“I told them the other day,” Federer said. “It depends how you convey it. If you say to some friends, “Hey, I’m quitting,” the response is, “Big decision.” But if you say, “Hey, I think I need to stop,” everyone starts crying. “I told them nothing will change much. We have seen how it will be in recent years. Somewhere they are upset that I will stop. But they always expressed the wish: “Stop playing tennis, we want to go skiing.” I told all four at the same time and three out of four cried. “It’s a process for them too. The last few years have been difficult for me, but I think they have been even more difficult for her [his wife Mirka]. With all her injuries, she didn’t like watching me anymore. I felt sorry for her too. It’s a big relief for her now that it’s over. “At first I was upset, but then I put it aside and started the whole process with the letter and telling people. This was extremely good for me. Even if it tears you up, I have to say that I can give interviews without any problems because of it. If you had told me three or six weeks ago that I had to get on the microphone and tell people – impossible. I wouldn’t say a word.”
