Roger Federer joined Andy Roddick on Served for a wide-ranging conversation in San Francisco, touching on the Laver Cup’s evolution, the state of men’s tennis, and what a “normal Tuesday” looks like in 2026. The Swiss legend praised the event’s team spirit, reflected on his emotional 2022 farewell, and offered blunt views on court speeds and the next generation.

Why the Laver Cup exists—and why it still matters

Federer said the idea was born from a simple frustration: tennis doesn’t do enough to include its legends after they retire. He contrasted tennis with other sports where ex-stars have many roles, and argued that legends “paved the way” for today’s players but are rarely seen.

In tennis, I feel we forget the legends of our sport. We don’t see them enough. We don’t include them enough.

That desire to reconnect generations shaped the Laver Cup’s format—captains, assistant captains, and a true team week. Federer called it partly “a selfish move” so he could spend time with idols like Björn Borg, and so current players could learn from past greats in the locker room.

It was actually a selfish move… These players when they come to the Laver Cup and when they leave, they feel super inspired and motivated for what’s to come.

Life after Roger: can the Laver Cup thrive without him on court?

Roddick pressed the obvious question: can the event sustain its pull now that Federer isn’t playing? Federer acknowledged the early post-retirement years brought tough press questions, but pointed to strong turnout and the presence of new stars like Carlos Alcaraz—fresh off a US Open title—as proof the concept has legs.podcasts.apple+2

Is the Laver Cup going to be successful post-Roger when I’m not on the tennis court anymore? … Those early years after my retirement also were a little bit tricky.

He also defended the captaincy transition from John McEnroe and Borg to Andre Agassi and Yannick Noah as a natural handover to other legends rather than “some random person.”

Where the Laver Cup goes next: residency vs rotation

Strategically, Federer said the team debates venue strategy often. Staying in one city (like San Francisco) is operationally easier, but he values taking tennis to markets that don’t see it as much. That’s why the next edition returns to London’s O2 Arena in September 2026—the first city to host twice—and why he’s open to rotating among Grand Slam cities or even expanding to Asia and South America.

It’s worth it to bring tennis to certain markets… that maybe haven’t seen so much tennis in the past.

The farewell that wasn’t supposed to be alone

Roddick asked Federer to revisit his 2022 retirement in London. Federer said he knew retirement would be hard because the sport meant so much to him, and he specifically didn’t want to be alone on court. The team format—and the presence of rivals like Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray on the bench—made the moment “happy and upbeat,” and better than he imagined.

I didn’t want to be alone on court when I retired… I just hoped it was going to be happy and upbeat and it was that.

Federer on today’s men’s game: “more baseline slugfest”

When asked what he sees watching the tour now, Federer’s verdict was clear: the game has become more physical and homogenized. He misses the variety and “feel” of earlier eras, when players had identifiable holes in their games and used slices and changes of pace more often.

Even more baseline slugfest… full on baby… backhand goes big, forehand goes big.

He also noted how returning has improved—players rarely dump returns—and recalled how Nadal (and Agassi) would hit balls as hard as possible in warm-ups to disrupt rhythm, a tactic he disliked but respected.

The court-speed problem—and a fix Federer wants

Federer was critical of how slow some indoor courts have become, arguing it reduces variation and rewards a single style. He floated an old-school solution: meaningful surface diversity, even suggesting a thought experiment where the same matchup is played on lightning-fast and super-slow courts to see who adapts better.

We need variation… Show me the measurement for when it’s too slow. It didn’t exist. That’s the problem.

He acknowledged tournament directors’ incentive to keep surfaces slower (it helps weaker players extend matches and keeps top stars in finals), but believes stars like Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner would still figure it out—and that fans would get more exciting tennis.

A normal Tuesday in 2026: school runs, gym, and no ties

On life now, Federer said he wakes up earlier than he ever expected, thanks to the kids. His days include school routines, personal fitness, and a steady stream of calls and projects. He also joked with Roddick about skipping the tie at the recent gala—“a little thick around the neck”—before thanking Roddick and Rod Laver for the evening.

I wake up much earlier than I ever thought I would… the kids, you know, they get you out of bed.

This recap is based on Roger Federer’s appearance on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast. For the full episode, click on the YouTube link at the top or listen wherever you get your podcasts.