Roger Federer: 'The first 10 years of my life there was no...'

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• Roger Federer

Naomi Osaka is trying to find the serenity that characterized the first and winning years of her career. After the case that broke out at Roland Garros, when she announced that she would not speak to the press before retiring from the tournament, there has been a lot of talk about the mental health of the athletes and the depression that has affected the Japanese in recent months.

Osaka has returned to play an official tournament on the WTA circuit in Cincinnati, but she has never been able to express her best tennis on the American Tour. At the end of the match lost to Leylah Fernandez at the US Open, the former world number one also burst into tears at a press conference.

In a recent interview with GQ, Roger Federer expressed his opinion on the subject of mental health of athletes.

Roger Federer recently turned 40

Roger Federer recently spoke to Jonathan Heaf of the GQ Magazine on a variety of topics, including Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu's struggles on the big stage, the dominance of the Big 3, and Rafael Nadal's sleeveless tops.

"Yes, I think so (that there is too much pressure)," Federer said. "I was following Emma Raducanu's incredible run in Wimbledon and also Naomi Osaka these last few years – it's been amazing, both of their stories. But it hurts when you see what happens and when they don't feel well." Federer also admitted that press conferences haven't evolved enough with time, which makes things difficult for athletes.

"The stress is so great," Federer said. "And I think a lot has to be down to social media. The first 10 years of my life there was no social media, maybe I had just a website, then the next 10 years social media was everywhere.

Also, in regards to this, the press situation does need to be reconsidered," he added. "I think I’m one of the athletes who’s done the most press – ever! And I agree that it's always the same. Always." Unfortunately, Federer is not a part of the players who will be featuring at the Indian Wells Masters 2021.

Along with him, his arch-rival and 20-time Grand Slam winner, Rafael Nadal, will also miss the ATP 1000 Masters event. Federer decided to end his 2021 season soon after his withdrawal from the US Open 2021. He is about to undergo yet another knee surgery and thus, will not be playing at the Indian Wells Masters 2021. Surprisingly, he will not be participating in any more matches this season.