Roger Federer is poised to unveil a glimpse into his last 12 tennis days. The 20-time Grand Slam champion, who was first wary of the concept of a documentary, has since spoken out about his choice to share this personal experience with the public. Revealing his initial insecurity, the Swiss legend has embraced the opportunity to create one last lasting memory for his fans to cherish.

In a recent interview, Federer discussed the origins of “Federer: Twelve Final Days,” a documentary that will debut on Prime Video. Being open and honest about the idea, he talked about how the project was coming along and realized that it could provide supporters with a close-up view of his legendary career.

He stated, “It would be a pity if I didn’t share this with my friend, with my fans, and with people who maybe want to see a glimpse behind the scenes of how actually it is to retire. Because we never really actually talk about it. All you real remember, is the person or the results, or, like you said the matches? And here we are like seeing a very raw material being put together incredibly nicely.” 

The former world number one talked about how he wants to give his fans one last memory to remember his tennis charm. In addition, he said, “I was really insecure and unsure if I should release it and if I should put it out.” Furthermore, in an interview with Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw, Roger Federer shared details about the planned documentary “Federer: Twelve Final Days,” characterizing it as a “snapshot” of his life at those pivotal moments.

He stated, “I never let anyone come into my house… It’s a very personal film.” The documentary is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Asif Kapadia, who has worked on award-winning films such as “Senna” and “Amy,” which look at the lives of Formula One racer Ayrton Senna and singer Amy Winehouse, respectively. In addition, joining Kapadia in helping with this project is director Joe Sabia.

However, at the same time, he was against the idea of having behind-the-scenes footage of his documentary, as he kept his belief in the idea of keeping his wife and kids alive like a mystery.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion interacted with the audience during the special screening at the Whitby Hotel in New York City, sharing insights into the making of the documentary. During the conversation, he revealed his initial reluctance to have cameras capturing behind-the-scenes moments.

Roger Federer was against the behind-the-scenes idea

The 20-time Grand Slam champion spoke to the audience during the special screening at the Whitby Hotel in New York City, offering insights into the documentary’s creation. In the same conversation, while talking about having cameras around him, he also talked about how he was literally against having behind-the-scenes footage.

He said, “We actually have a little bit of something also behind the scenes because I never really wanted to go…” Further, he added, “Seeing behind the scenes, that should be protected at all costs for the closet people around me. And then I think then I mean I knew it was going to be a very emotional experience.”

Moreover, Federer, who is renowned for striking a balance between his personal and professional lives, highlighted the value of keeping his wife and kids out of the spotlight and preserving special moments for his closest friends and family.