- Title: 'Life's great' Federer says as he launches retirement documentary in London
- Date: 13th June 2024
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 13, 2024) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CO-DIRECTOR JOE SABIA SPEAKING WITH REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) CO-DIRECTOR, JOE SABIA, SAYING: "I wasn't expecting him to be so nervous. It was really nerve wracking watching him be so nerve wracked because I'm just kind of there observing, not saying a thing, watching a
- Embargoed: 27th June 2024 21:22
- Keywords: Asif Kapadia Federer Federer London Federer Twelve Final Days Federer documentary Federer film Joe Sabia Roger Federer tennis
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: UK
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Film
- Reuters ID: LVA001046613062024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Tennis star Roger Federer says he is enjoying dedicating his time to his family and not rushing into any big projects following his retirement nearly two years ago.
Premiering a new documentary film that tracks the final days of his sporting career in London on Thursday (June 13), the former world number one said he was very happy with his life.
"I'm definitely not bored at home, but, life's great. I'm trying to be the best dad I can. Twin boys and twin girls, ten and 15, almost, so it's tough times," Federer, who has two sets of twins with his wife Mirka, said.
"What's next? I want to actually wait and see a little bit. I don't want to have a million things to do right now. I want to be a good dad, a good husband, and be settled a little bit more and then decide, sort of the next mega project, if you like."
"Federer: Twelve Final Days" captures the emotional rollercoaster of the tail end of the tennis great's career. Initially intended as a series of home videos for his personal use, the footage sees Federer preparing to make his retirement announcement and takes audiences behind the scenes of his tearful farewell to his fans and former rivals at the 2022 Laver Cup in London.
Co-directed by Joe Sabia, known for his "73 Questions" celebrity-interview format and Oscar-winning filmmaker Asif Kapadia, it mixes intimate family moments, archive material and interviews with fellow tennis stars Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
"It feels good to release the footage because that was what I struggled with the most, if I should do it or not, because it was supposed to be just footage that I'll keep at home," said Federer, who was convinced by his team, family and Sabia to share the material with the public.
"This is great because my career end was magical. It was beautiful. I'm super happy with it. And I'm excited to share it now," he said.
Sabia, who was given unprecedented access to the tennis star at his home and in the locker room said the emotion of the two weeks took him by surprise.
"I wasn't expecting him to be so nervous. It was really nerve wracking watching him be so nerve wracked because I'm just kind of there observing, not saying a thing, watching as a fly on the wall. But to watch how many butterflies were in his tummy kind of made me really hope, okay, like, I hope he's going to make it," he said.
Federer, who turns 43 in August, said the film portrayed his feelings with great honesty.
"It's not like I'm crying through 1.5 hours of the film, you know? But it's a tough watch, but a good one," he said.
"You see the struggles that we go through and also how vulnerable we are in many ways and how much the fans and the spotlight means to me," he said. "It's such a beautiful moment in time that, I'm really curious to find out how people will like it. So we'll see."
Regarded by many as the greatest male tennis player of all time Federer retired after the 2022 Laver Cup. Known for his versatile playing style, he won 103 ATP titles, including 20 Grand Slam titles, a record eight Wimbledon titles, six Australian Open titles, five US Open titles and one French Open title.
For former tennis player and television presenter Sue Barker, who hosted Thursday's premiere screening, scenes of the film showing the interaction between Federer and his former rivals turned friends, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray were magical.
"They share a bond that can't be broken," she said.
Kapadia, who was brought in later to turn Sabia's team's material into a feature film, said the human and universal aspects of the footage drew him in to the project. The "Senna", "Amy" and "Diego Maradona" filmmaker said he hoped audiences would be moved by Federer's journey.
Sabia said he hoped the film would also inspire audiences to question their own journeys.
"First of all, I really hope they feel what Roger goes through because it's a human experience that we all feel. And to be reminded of what it's like to face, the challenge of losing something that's near and dear to us, what we're known for, to have that just disappear, to know that the end is coming, and whatever you're doing in your own life is something that I hope inspires a lot of people to be brave, to question who am I?"
"Federer: Twelve Final Days" starts streaming on Prime Video on June 20.
(Production: Marissa Davison, Hanna Rantala) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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