There may be something bigger in Roger Federer not making a guest appearance in Basel since retiring as a Swiss publication reports the tennis legend had a falling out with Swiss Indoors tournament director Roger Brennwald in the past and that there is basically zero mention of the tournament’s legend at this year’s event.
If you remember well, the former world No. 1 signed up to play Basel in 2022. But then, the now 43-year-old didn’t manage to recover from his knee surgery as targeted and wasn’t able to make one final comeback on the Tour.
After playing just one doubles match at the Laver Cup and retiring in September 2022, Federer was invited to be honored at his hometown tournament in October of that year. But he politely declined the invitation, explaining that he needed time before making guest appearances.
Last year, his hometown tournament tried again, offering to stage him a special farewell. The answer was again the same. When it comes to this year’s Swiss Indoors edition – which is taking place this week – there haven’t been reports indicating that the former world No. 1 received another Basel invitation.
What happened between Federer and the Basel organizers?
According to Swiss publication Blick, the record 10-time Basel champion and tournament director Brennwald disagreed over a player fee in 2012 but tensions cooled off after he later agreed to compete at the event without a fee and his bonus proceeded to his foundation. But after the latest developments, there is “no image, no brochure, no object, no bust and no evocation” of the tournament’s greatest champion at this year’s event except on the tournament’s winner list, where his name can still be found.
Roger Federer© YouTube screenshot
Meanwhile, here is how Federer declined Basel’s invitation in 2022.
“I would like to thank the Swiss Indoors for their willingness to welcome me in Basel this year. I’ve been trying to process everything that’s happened lately. The celebration at home in Basel will have a very special meaning and is now too [soon] for me after London. I have so many incredible memories of playing at home for so many years and I wish the tournament continues to be one of the top stops on the ATP Tour,” the Swiss tennis icon explained at the time.