フェデラー氏「部外者とは感じない」 引退後も積極的に競技と関わり

【ベルリンＡＦＰ＝時事】今週行われる男子テニスの団体戦レーバー・カップに大会アンバサダーとして参加するロジャー・フェデラー氏（４３）は１８日、四大大会（グランドスラム）通算２０勝を挙げた現役生活を退いた後もテニス界に関わっていることで、「部外者」とは感じずにいることができていると話した。（写真は元男子テニスのロジャー・フェデラー氏）
　フェデラー氏は大会が行われる独ベルリンで記者に対し、引退後すぐに一部の大会に姿を見せたことで「会場を歩いていても、まだ自分の居場所だと感じられる」と話し、「部外者と感じるようになるのは簡単だが、そう感じていないのは良いことだ」と続けた。「このようなセッティングでまだ居心地良く感じられているのはうれしい。家に残ってくつろいで、もうツアーに出る必要はないんだと気づく方がずっと簡単だから」
　また、今年のグランドスラムのタイトルを分け合ったヤニック・シナー（イタリア）とカルロス・アルカラス（スペイン）を称賛しつつ、現役時代にしのぎを削ったノバク・ジョコビッチ（セルビア）やラファエル・ナダル（スペイン）にも期待していると語った。
　フェデラー氏は、けがで今年のレーバー・カップを欠場するナダルについて「ラファに関してはまだ分からない。今年はほとんどプレーできていないから、彼について予想するのは難しい」としつつ、同じく不参加のジョコビッチについては「年を重ねれば出場数を減らすのは普通のことだ」と理解を示し、来年のグランドスラム初戦の全豪オープンではシナーやアルカラスと並んで再び優勝を争うだろうと述べた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/09/19-16:58）

Roger Federer said on Wednesday staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling like an alien ahead of this week's Laver Cup in Berlin.
Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador.
I'm happy I went back right away to some tournaments, the 43-year-old told reporters.
I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there.
I don't feel like an alien, which is a good thing because you can feel like that very quickly.
People (and) players ask you 'what are you doing here?' and you're like 'exactly -- if you keep talking like this, I will never come back'.
I'm happy I'm still able to feel comfortable in a setting like this because it would be so much easier just to stay home, get comfortable at home and realise you don't need to be on tour anymore.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner praised Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz looking ahead to next year's Australian Open.
Federer held out hope for his remaining contemporaries Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, who will both be absent from the Laver Cup.
With Rafa we don't know -- it remains to be seen. It's hard for me to make a prediction on Rafa because of the little tennis he has played this year.
Novak, winning the Olympics and playing somewhat let's say a full season -- he didn't bow out because of injuries, he chose to play less which is normal when you get a bit older.
I feel like he has chances moving forward.
I look forward to Australia which is the next Slam. I think he's definitely going to be one of the favourites along with Sinner and Alcaraz.
I think the Australian Open story will be a very cool one to follow.
Nadal pulled out of the Laver Cup with injury but his compatriot Alcaraz will take part as a member of Team Europe against Team World.
German Alexander Zverev will also play for Team Europe and Federer said he was so close to winning a maiden Grand Slam, but needed to attack more in crucial moments.
I see someone who's playing much too passively, much too defensively when it matters the most.
I think (Zverev) has to remind himself to try to not be too passive and then I think honestly something really great can happen for him.
Team Europe won the first four events, starting in 2017, but Team World have won the past two.