Roger Federer, is currently taking part in the international team tournament, the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia, which is a valuable warm-up event for the season ahead. The Swiss maestro is back for the second year in a row as it was viewed as a catalyst for his superb 2017 campaign.
Over 6000 people turned up for a Federer practice session before the tournament began something that caught him by surprise.
"It’s not normal to have this many people turn up," Federer said, as per The Express. You have to work so hard for it to happen. People come out to watch you practice. That was the weirdest thing that ever happened to me. When I turned world No 1 playing in Australia back in 2004, I remember going to Rotterdam and going to practice barely warmed up because it was an easy hit and there were a few hundred people at the practice. I was like ‘what are they doing here, It’s the matches that matter."
And Federer appeared to hint he would consider quitting the sport if it ever got to the stage where he was not drawing such big crowds.
"But I really don’t take it for granted and I think that’s what keeps me on tour. If I had to play on the outside courts or stadiums that were not full at all, I think the passion would go away a bit even though I love tennis and what I do. I can’t thank you enough every single time I stand here.”
It's hard to imagine there ever being a time when tennis fans won't have to queue in their thousands for a glimpse of the legend.
Still, it's not the end for the Swiss, who didn't feel the necessity of going out on a fairytale. 'I was asked if I had considered it or wouldn’t it be the perfect moment? Yes it seemed like it', the 36-year-old told said.
'But I was standing there in the press (conference) or the next day and I felt like well I did all the rehab not really just to win Wimbledon.' And instead he is still there, making this week his fourth appearance ever at the Hopman Cup.
