Roger Federer is gone from the daily grind of the ATP Tour, but he is not forgotten by tennis fans. Recently, Federer was caught on video hitting against a wall, and it sparked comments from other former players such as Mardy Fish and Brad Gilbert.
Mardy Fish, known for his deadpan humor, said "Terrible footwork. This old man is clueless about the game of tennis." Brad Gilbert said it was "tremendous seeing Fed play on the wall" and noted that he occasionally hits the wall himself. Hitting the wall is a fundamental way to practice, and all tennis players regardless of age and experience can identify with the experience.
Roger Federer hitting against the wall is the best thing you’ll see all day.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 22, 2024
The serve, the forehand, the one-handed backhand… it all takes me back.
🥹 pic.twitter.com/dxTRkjxy8F
It is comforting to see Federer still pick up a racquet when he is not globetrotting the world and living his best retirement life. The one-handed backhand that looks so elegant and is becoming nearly extinct among top players on the ATP Tour is always a pleasure to watch. Federer still has his fingers on the pulse of the ATP and WTA tennis tours.
Federer is an investor in the On sportswear brand
Current stars and rapidly rising stars are wearing the On brand on tour. Iga Swiatek, World No. 1 is the most successful of the group. America's rising star Ben Shelton is also wearing it. Perhaps the most surprising player wearing On is Joao Fonseca, the Brazilian 17-year-old, who officially introduced himself at the 2024 Rio Open by defeating Arthur Fils and Cristian Gardin.
Federer wasn't playing when he invested in On...
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) February 21, 2024
The stellar roster he helped assemble:
🌟 Iga Swiatek, world #1, 4x Grand Slam champion
🌟 Ben Shelton, youngest American man to reach the US Open semifinals since 1992
🌟 Joao Fonseca, first man born in 2006 to win an ATP match pic.twitter.com/r19IV1Li16
Fonseca may be the greatest On brand ambassador this week. After his loss to Jordan Thompson, he was spotted signing autographs and one zealous fan snagged his hot pink On baseball cap. Fonseca laughed it off when the fan tried to give it back and let him keep it as a souvenir.