Tennis legend Roger Federer has been back on court at a sponsors event in New York and it is clear that he is still eager to learn new skills.
The Swiss maestro, who won 20 Grand Slam titles during his breathtaking career, made an appearance at a sponsors event in New York and he seemed to be keen to try out a double-handed backhand.
Federer had one of the most glorious single-handed backhands in tennis history, with his great rival Rafael Nadal giving him plenty of trouble with his double-handed version.
Yet a smiling Federer seemed happy to try and master the two-hander, as he hit some balls with young fans.
“Let me try… I haven’t hit it for a long time,” he said before displaying what appeared to be a pretty good version of a backhand with both palms on the racket.
The promotion was all part of Federer’s lucrative sponsorship deal with UNIQLO, which will extend well beyond a playing career that came to an emotional end last year.
Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson has worked with Federer on a new collection of clothes with UNIQLO and he is enjoying the collaboration.
A VERY RARE moment of @rogerfederer showing our students how to hit a two handed backhand! 😆 Thank you @UniqloUSA and Roger for giving our @kctennisleague students this amazing experience!!! pic.twitter.com/awqv9hp00m
— Corbin (@Dr_CorbinCWong) August 2, 2023
Federer told WWD: “I’ve always wanted to have a collection perfect for playing tennis while also versatile for the other parts of daily life.
“I’m fortunate that Jonathan shared this vision. Together we were able to create a stylish and comfortable line rooted in a classic tennis style.
“Jonathan is talented, creative and incredibly down-to-earth. It has been a pleasure to work with him on this collection.”
He also spoke to the New York Times about his new clothing collection and said: “We have such a great style history in tennis. René Lacoste and Stan Smith were wonderful tennis players.
“I feel it’s important to remember where we came from. And if I can make tennis look stylish, I think I should do that.
“My collection is designed to be worn while you are playing or afterward. It’s been difficult for some reason, I don’t know why, to do this crossover — from on court to off court.
“Not the sweaty look, of course, but let’s say you don’t sweat, you can still wear my clothes to walk on the street and look stylish.
“The starting point is the one that gets me the most nervous. It’s important to give the collection a direction and know where you want to end up.”
Federer is clearly enjoying the freedom he has since calling time on his career at the Laver Cup last September and the money is continuing to roll in even though he is no longer winning prize money on court.
The UNIQLO deal is believed to be one of the most lucrative in all of sport, after he signed an extended agreement in 2018.
The split with Nike also allowed him to start his relationship with On Shoes, as he became a shareholder in a booming company that is now worth an estimated £12billion.
These shrewd business moves ensure Federer has remained as one of the biggest earners in tennis, almost a year after hanging up his rackets for the final time.
READ MORE: How much is Roger Federer worth in 2023?
