]

.. Until they remember that Roger himself never held back his tears - and let go. [[image:68683364]]

Oliver Fischer

Teamleader Editorial

Oliver.Fischer@digitecgalaxus.ch

Globetrotter, hiker, wok world champion (not in the ice channel), word acrobat and photo enthusiast.

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