By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Roger Federer enjoyed a hero’s welcome at the ATP 500 event in Halle, Germany to mark the tournament’s 30th anniversary.
The ten-time champion event champion Federer was celebrated in a special event on Wednesday.
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Federer said it was surreal to return to the ATP Tour after playing his final professional event at the Laver Cup back in September of last year.
“This is my first time back to a tournament (since I retired), so it feels a little bit strange in a very good way, Federer said to ATP.com. “I always feel once you’ve retired you need a proper purpose to come back, and that’s why we are here to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of the tournament here in Halle.”
Federer was 69-8 lifetime in Halle with 10 titles from 2003-06, 2008, 2013-2015, 2017, and 2019.
“With Halle, we go way back. I don’t know the first time I ever came here, maybe 22 years ago, and I played 18 years in those years," Federer said. "More than just a partnership, it’s also become a friendship over the years with the Weber family, first Gerhard Weber and then Ralf (Weber), who is now the tournament director. So it’s been a wonderful time, obviously also (I had) a lot of success here.”
Federer, who admitted he has not stepped back on court since his last match playing doubles with Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup, says he does keep up with the current generation.
“I’m very surprised at how often and how frequently I check scores,” Federer said. “Three times a day maybe. Then of course all of a sudden there’s times when I check out for like a week, and then I’m with the kids and I’m traveling, and you forget about everything around you.
"But for the most part, actually, I’m really into it.
“It’s good times in tennis and I always said that tennis is so great at always keeping on evolving. So (I am a) big fan of tennis and what all the players are doing is absolutely fantastic.”
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