Roger Federer believes an intense tennis tour schedule can have a negative impact on a player’s mental health.
The now retired Federer stepped away from the sport in September this year after winning 20 Grand Slam titles between 2003 and 2018, fully aware of the challenges players face.
Many big-name stars, including Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios, have spoken out about mental health, but Federer feels a packed tennis calendar isn’t helping his players.
“I completely understand that players retire at a very young age,” Federer said at a press conference in Tokyo.
“Nobody is allowed to say ‘Oh, I’m tired today’ because you look weak. That’s why players sometimes have mental problems.
“Show your strength. But we’re not machines, we’re just humans.”
After 25 years on tour, Federer made the most of the fact that he was finally able to relax. let me go
“I guess I wasn’t very conscious of it. That thought is always there, and it rides with you until you retire and realize all the stress is gone.”
He pointed to doping tests and the fact that athletes must always keep their whereabouts hidden from authorities.
“We have to fill out doping forms every day, for an hour a day,” Federer said.
“It’s actually a lot lighter when it’s all gone, and it’s a relief to actually be able to go back to normal life after 25 years.”
