CARLOS ALCARAZ, JANNIK SINNER ‘ANNOUNCING THEMSELVES’ AS ‘SUPERSTARS,’ TO MOCK NADAL

Roger Federer believes the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are at the forefront of the next generation in men’s tennis, but that the “next two of three years” will show who can step to the front of a competitive pack. Federer also admitted to feeling “sad” about the fortunes of Rafael Nadal, who has seen his comeback to tennis from injury stunted by new setbacks

Roger Federer says the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are “already announcing themselves” as “superstars” of tennis, but expressed his belief that the game’s young guns are still “recalibrating” their games as they vie for multiple slams.
The so-called ‘Big Three’ of Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have – to date – hoovered up 66 majors between them, an astonishing testament to their dominance of men’s tennis since the early 2000s.

Indeed, many still view the trio as interwoven – and Federer spoke about how much he keeps up with the fortunes of his former foes.
The Swiss said: “I mean obviously you’re aware when they’re in the finals or you’re aware when Rafa comes back or you’re aware when Novak breaks another record. It’s all good, you know? But I will not set my schedule aside, like, well, ‘this match I have to see’.

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“But obviously I’ve followed it and I love to see that, especially Novak’s been going from strength to strength. It keeps on going. And Rafa obviously, I felt sad for him that he has not been able to play nearly as much or at all to what he wanted to do.

I hope that he can do what he wants to do in the summer, because even though I have a good feeling for him, and I know he pulled out of Indian Wells and Doha and all that stuff, but I still am very hopeful that he can get back on the train and ride it.”
But does Federer miss playing competitively now he is retired?
“I get that question a lot, and I don’t miss it,” he said. “I really don’t. I feel really at peace.
“I think it’s also because I know that my knee and my body and my mind don’t allow me to be out there. Do I feel like, ‘Oh, I could hit that shot?’ Yeah, OK: Maybe I could right now.
“But I feel like I squeezed the lemon out. I tried everything I had. And I’m so at peace