?He Can Rule All Over Us? ? 10 Months After Retirement, ?King? Roger Federer Still Rules the Hearts of Young ATP Stars as They Put Him in Royal Pedestal

With 20 Grand Slam titles and several other accolades to his name, the iconic Roger Federer is definitely one of the greatest players to have ever stepped onto a tennis court. It is hard to argue with the fact that the Swiss Maestro is perhaps the most loved and widely celebrated tennis star in the history of the sport. Federer is not only so universally loved by the fans, but is also equally admired by his peers on the tour, especially the younger generation. Despite being retired from the sport, the impact of the legendary Swiss will linger on for years to come.

The overwhelming admiration that the current ATP stars have for Roger Federer was on full display in a recent question-and-answer segment conducted by the ATP tour crew. Here is what they had to say about the retired legend.

Roger Federer given royal crown by current ATP stars as they hail him as King

The sight of a tearful Roger Federer bidding farewell to his beloved sport in September last year made every tennis fan emotional, along with his greatest rivals on the court. His impact on the game of tennis and beyond is second to none. Hence, the admiration and reverence the young players on tour have for the Swiss is not at all surprising. In a fun question-and-answer session conducted by the ATP tour, some of the current stars from the men’s tour showered their love for Federer.

The interviewer put forth the question, “Which player will make the best king?”. Unsurprisingly, Federer seemed to have come out on top as the most popular choice. Alexander Zverev came up with a quirky reply as he professed his love for his idol, “Roger Federer because he’s won Wimbledon 458 times.. But it’s perfect he’s not on tour anymore. He can rule all over us.” Denis Shapovalov, who is known to be a huge fan of the Swiss maestro, responded, “I mean it’s got to be Roger, right.. It’s got to be Roger.. I can’t say Roger because the guy’s retired.”

It is very clear that Federer’s glaring influence on youngsters still makes him a very relevant name in the world of tennis. So much so, that the idea of him being retired from the sport is something some players have a hard time grasping, as was the case with Denis Shapovalov only a few days back.

Shapovalov still can’t wrap his head around Federer’s retirement

Young Canadian ATP ace Denis Shapovalov can claim to be one of the biggest admirers of Roger Federer on the tour today. He has never shied away from expressing his love for the legend, and mentioning how he idolized Federer growing up and modeled his own game around that of the 8-time Wimbledon winner.

READ MORE: Revered by Peers and Fans Alike, Roger Federer?s Generosity Towards Young Canadian Tennis Player Is Awe-Inspiring

In a similar Q&A session conducted by the ATP tour a few days back, Shapovalov once again showed how much his idol meant to him. When the topic of Federer’s retirement came up during his interview, the Canadian was quick to remind everyone that Federer may have retired from the sport, but certainly not from ‘our hearts’.

This goes on to show that the Swiss maestro’s impact transcends beyond generations. Although he now enjoys life outside the tennis court, his influence and popularity still reign supreme.

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