Roger Federer insists his new business venture is not a sign that he’s winding down his career.
Following a lucrative tour of Latin America, Federer has been announced as a new partner with On Running.
The 38-year-old has been wearing On shoes for several months and has taken an active role in growth ideas and marketing, according to The New York Times.
After flying into New York from Ecuador, Federer was interview on NBC News’ TODAY show by Savannah Guthrie.
The presenter asked Federer if the deal with On was laying the “groundwork” for his post-tennis life and Federer said: “I’ve been asked all week ‘How is retirement going to be’ and when is it going to come.
“I think they all just needed to know. But no, this is not about retirement.
“On doesn’t want me to retire. They want me to play as long as possible and that’s also my goal.
“When I do a venture like this, of course, people want to know how it is going to look like later on and see the exit from tennis. But that’s not the case.”
When Guthrie told Federer that she doesn’t want him to retire, Federer smiled as he said: “I will never retire.”
But Federer did open up about what he may be like when he does retire.
“I like my sweets, deserts and my time off,” he said.
“I start my planning for the year with ‘where am I going to go on vacation with my family’. That’s how I start and that’s where I am going to be in a couple of days. I’m going to be on the beach so I can’t wait.
“When I had my knee issues in 2016 and I was rehabbing for almost eight months, I really felt that could be the life afterwards.
“Of course I was never as busy but it was nice to be able to schedule [things] with friends. ‘Lets have lunch on Wednesday, dinners on Friday, a good time at the weekend together with another family’.
“I’m really looking forward to that.”
