Roger Federer on new documentary, 'Final Twelve Days:' It shows 'the vulnerability that goes into retirement'

The Swiss tennis star played his final professional match in September of 2022.

4 minBy Nick McCarvel
Roger Federer stars in a new documentary, 'Twelve Final Days'

(Getty Images 2024)

Roger Federer always pulls a crowd in New York City - except this time it wasn't for the US Open in Queens.

Monday (10 June) Federer instead drew the attention of on-lookers at the premiere of his new documentary, Federer: Final Twelve Days, which is due out later this month (20 June).

The documentary, which streams on Prime Video, follows Federer across the final 12 days of his career in September 2022, culminating with his final match: Doubles with longtime rival Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in London.

The film footage was never meant to be public, but part of the reason for Federer's moving ahead with the project was to help the public better understand the retirement process - and how layered it can be for a top athlete.

"I think an athlete's journey is emotional, but I think also seeing the beautiful friendships that we create, the bonds, and then - through rivalry - they can be quite unbreakable actually," he told Olympics.com. "Because you share those memories if you like them or not. And I think that's the beauty of this film, as well."

Federer's former foes Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, are all featured in the documentary. The foursome was formerly called men's tennis' "Big 4" for their dominance, in particluar Federer, Nadal and Djokovic (aka the "Big 3"), who combined to claim 66 singles titles and eight Olympic medals among them.

"It's supposed to be a feel-good film," Federer said. "But also [it's about] the suffering and the vulnerability that goes into the retirement... as well as the happiness and the gratitude you have. So I think there's so much to it. Some parts will resonate probably with a lot of people."

"Some other parts... probably not, [like], 'Why is Roger crying all the time?'" Federer added, laughing. "'Why's he struggling through this process he's just a tennis player?' I get it."

Roger Federer on tennis: 'It's been my life'

Federer has kept a low profile in the sport since playing that final match nearly two years ago, with an appearance at Wimbledon last year, as well as a brief stop at the Shanghai Masters.

He was on site for most of the Laver Cup in 2023 in Vancouver, the event having been started by Federer and his management company in honour of tennis great Rod Laver - who Federer is often compared to for his generational greatness - in 2017.

He has otherwise been kept busy with a tour of tennis clinics put on by his clothing sponsor, Uniqlo, while also appearing at a handful of other sporting- or Hollywood-adjacent events.

The documentary also features a rare appearance from Federer's wife, Mirka, who seldom (if never) gave interviews in their time on tour.

"For the film we just said, 'Well, let's capture [Mirka] and she can see how it felt [in that moment]... and then the kids can see how their mum was at the time," he explained. "And actually, funny enough, I think when she was doing the interview, I went into the bedroom of the children and I told them that I was officially retiring... in ten days."

Federer won 20 major singles titles to go with his gold medal at Beijing 2008 in doubles (alongside countryman Stan Wawrinka), silver in singles at London 2012. He won a total of singles tournaments, winning matches along the way.

Nearly 21 months later, he said the decision still feels heavy

*"*I played tennis since I was three years old, tournaments since I'm eight," he said. "It's been my life. Every time I went on a practice court, basically, I wanted to become the best player or improve... And then all of a sudden it's all gone."

The coming Olympic Games Paris 2024 could be a final Olympic appearance for each of Nadal - who has said 2024 is likely his final year - Djokovic and Murray, all who have dealt with injury issues the last few seasons. Djokovic recently revealed a tear in his right meniscus after withdrawing from the French Open.

The Olympic entry lists are due to be released by the International Tennis Federation 4 July.

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