Federer says the day-to-day of tour life, the travel and the routines, is what he loved most and what he now misses. In an interview published this month, he described the rhythm of professional tennis as something nothing in his current life can replace.

“It’s a huge part of my life that I miss and that I no longer have the opportunity to experience. I really loved the daily routine of the tour, I loved the travel.”

He is back at the arena where his career ended. Federer joined Rod Laver, Team Europe captain Yannick Noah and Team World captain Andre Agassi at The O2 on Wednesday for the traditional pre-tournament gathering, per the ATP Tour. The ninth Laver Cup runs at the arena from Friday to Sunday.

Now watching from the stands

Federer said the atmosphere of a full arena was an extraordinary feeling that carried him through decades on tour. Today, he said, he mostly consumes tennis from ordinary seats.

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“I love watching tennis, it might sound silly or weird, but I just like sitting in the stands.”

He said he does try to keep a certain distance from the sport rather than turn up everywhere, aware that showing his face constantly would look strange.

A room in the arena where it ended

At 45, Federer holds the record for 45 appearances at The O2. On Wednesday, the venue unveiled its first-ever room named after an athlete: the RF Room, with a neon yellow racquet display and a custom table tennis table set with 45 paddles, 44 white and one signed in black.

“The O2 will always be a very special place for me. To come back four years later and have a room here is a very special honor.”

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Federer played his final professional match at The O2 in the 2022 Laver Cup, sharing the doubles court with Rafael Nadal.

In a longer conversation published by the Laver Cup on Friday, Federer returned to what he hopes the sport will remember of him.

“Hopefully, I made people dream and believe that they could do it themselves.”

He also admitted there is a specific kind of anticipation from competition he still misses.

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“I miss those moments, like walking out on court, or how it would be to play against Player X.”

The ninth Laver Cup ends at The O2 on Sunday.

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