Doctor Roger Federer Will See You Now | What Now? with Trevor Noah Podcast

Do you want to? Do you want to warm up first? What do you do normally? The voice. I do the voice stuff? Yeah. You normally do like a little. No, I mean, I'm trying. I'm trying to put you in the tennis mode. No, no. Totally. Get. Didn't hit it. Can I tell you that's probably my favorite thing about tennis. is that, like you, you warm each other up? Yeah, that that is weird. It's really weird. It is super strange. There's no other sport I can think of where. the opposing athletes help each other get to the. Hey, can I give you a good rhythm so you can beat me after it? Yeah. I'm like, I've just. I've just never. I'm like, you won't see boxers doing like, the back.

Yeah. Like just like doing a little punching him straight before the. before you go to each other. This is what now. with Trevor Noah. Well, welcome everybody. to another episode of What Now? The podcast, where we have interesting conversations.

with the interesting people who make us think or feel today is. I mean, this is always one of my favorite things to do. is sit down with somebody I consider a friend, somebody. who I've got fond memories with, funny stories, whatever it may be, and really just chat. about how they see the world, what they're doing in it. And that person today is the one and only Roger Federer. You probably know him if you've lived on Earth, but if you don't, he's widely regarded as the greatest tennis player that has ever done it.

He also gives that accolade to many of his peers, who are also some of the greatest to ever do it. But today, we're talking about everything in between. A documentary entitled Federer 12 Final Days, which is exactly what it sounds like. The 12 final days of Roger Federer's. professional playing career and Yemen. Thank you so much for joining me on the podcast, friend, for sure. Good to see you to have absolute the same. I'm happy to see you again. You know, my tennis partner, man from from Cape Town. We did it together, a tennis rival.

But I mean yeah, but we were we were in it together. Yeah we were in it together. Yeah, but you can't beat me. That's amazing that you actually did that. That was crazy. 52,000 people. I mean, you just started to play. That is barely. And here you are walking out in Cape Town tonight. That was wild. Yeah. My my first and last public tennis match was against Roger Federer. Retired as well as my right. Yeah. That's it. Yeah I mean Rafa was your partner. Quit the game on top. Yeah. I don't have to say doctor. How does this work? It's up to you. But if you have any issues ever or any problems, I come to see me.

I mean, so many things. But yeah, we the doctor thing comes from, you're probably referring to my, commencement. Yeah, man. Congratulations. Thank you. That was. That was fun at Dartmouth. And, you get an honorary doctorate. So here I am sitting as a doctor, you know? yeah. a former tennis player, that's what I, I can't think of many people who would be a better doctor than you. You you're one of the most precise human beings I know. You're one of the most like you. You have everything that I think a good doctor would have, right?

And I mean, like a doctor. Like medical doctor. Yeah. You have great bedside manner. Everyone that meets you likes you, and they probably. give you more information than they should. Yeah. It's not just sharing the secrets with you, you know what I mean? You've got the precision. You've got, like, the memory, the touch, the everything. I it also seemed like emotional for you, you know, and I, I know a little bit of your story. because you were, you know, thrust into the, you know, tennis profession like, so early on, high school wasn't. the thing for, you know, college wasn't a thing for you, was it?

Was it like a little emotional experiencing. a part of life that you maybe wouldn't have otherwise? And very strange because like you said, the the academic world. and that part of life is so far away from it. Right? I knew that and I mean, so in Switzerland it's super important. Academics come first and everything else is a hobby. You know, tennis, especially sports in general. Anyways, so, for you to pursue. tennis or a sport in our country is like, what do you.

I mean, you're obviously not going to be good at it, so make sure your grades are good, you know, because this is obviously. not going to work out. Oh, wow. And so for us to dive into that and believing and dreaming of, you know, the big time is not something. that is a very common, maybe now more so, since, you know, I made it and we have more athletes making it, you know, and it's a thing. And, you can see how much, emotions actually, a athlete can bring. It can be more seen as a career, you know, but, then. Yeah, you.

I mean, I remember I tried hard, you know, when I stopped school at 16. and and chased, you know, my my tennis dream, I remember I did, French, English and German, online classes, for those because I said, oh, I got to do something after 60. I had to stop it all. Then after, you know, a couple of weeks, I asked my dad and my mom like, it's so hard. I don't have the discipline to sit down and do English and. and all that stuff. And German and French said, okay, we'll drop French, you know, I'll just do German and English.

I'm better at that than French. Foreign. They're like, okay, fine. So then, like two weeks later, like, I can't do it. Just give me a chance just to do only tennis. And if if tennis really doesn't work out, I'll go straight back to school. But please, let me go. I like, are you whittling down the language? Can't you French? No, I can't, I can't do I can't do language. I just want to hit the ball. And then here I am. You know, yesterday at Dartmouth, I mean, in my robe giving, commencement speaker is speaking, you know, to all those graduate, they're going to be so bright. They're going to be incredible people. You know?

And, yeah, I feel very humbled. And it's, it was a great moment, you know, and and you brought the family and then all the kids. Yeah. And everybody came. So it really felt like a, a deep dive into American college, you know, which I had, you know, I know very little about, obviously. I mean, in recent years, I've got to know more and more about it. So when they asked me, I started preparing because I don't give many speeches like that. So you seem natural, though, like. Thank you. like, I know this about you personally.

You're not the biggest fan of being on the mic. You're not the biggest fan of, like, being. Yeah, but I've met few people who are more natural at it. Like you, it's not just the the glamor. It's like you, you have this vibe. Like you could be a Swiss James Bond. Yeah. What is that Swiss team's blessing? Yeah, I yeah, I see him showing up. You know, I am saving everything very responsibly. Yes. Very well. You'll be on time. Yeah. That's very on time. Very. You wouldn't blow anything up? No. He would just fix things up.

He'd make them better. No, I mean yeah I mean I like being, you know, on the mic. Yeah. But then also I very much like again being gone from it all, you know. So and I think. for me most important was always try to keep sort of the authenticity, you know, just being organic myself not change too much you know, adapt fine, you know, to stardom and all that stuff. You know, that was weird in the very beginning of my of my life. but, I'm happy I got out on the other side. after this whole, like, 25 years of being in the limelight, right?

To still feel like I'm actually still a good, normal guy. You know, just. I don't take myself too serious. I like to make jokes all the time. As you know. And, so then having a conversation, like with you, like today, I knew it was going to be fun. So. I mean, thank you. Why? Why do you think that is, by the way? Like like my dad's Swiss. So I know that Swiss people aren't like, the funniest. Like, I mean, we just have to be honest. Like, what do you think it is. that gave you that little, that little spark like you. when we were doing the Swiss tourism ad? Yeah, we spent most of the day laughing. Yeah, we did.

when we were playing the tennis, we spent most of the day laughing. When when you were launching the Oliver People's collaboration. Your sunglasses. We spent most of that evening laughing. Where do you think you get that from? I mean, it has to be from traveling and getting on the road. And people have been surrounded by. I mean, as you know, when you wait around along. and you're around good fun people, that, you know, life's. serious enough most of the time. Yeah. I mean, you have a lot of time to just, you know, talk smack all the time. So that's why I think it has to come from.

From the road. I think then when I speak French, where's my French? Is, never as good as my English. I still feel like I'm a teenager. Right. So when I speak French. Oh. That's fun. I feel like I'm super young still and super silly. because the, the vocabulary is way more limited by English to me, is like the the language where I'm maybe the happiest and the most open. Okay. And maybe Swiss-German is maybe where I'm the most,

how to say the most to me, per se, where I can get into the details, because that's the language I grew up with. Most precise, of course, is the most precise. There you go. It has to be that way. So that's why I think it also has a little bit to do with all of that. I'm not sure. Yeah, yeah. For this conversation I was trying to think of like what would, what would be something that. that the listeners would really love, you know, what would they get from. Roger that they may not be able to get in another conversation. And because on the podcast, what now? What I'm always fascinated by is not just what happened,

but what that thing that happened will change for the future, you know? So sometimes if it's news or politics, it's like that. That happened. Okay, what now? But with people, I also find it interesting. because we always meet people at a moment in time, and very seldom do we get insight into where they're going to go, what they're going to do, or how they're going to do it. And then you came up with this, with this, with this documentary film or the 12 final days, and, man, I like I, I know you fairly decently, and I've been lucky enough to know you for a few years,

but there were there were parts of it that were really intimate. and really, you know, revealing. Yeah, I would say, and maybe, maybe that's the first question I have for you is like. Were you worried at any. point, like, why would you make a documentary. that is following you for the last 12 days of one of the. most illustrious careers that anyone has ever seen across any sports? You know, was there a part of you that worried that maybe you'd be. losing the intimacy of that? Totally.

And that's why I think. the best part of it all was it was not supposed to be a movie. It was just supposed to be for the vault. to put it away for my children. No way. For my team, for my friends. One one day, just so we could look back and say. like, you know, we actually grabbed some content. Because the thing is, I've been, super given opening the video. I mean, always happy to take pictures and talk to everyone, but then private is private, you know, like, nobody comes to my house.

We don't take do home stories. it's just, sort of off limits. And I tried to keep my kids out of the limelight as much as I could. Of course, that comes in some of the matches. then down the road and of course, people then see them sometimes. But for the most part, I've really tried to keep that more of a, of a private thing. So when then, well, the the career was huge. It was coming to an end. the question was, well, where was it going to be? You know, where do I retire? because I knew sort of, at some point in the summer that,

you know, my, my knee was on improving anymore, and you could see the trajectory going and, and then, you know, and some people around me really thought that I should maybe. have, at least some footage taken from the end, because I really never wanted the camera team, in my, in my life. Because I said, like, I couldn't think of anything worse. Here I am, trying to prepare for Wimbledon or French Open, U.S. open, you name it. You've got all these people around and they're here, and then,

you know, you're tying your shoes. and you know. they're looking over your shoulder, so you tie them extra nice, and then you go in front of the mirror, you put on the headband, and you make sure it's. it looks epic, you know, even though there's no difference, you just want to be focused. So I think it gave I always felt like that's not the thing. I really need in my life, and I don't want that. Okay. So then we decide that it's going to be London. 02W is RAF? I called RAF at this point and and I thought, okay,

if I can just have a camera team around. knowing that it's going to go into the vault, I'm going to be relaxed because then I can just, leave it there forever. Or if ever there is a life, doc, you know about my life. Yeah. 30 years from now. I actually have some extra footage while I still was active. I mean, there is obviously tons of footage out there, and maybe some I never and never remember. And I allowed some, behind the scenes sometimes I'd like, exhibition matches, like in South America tour I have. Yeah.

Because I just thought, okay, exhibition. You're relaxed. it's much more, on the fly. Everything. There is no rules. Whereas, you know, you're playing for so many points. and so much history that there's other events. I don't need the extra distraction. Okay. So then, the team shows up. was the Joe Sabia from 73 questions? Oh, yeah. Yeah. So I was like, okay, I need someone. I kind of know, cannot be just somebody out of nowhere. that shows up and then is in my life especially. Yeah. Especially for something so intimate. Yeah. You know, it was super intimate because I said, okay, if we.

if I bring somebody in, I mean, the guy has to come home. and I'm like, I don't want anybody at home. But he has to. Yeah. So we did that. And, you know, days go by, as I prepare in Switzerland, I release, you know, the, the news to the world that I'm retiring. I read, you know, sort of my, my audio form, a letter to the world. So I didn't know how I was going to announce it. if it was going to be a video. But I knew I was always going to regret a video. because I was going to look at it. later and go like, oh my God, that's such a bad video.

But you know, you have to do something. And then a little tweet is maybe not good enough. because that's not good enough for the career. That's not good enough as well. So I read this letter. So the crew is there as well. So they captured that. And then as I get ready and then travel to London and prepare. with the media and all that stuff, so literally the. the crew is really more. just a fly in the wall, over the shoulder, very raw footage. And then as the days go by, Joe says, I'm so sorry. This footage is so sick. It's crazy.

I mean, be such a way, such a pity if you don't share this with your fans and your people. and like, yeah, whatever. I'm not. I'm not here for that. I'm trying to cope with my emotions. You're essentially making a home video, right? So during a final moments. So it was nuts. And then of course, you know, everything's over. Joe reaches out to me, to the director, a couple, I don't know, maybe a couple of weeks later, I don't remember. He goes, look, I just put something together for you to see. 60 minutes, have a look or 50 minutes, I don't remember. Right. And, he was on zoom. I was watching it at the hotel in Zurich, and, Okay.

Cried a couple of times because, again, you go through the emotions of watching it. And I was thinking with America and Tony were watching it. and thinking, is this something that really needs to go out to the world? maybe it's just like a snapshot of, like you said, that very, very end of it all. You know, it's literally like rehab. So for me, going through it all again. Oh, and what in what way? I don't know, because, you know, it was so emotional. The end. So I think. for me to talk about it again and and emotionally go through it. all, it's it's like therapy, you know, that's feels good.

But it's, as you know, in the movie, I'm so vulnerable. Yeah. And I don't know. So I just hope that the people think. Thank you for letting me see it. So cool. You actually didn't keep it. And so when I hear that people like it, I'm just who I'm just relieved. because it was so hard. the end. I know, I know for a fact that people are going to love it. because it's it's it's not just the fact that they're. watching a documentary about Roger Federer.

It's it's the fact that you are bringing them. into a space that we very seldom get to see, which is the human side of being an athlete. Do you know what I'm saying? When we watched the documentary and when we think about. team mates, relationships, partnerships, I think. arguably the greatest doubles partnership of all time. is you and Mirka. I watched the two of you. I've seen you at everything from the Met Gala to,

Yeah, just like, like a little vacation together to, you know, chilling in Switzerland to whatever it is the two of you have. the most beautiful synchronized sea between you as human beings. Thank you. I've always. I've always wondered what that what that is like, you know. What do you think it is about me? That. That that enables you to go off and become the greatest of all time? What would like what do you what do you think it is about her? And what do you think? You in turn give her as well, because the two of you really have.

a wonderful synergy as human beings. I mean, I think you have to go back to the early days, you know, where, when, we got together, pretty much at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. I was young at the time, America was, you know, in the middle of her. career, start to having some heel, Achilles issues. And I was struggling after the surgery to come back. I remember she was on crutches, walking all the way through Paris at the time. Super tough moments, you know, and she was on crutches for a long time.

Yeah. I mean, over a months, I think, you know, at the time I was like, oh my God. I mean, how long are you having these crutches for? I thought, like, it's just a surgery. And we get back up on the horse, you know, and you keep going. And then she's doing rehab. Always pain. and then I told about. Why don't you just, I mean, retire, I mean, like, this is not the idea of playing. tennis with pain all the time, and then we can be on tour together. And I was, you know, on the ascent of starting. to win Wimbledon top ten, world number one. And she's like, yeah, you're right.

You know the let me I'm done. That's good. And then wow. And then here we are. Me oh I don't know if I should retire I'm 36. you know, 3738. You know it's so hard to retire. And I'm thinking of her. She just, like, went like, okay, I'm done. You know, it's no problem. So what's the big deal? I'm like, well, and I'm here. I'm like, it's the biggest deal in the world. to retire and make it so emotional that I love the game so much. She does too, but I think she loved the tour. through my career and the travels and the logistics behind.

and like, being, you know, my rock really through thick and thin. And she's been incredible, you know, throughout, and then first half, thankfully we had it with no children. and thankfully we had it with children. You know, the second half, you know, and that's obviously like. that was a whirlwind of a life, that we had. And I missed that, to be honest. Like creating that home away from home experience, like in a room. like this, creating a corner where the kids would be playing. And then I would jump in and out.

and read a book and go build, Lego together and whatever we did, you know, create little corners like, this was great. So America has been phenomenal, you know, and I think that's why. I also was so hard for her at the end. when she could see the suffering that I was going through with my knee. And she's like, this is not the Roger that. I know, who you know who can crush everybody and beat everybody and. have a good time. If you lose this, no problem. But if he loses, at least you know he's feeling okay. But I she could see what I was going through on a daily basis. So I think we were all super relieved at the end.

And you know, in the movie as well, she speaks to the she speaks to camera, which she hasn't done in like 18 years. People don't even know her voice, you know, because she's like, I'm done with the media because once. she was taking care of the press. and I just thought that was a not a great situation to have your, you know, your wife or girlfriend at the time take care of the press. and all you say is 99% of the times, oh, I'm so sorry. Roger doesn't have time to do media. Yeah. So she got a bad rap for that. So then we said like, well, why not just stop doing that? We give it to somebody else and and she won't do any more interviews.

Who knew that she was not going to do interviews for like 18 years. And she did one just quick one now for the, you know, for the for the media. at the end, we just wanted to capture just to see how she felt. And actually, the beautiful thing was, I think when she was speaking to camera, I was actually in the bedroom of the the girls. I believe the boys were there, too, maybe. And I told them that I was retiring because I didn't tell them. until I read the audio form at home, because I didn't want them.

to tell their their friends, their friends. And then it leaked. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And we were crying in the bedroom. She's crying in the front, talking about how much the career and. how much I've meant to meant to her and I mean, she's been incredible. I mean, throughout. because it hasn't been easy for her, but, you know, by any stretch and, but, so much fun and we look back with great, great memories. We're going to continue this conversation. right after this short break.

And one of my favorite moments. is where you're sitting in the in the change room. And I think it's it's, you're going to be playing against. Francis, right? It's like it's for the doubles match and you. and you talking about your knee. yeah. And you say, like, half joking, you go. If I knew it was going to be what it is. You know what? I'm paraphrasing you. If I knew it was going to be like this, I would have never gotten it. I would have never gotten into it in the first place.

And, you know, I, I obviously don't take it literally. I don't think you would have never done it. But. I do think people can take for granted. how much sacrifice goes into a career like yours. You know, physical sacrifice, mental sacrifice, the time sacrifice of life. When you look at your body. now, your mind, your your, your everything. Do you ever take stock and think to yourself, man, I, I really gave a lot to tennis as a career.

Yeah. And, especially when I see, like, yesterday, you know, you see the French Open finals. Alcaraz, Zverev. Five sets and they're. chasing each other around the corner. I'm like, I did that too. You know I did that too many, many times. yesterday at, when I was the commencement speaker, I was talking about that, that I played 1526 matches. I had to look it up. How many I did that made me realize, like, oh, there was a lot of tennis, a lot of running. And I. I'm so relieved that I don't have to go through it anymore, you know? You know, because, I mean, as fun as it was,

but the especially towards the end, I remember, I mean, the warm ups, you know, the stretching to warm up, to go warm up, then tennis, to take a break to then warm up the body again. Yeah. To then go play, you know, a match. I mean it was. a massive, monumental effort to do that. Now you can tell like, well what's the big deal. It's just tennis. Yeah, it's just tennis. But it's it's your life and you and you've been trying to. You tried to perform at your best in front of people, and you know that better than anybody. And perform in front of people.

Just adds that extra pressure. There's no okay, cut. Let's do that again. That didn't work out. Like you're out there and you're vulnerable and it's tough. So I honestly, I feel super relieved. And I see any athlete that or any person who performs. at the highest of level, especially at, with a live audience. You know, I, I respect them and I'm so happy I have that. But it almost feels like it was a different me now. I don't know, you probably still so in the thick of it, you know. But no, no, you know what? I actually I actually agree with that. This know. Yeah. Because it's funny and we talked about this like,

you announced like, your departure from tennis around the same time. as departing from The Daily Show. And I think I can relate to many of the things you're saying. There's there's a moment in your life that is defined by a certain action. and activity. You know what it's going to be like when you wake up. You know what it's going to be like when you go to bed. Actually, your body starts to get used to it. Your mind starts to get used to it. And when you step out of it, like you said, there's there's the. there's the grief of what you've let go of, but then you start to experience like a little newness, a little free,

a little, you know, like for me, my version of the of the, you know, no tennis one of his some days I don't read the news. Yeah. Now I can just do that. I just go before. you had to know what was going on, I would be at parties. I'll never forget this. I was in, like, a dinner party. And in the middle of the dinner party, a notification came up on my phone. There was breaking news, and I literally stepped away from the table. and I went to read, you know, just because I was like, I don't want to not know what this is because my job requires it. And now I'm just like a phone off.

Yeah, let's see what happens. But I'm I'm sure like that for you. Right. Similar to to me now as well, where I feel at the most is where, you know, if I'm with my children or with my friends, I don't really have to think about tomorrow's practice or interest, tomorrow's match, you know, like where all of a sudden you're sitting there, I don't know, you're having a good time, but you're thinking, so when he goes back and down the line on me. and I'm on the phone on the run, do I hit it back up to nine? Or do I call crosscourt and know, hey, you know, you're like, you end up visualizing it, so don't don't rush away from that.

This is. No, this is this is fascinating to me. I've always wondered. this about about like the best athletes in the game. You have memories and and visualizations that, you know, I would, would want to replicate. Yeah. Talk to me a little bit about that. So you you're going into a match. You know a match is coming up in the, in the next few days. you visualizing what the match will be. and how your opponent plays, and you're basically. playing the match in your head before the match.

Yes. I mean, yes, absolutely. And, I think some do it, by watching video. I didn't watch a lot of video, of my opponent, even though towards the end I did, because there's a couple of things. that worked for me is, the memory of remembering. how it feels to play an opponent, then what I would want to do. So how does that match up together then? How is my opponent played that particular week compared to. how have we matched up against each other, let's say the last ten years,

you know, and then you have fast court. Slow court. So all of that matters. How do I feel that week? The things I've been doing maybe prior to the match. Yeah. have I been playing aggressive? Have I been playing more safe? am I carrying an injury or not? How do I feel? And then especially against, the best players, the ones I played. the most against, you know, it's always, it's a game of chess. Like, for pattern, who gets the patterns they want. Right? And that's then when you realize, well,

okay, it's very clear what he wants. It's very clear what I want. You know, the question is like, are we is one of us going to back out of it. or we just going to say like, okay, let's see what you got on the day? He might not have a best day. Maybe I don't have my best day. So obviously there's this clash at the beginning. And then you got to decide that we keep going. Or do we like start deviating from it. And that's where like a skier, you know, who sees the ski slope. Yes. We see those same patterns. I was. saying to before, like if he goes, I don't know, short angle.

cross court, do I have to go back, cross court and let him try to thread. the needle up the line? Or do I take charge and say, like, do I go up the line and break, break it up? But then does. it look like an escape from me or is that a specific play I use? You know, and then all this also, statistics stuff. came in towards the end of my career, which can really, make you, make your, I should say your your mind crazy. Yeah. How how do you feel about that? Because this is something that I've, I've heard from athletes.

across all disciplines. You know, I remember sitting with, like, a few players from the Premier League. and, and Syria and they were telling me how in, in football, in soccer now it's all become data analytics. So back in the day the coach would tell you. this is how you should move. This is what you should do and have fun. And now a coach goes, no, when that player gets the ball, we all move like this. You come down, you move up. You to that. When that player gets the ball, you do this correct. because 70% of the time they're going to cross the ball over here. That's 82% of the time they're going to pass it.

across this 23% of the time. if you press them they're going to do this completely. But that's coming as well. And with tennis I've heard that this is also increasing where. now they give players like a book and they say study this. Yeah, these are the percentage odds. for what your opponent is going to be doing or not. doing in these types of situations, but like, how do you get that in your head? So that's the thing. I am very much the the guy who, you know, likes to go with my power. Okay, I believe that. I don't know, playing attacking. tennis, attacking, breaking down my opponent's back end is to play.

So obviously not going to just hit into the backhand. all the time and try to break it. I know. you have to. open it up through the forehand, so then the backhand corner gets bigger. and then obviously you can hit it. hard into the backhand corner, spinning into the backhand corner. Slice it short, long. You do all these things. And then when let's say the. the most important moments come around, that's when you. then ask your opponent all the questions that you, you know, you've been massaging that the bad side, let's say. so many times that he has these. his doubts that he he doesn't want to hit. all those different types of backhands.

Let's just say, yeah, yeah, now. and then, you know, you thought you think it through with your, your coaches. and you have a game plan. Then of course, you can think about all the problems. and all the strength your opponent has. But in my I feel like in my best years. I just focus almost on my own game and the rest I'll wing it. and I'll figure it out towards the end. Then, like you said, this analytics came in. and then you would hear that I don't know. On break point, he would hit 73% chance that he goes to your backhand. So now what do you do. Do you say like well obviously I'm waiting here on the backhand side.

Or do you say like well hold on a second. He knows that I know. So I know he knows. And then he actually burns you up to for it through the forehand. So you just so that's where I have preferred sometimes not to know. I just go with the feeling. of how the last game went where he was serving. Was he making the last serves? Was he missing them? Was he going for it? What was he doing? And I just go with the intuition. So that part I enjoyed less you know when it got so. Yeah, so specific.

Like a formula one car everything. So everything becomes predictable. Yeah. Let me, let me ask you this on a, on a philosophical level then, you know, do you. hearing you talk about this makes me. think of how you can apply this to many things in life. Now, you know, in, in society, sometimes the downfall of data. is that it looks backwards. It doesn't look forwards, you know, so you go, this has happened. Ergo it will happen as opposed to realizing that if you do something. new, you can change the data. You know, in relationships, people will talk about this.

They go like sometimes when couples are fighting, you go like, oh, why don't you buy her flowers? Oh, she doesn't care. She'll just tell me. This is like, well, you're using the data now. to assume something about somebody's future action. And it's interesting that you talk about that. because everyone who's a fan of tennis. and a fan of you is always gone. It feels like you're flowing. It feels like you. It feels like you're walking through. It feels like you have this idea, you know, but I but I like. I wonder now what that brain is doing now. that there isn't tennis to think about, because that brain, it's not like your brain just goes away.

It's not like it branches turns off. So what's what's Roger applying that brain to now? Or do you get to rest that and think of something else? I have the feeling maybe like you said, Trevor, it's maybe a little bit. of a holding position, a little bit of a resting phase. Okay. I have retired just five minutes ago. Where were we? Let's pause here. Yeah. This is your resting phase. I mean, resting phase, as in, wait wait wait wait wait wait. Yeah. Roger, no one's going to pull you out. No, this is your resting phase, yo.

Okay. Let's let's. Okay. Let's go launching a sunglasses brand that was sold out in minutes. All right. Continuing. to, like, blow up one of the fastest growing sports brands in the world. Right? Which is on traveling around the world. Still would like as a Rolex ambassador, still being the face. of tennis, releasing a documentary going around the like. This is your resting face. Well, I feel like this. I say it because this year in particular, I was very strong with my wife to say, you know, let's plan. all our vacations super early. Okay?

So nobody can say like, oh, by the way, can you come to, to this one thing? Okay. And I'm like, yeah, that that makes sense. I'm in Vietnam right now, you know, or I will be in Vietnam at this time, or I'll be in Bangkok. I'll be, you know, somewhere around the world. So I really protected my schedule. I feel at a very good level this year. I'm really happy we did that. I told you, we were just came back six weeks from, from Asia, from an amazing trip in Thailand. Before that, we were in Japan, last October, and,

we had a wonderful Christmas in the Maldives, you know, so things. I really, really looked forward to for many, many years. while still on tours that one day I can go visit places, without the stress of having to practice. or actually play another match there. And it's also, you say this and it's been great for me. to do that, so I know I'll get back into it. And then, like you said, I have all these projects, you know, that all of a sudden came about, but not almost. because I wanted them so badly. They came back organically. Yeah. I mean, on the just around the corner.

So I go to the offices and we talk about stuff some day. I just signed with on that. So that's been so cool, by the way, that that story is amazing on so many different levels. Like Zendaya is easily I mean, she's just in. the stratosphere of her career. You know, everything she touches turns to gold. But I also love the connection to the fact that, like, she just put out the movie challenges and All about tennis. It's all about tennis. But what's interesting, and this is what I, what I love about. the serendipity of how some things tie together, the movie challenges.

seems like it's about tennis, but I argue it's not. It just happens in the world of tennis. And it's really a movie about relationships. it's really a movie about expectations. It's a movie about pressure. It's a movie about self-identity. You know what I mean? And in that movie in, in the movie. Zendaya's character and spoiler alert, if you haven't watched it, just skip this part. Zendaya's character, is probably going to be the best tennis player in the world.

She suffers an injury. She can't play her role changes dynamically. And and it's all about this. And there were some people who said, oh man, this sort of reminds me of like Roger and Mika's story. And and then the very directors. But the director came out and said, no, that's exactly what inspired me. Said he was fascinated by his suffering through it. Yeah. The 2019 Wimbledon finals. Wimbledon was on. Yeah. You're on the court and the camera and it. And that's what they do at Wimbledon, right? They always go from from player to team or player to wife of player.

to coach. Right. And it's such a tennis thing because in American football. or baseball or football, they don't always cut to the team. Yeah, right. But in tennis it's such a thing. Don't go anywhere because we got more. What now after this. It feels like. you've brought your precision, your thoughtfulness. and your joy out of tennis into another idea.

And that that is a sports brand. I know you're really thoughtful about why. And you know why you do or don't do things. so I I've been lucky enough to be in Switzerland with you and to, like, feel you moving through space. Like when were in the train station, for instance. This, this. Do you apply that to yourself as well as Roger? Like, do you feel that you have. you know, maybe an obligation is the wrong word, but I can't think of a better one right now to really represent Swiss.

identity, to represent Switzerland, to really represent the people. I think we are proud of our Swiss made and, you know, like we do it, with precision and. Well, and, when, you know, there's like a Swiss cross. and something, it's. supposed to be done to a level that, not many other countries. can bring it to. And maybe, you know, Italy when it comes to really beautiful. clothes, or Japan when that, you know that the craftsmanship is, is. really special. And I think the Swiss angle has that as well. You know, we're very proud of it. Like with our, you know, watches and cheese and chocolate.

and, and mountains and whatever it is, you know, we're very proud of it all, as you saw, you know, when we did the Swiss tourism out together. So yeah. but on an individual level, though, it hasn't always been that way. Like in the early Swiss. okay. This is the way I've perceived it, you know, like, you know, having family members in Switzerland and spending a little time up there, it's like Swiss culture is also a little bit of like, hey, don't stick out too much. I'm sure we're all equal. We're all doing this thing. We're all as important as the other.

And so in many ways, like the of personality. So at the beginning it was funny. Like I didn't feel like, yeah, sure. I'm proud to represent Switzerland when it was, a team sport. and it's a game. Switzerland, you know, like, say in the Davis Cup or Olympics and so forth. But, you know, when I was traveling on my own and. I feel like, yeah, sure, I represent Switzerland, there was a Swiss flag, but never to the extent towards sort of the second half of my career. when I really started feeling the Swiss people really proud of me. They were very excited for me. And every year that went by and the more famous I became, yeah,

the more important it was for me to represent Switzerland. the right way, because I know that the they care. Yeah, we're subdued about it. We're not like, let's not make a big fuss about it, but we really are. And honestly, they, you know, it's hard to get them out of their shells, you know, like shells. and come like, say like, okay, Roger's the greatest. Whatever. I know he's good. You know, we like him. And when maybe I'm not around, you ask a Swiss guy like, oh, he's amazing. You. I was so proud of him. So that's been amazing to see. What's funny is most of them don't even say, Federer.

They always say, Roger that. I love the most. Genuinely, everywhere I go, they come up to me. and the like and they're like, Trevor, Daniel. I could see. And then like, we saw your thing with Roger. Like. Yeah, with Roger. Yeah, it's it's very. We love Roger. How he's but they also Roger, which I think is a testament to how they see, you know, and I've always tried to keep that connection going. I've done I mean, countless hours of Swiss. media as well, because it would have been easy. just to say, let's just keep it to English. Right? Regulatory save time and stuff. But I always knew I was going to live in Switzerland. I love the kind of they've then been the best.

So it's been it's been great, right? I could be happier. So let's talk a little bit about, you know, you enjoying this this relative new freedom. You know, just being able to try everything knowing there's no match coming up. Knowing there's no you know, even for your body. You just like wake up the way you wake up and do your thing. You posted a video on Instagram hitting a golf ball. Oh right. And golfing. So again, have you played golf much? I know I wouldn't say I've played golf. I'll say if I hit a golf ball. I don't think what I, what I did wasn't playing I I'm terrible.

I also don't get it to be honest with you, I really I loved learning tennis and I still play when I get a chance. Good I enjoy it. Yeah. Golf I never, you know. But you posted the video. Yeah. And is this what. So first of all, how new are you at it really. Because it was flawless. No it I know it looked good, but it looked very good. But those those balls, you know, they have a. they have a way to, to slide over, you know, that's funny. Oh my God. But, no, I've played throughout my, my life on the road.

Okay, okay. And then, but never to the extent like where Rafa. Yeah, yeah. Henman and other players, you know, they played all the time. Every chance. Yeah. The golf. they would go out on the game and me, I was especially the last say. eight years or so, I've maybe played like 3 or 4 times. You know what I, my, my parents both liked it. They like to go out. So then I was like, you know, I'll never go out there and. start golf if my wife start into it or my kids are not into it. Yeah, this just takes me to. too much time out there, and I have other things to do.

I'm too busy. And anyway, my knee, it was crazy. So I was like, I don't need to agitate the knee. So now in December, I was in Dubai. I was like, why don't I, like, take a few lessons and see, how it is, you know, for the first time, maybe a lesson, I don't know, I thought that my technique was okay. Yeah, but obviously I was still very. I'm still at the moment, very erratic with my shots. And I'll never forget the second lesson. I take my golf coach. She tells me, a golf pro and a golf coach. he tells me, what are you thinking about.

when you stand over the ball like that? I'm like, I mean, I hope it goes straight, you know? I mean, when you think of something else. What? I don't know what else I could think of. He goes like that is the Holy grail, my friend. Because, I mean, you have so many things. to think about normally, about your positioning, your backswing impact and follow through. So I'm like, okay, so you already on the right path. just thinking I will be straight for lessons later. I stand over the ball and I tell him. I you know what, I know what you're saying.

Here I am lining up and everything's like ultra tense. It's not relaxed anymore. I'm not even thinking about where I'm hitting the ball. I just want the back swing to be okay. and the impact and the follow through. And it's wild how golf is so technical. Yeah. And you know, you stand there and you can take so much time, so effortless. But it's actually not right. And tennis you're kind of always on the move. It's like we would be tinkering with our serve for life. I mean of course you get nuts. You know, just, you know, doing the same position. You get to go like, no, let's just adjust it ever so slightly.

And every adjustment has a as an impact. So anyway what I why I like golf is going out. And then especially everybody started to play as well the kids. and everything. And I just really thought also for philanthropy. you know for maybe the foundation stuff. I know that maybe through golf. I could be out there because maybe tennis, I can always be out there, but it gives me a chance to maybe. have some some fun golf events join, or I could do with my foundation. and I could play for the rest of my life. So why not take some lessons? And that's what I'm going through right now.

Let's let's talk a little bit about, another aspect. of, of, of the film that for me really, I think is. one of the main pillars of, of who Roger Federer is. You can't watch this, this documentary. and not think about how important relationships are. you know, when you when you're watching. the final 12 days of, of your career, one of the scenes that is I mean, everyone's. probably going to cry when they watch it and it's a good cry.

is watching you and and and the team and it's like Team Europe. and you're saying goodbye and it's this, this whole thing. And everyone has cried. You know, you've taken center stage and you've spoken. and and Rafa's crying and you walking into the change rooms together. and then Rafa goes off and he goes off into another room. because he's still crying and he's so emotional. This maybe. is something that that I think is not just. a beautiful testament to you, but it's it's an interesting. look at relationships and how we think of them.

There is no greater rival in your career than Rafael Nadal. Yeah. You know, this is the person who was always between you and. another Grand Slam, another great and obviously Novak came into power. But you and Rafa, we think of as being synonymously, you know, head to head all the time. You wouldn't think in most stories. that the person who would cry more than you. Would be your number one quote unquote rival.

And yet it seems like it wasn't necessarily a rivalry. It seems like it was a competition. And there's a love as brothers. Tell me a little bit about that relationship and, and how you were still able to compete. at the highest level against somebody like that. Beat them, have them beat you, but then still have that love between you. So I think what I like about the story of now. take tennis as a whole, sure, we can take Rafa, but we can also take Novak or Maria or Branko, whoever we want to take. But let's say take Rafa, to come through a career.

of 25 years or 15, whatever. It's long. A lot of matches, a lot of tough battles, like you said. You know, you you win some, you lose some, some. You don't like him, and you like him again. then you don't like his team, or you don't like his coach, and then they have a problem with you. And you said something. He said something. And, you know, there's always this agitation, but actually there's mutual respect and so forth. And then to come out at the end of it all and actually be like,

high five, that that was cool, that stuff was cool. And you know what? Can't wait to maybe hang out more in the future. Or hopefully we'll see each other again. down the road and be on a on a rocking chair one day. and we'll look back and go like, that was fun and thank you. and I said that as well in the commencement speaker. speech yesterday, I thanked all the players. for making me better. and showing me my flaws, you know, for making me hope for the better. Not just a tennis player, but also a better person, you know? So I think this last 12 days, you know, that. we're going to see, coming out now is is a beautiful story.

as a whole, I think, for that message, because I think a lot of time we, we tell the other, you know, the. as a coach or a father or whoever it is, you have to be, you have, you got to be tough. and you got to take him down and you got to beat him up. And you know, you got to be there wanting to win. And you got to show everybody. And you can be the nicest. And so and like, yeah, I get it. But it's just tennis or it's just sports and. come on let's be friendly and nice to one another. And we can do it in a good way, in an elegant way.

I always call it, you know. So I think that moment, shows that in a perfect way. Like you said, the segue from from the court, we come into the locker room, and I just felt it was very important. for me to also tell all the other players that they. ended up being. this, this costar in this movie, which was never supposed to be one. And I just wanted to let them know, because I didn't know. at the time this was going to be a movie. I just wanted to let them know. Thank you for being here. Thank you for.

I hope, you know how much this means to me. that you guys were all here and you came to my last game, even though at the time when they signed up, they didn't know it was going to be my last game. Maybe. Yeah, yeah, you'd have to ask them. if they how happy they were to be there. And I think Rafa maybe in particular he was not ready for it to go down. So emotional. Yeah. So crazy. Just wanted to like I'll play doubles. with you and be great and we'll be there and it'll be, you know, a tad emotional at the end, you know, but. I think we nobody knew that it was going to be this intense.

because I think there was this beauty. we had this moment where we could just take it all in. and right our careers with flashing in front of our eyes, especially for them who are still going there. Like, we are so fortunate. I think all of us, that we are living as a tennis player. We're so fortunate to still be going, hopefully, you know, no, that can go on crushing every record. I mean, hopefully Murray can play as long as his, hip allows him to. And he still has the hunger. Rafa knew that. he was in a tough spot as well, and he hopes that he can still win. as much as possible. Yeah, and here I am.

They're one of their big rivals going out. and seeing that live in slow motion almost go out. And it was tough. And that's why I think the movie. is going to be really beautiful of showing that. And I hope actually in many ways that many future. great athletes or not so great, it doesn't matter, will maybe give us. a glimpse into the retirement moment because we don't know how. Maybe a formula one driver, a rugby player, a golfer, how they retire, what they have to go through. on that final stretch when you head into retirement at a. at a young age, you know, I mean gymnast to do it at 20.

something years old, you know, I know I had the chance to play till 40, 41, you know. So I think everybody does it in their way. So I think, like you said, there's. these beautiful moments like in the locker room, super raw, super, unexpected as well in many ways. But it was it's again, it's a beautiful sign of camaraderie. I know we're a team at the labor come, but still, for me to be able to tell them in a very strong moment, was actually at the press conference like a couple of days earlier,

if you remember where I talk about I am so happy. where I grabbed the mic one more time. and I just had to say it in front of everybody. Here I am sitting was, I mean, Borg and Rafa Novak, Andy. and Kasper and Mateo and, and Cameron and everybody was there. And I'm just saying how happy I am that I get to go first, you know? And it's not like Rafa retiring before me. or Novak or Andy, but actually, I go first like it was supposed to be, because I am five, six years older than them. and, I hear what you're saying. It would have been painful for me to see one of the goals injury.

So I was supposed to be going first? Yeah, I had a career without them in the beginning, early years, and they should have won without me too. So I just felt it was important for them to hear that the press, for them to hear that. And I just thought it was a for me, a very strong emotional moment. You can see it. However, then when I walk out from the press conference, I'm like, oh God, this was a brutal press conference. But, you know, we're getting closer to the match. So we're we're almost there. We're almost done. So, so, so let me ask you this.

When you have that kind of supports, you know, when you have. that camaraderie, like where do you where do you find it now? Because while tennis took a toll on your body, it also gave you something on an emotional level. It gave you something on a mental level. Where do you search for that now? Where do you find it? So I'm happy that we always kept a really nice, group of friends. throughout the world, but also in Switzerland. I always have my roots down. I think that I can really thank my wife as well. Especially to always keep in touch with everybody.

Yeah, because I always worry for players. And when players ask me for advice or, you know, you mentor them sometimes or they're in a tough spot, I always tell them, you know, remember to keep in touch with your friends. because one day you know, maybe going to be injured. or your career is over, you're going to come home. What are you going to come home to, you know, an apartment. That's it, a house, I mean, but a house with no people. or an apartment has no friends around. It's going to be it's and it's a lot of fun. It's not a home. Yeah. So I feel like that's now where our big focus is as well.

That's why I was talking about like, taking a bit of a break. Maybe it's not a real break, but you know what I'm. so annoyed is I actually bought a whole actually going to weddings, going to birthday parties, going to things that I could never do. Yeah. And actually catching up with that, but also maybe giving my friends. their time now because they invested so much time in me too. I know they love the trip to Wimbledon and come to London. and then come watch a game of me I know and I organize a ticket. And so. but they still took their vacation, or they took time out to come see.

me play. And I now return the favor by going, just trying to see. a lot of my friends. And I feel like I get. quite a lot of energy and a lot of happiness from that. Well, Roger, before I let you go, there's, the question that I love to. ask everybody on the podcast is what now? And it could apply to everything. It could apply to anything. I'm selfishly curious about this one. Is the what now for, for for your career. When we first sat down and had like a real conversation.

like this was literally my final 12 days. Yeah. Of the Daily Show. That's right. You know second last. Yeah. Second, second to last question. Yeah. No, I think you were the last. You might have been the last question. How did that feel for you. The like the and then did you also feel emotionally where you like. So yeah I actually this is great. Happy. So this is the way I think. And I would love to know how you view it. You know, I think any ending that is good. should leave you with a little bit of mourning or regrets.

Yeah. Any ending that that is good. Anything that has ended when it should end. should have you just yearning a little bit for more. Yeah. You know, when I was, when I was leaving The Daily Show, I wasn't like, good riddance. There's a part of me going. and we'll be good to continue it would have. maybe I should just a little bit more maybe. But I think that's what it should be. Yeah. If you're leaving anything a relationship, a job, a career in sport and you're like, oh, thank God it's gone, then I argue, it's too late. Yes, yes. You've overstayed. Yeah.

You know. So definitely for me it was. And then just like you, you know, there was. there's a whole period in between where we couldn't. really do much in those strikes and everything. Oh yeah. And then we won the Emmy for the show. So it was like, we got to come back and celebrate that. And it's like, you know, you going back to Wimbledon? Yeah. Being in the space but not being in. the space comes with a different feeling. You get to feel new emotions. Yeah. Yeah. You're super distant but like exactly the same with the documentary. Now it's like you get to live that moment again but not be in it.

Yeah. Which is an interesting way to feel. So I guess like. Yeah. What now for you as, as Roger the person like because really the. sky's the limit. Yeah. So what now? I think I'm still in the search mode. I'm not exactly sure what it's going to be like. Yeah, I've been trying to like I explain. before, protect the schedule a little bit, make sure I'm a dad. You know, boys are ten girls a 14. It's a big deal. Right now. I feel like it's an important time for me to be around and support them. Help them. So going through the schedule, with Mirka and,

with the kids, making sure we do all of that stuff as much as we can. Well, right. I think it's, is a huge priority for me. And then while we do that, of course, try to have fun with other projects that we're working on. You mentioned so many. We're also working on a Selene project, you know, that comes out a table, a cup of coffee table book in September. Okay. launch going to be in New York, actually. so I'm looking forward to that. And then I think as we move forward, you know, I think,

I think I will know more, let's say, in a year's time or so, because I feel like I'm still a little bit in let's relax, let's. enjoy ourselves, but have some cool projects. and take that on. So that's going to be a definitely, you know, a priority for me as well. so pretty laid back, you know, always. see what is the tennis space doing for me? problem is I think either you're a coach mentor. or you are a, journalist or let's say commentator.

Yeah. And I just don't see myself doing that quite yet. because I just don't have the time, you know? Okay. Next to being there for my children. So, so really a bit of a transition phase two. And I think, it's a good spot to be in. It's a great spot. Yeah. It's a really accepted. It's a great spot. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. And whereas I feel like if I look back. maybe nine months ago, I wasn't so sure. I just felt like I need to dive into the next project, maybe know what it was I did. I was I supposed to go there? I feel like where everywhere I go and right now.

I feel like I'm happy to be there. That's amazing man. Well, great. Roger, congratulations again. You know, and then thank you for sharing it with us. I do think it's it's wonderful for people to see. all sides of a career that affected them. it's such a such a wonderful way. So, this is really great. Thank you, my friend. Thank you. Love being on the podcast. Well, I happy for you too, but thank you very much. Thank you.

What now with Trevor Noah is produced by Spotify Studios. in partnership with Day Zero Productions and Fulwell 73. The show is executive. produced by Trevor Noah, Ben Winston, Farnaz Yamin and Jody Avigan. Our senior producer is Jeff Hackel, Marina Hankie, and Claire Slaughter. Oh, our producers. Music mixing and mastering by Hannah Brown. Thank you so much for listening. Join me next Thursday for another episode of What Now?