20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer retired in September 2022 at the Laver Cup. After his farewell match, the 41-year-old Swiss burst into tears.
Leaving tennis was painful, but it is unlikely that Roger has been sad for a long time. In life after sport, Federer is doing just as well as in his best years on court.
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Federer is currently based in New York. Roger Federer conducted a master class for children from the local tennis league. He showed them how to hit a two-handed backhand, even though he played one-handed his entire career.
Roger Federer teaches children’s master class in New York
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
Communicating with the younger generation is a pleasant experience, but the goals of Roger’s visit to the largest city in the United States are more global.
The event with the children was organized by Federer’s sponsor, Uniqlo. It is a famous Japanese clothing brand. The legendary tennis player participated in the creation of the Uniqlo capsule collection together with the famous British designer Jonathan Anderson.
Federer and Anderson have been working with the Japanese company for a long time. Roger became a brand ambassador in 2018, and Anderson has been launching menswear and womenswear capsules for Uniqlo since 2017 in collaboration with his own luxury label, JW Anderson. Finally, they came together for a joint project. The collection includes quick-drying polo shorts, zip-up fleece jackets, nylon joggers and other comfortable pieces for your active routine.
“I have always wanted to make a collection that is perfect for playing tennis and at the same time versatile for other areas of daily life. I am lucky that Jonathan shared this vision. Together we were able to create an elegant and comfortable line in the style of classic tennis,” Federer said at the presentation at the Uniqlo flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York.
Roger Federer and Jonathan Anderson
Photo: from Roger Federer’s personal archive
The Roger Federer x JW Anderson Uniqlo collection goes on sale on August 28, the first day of the US Open. Clothing prices will range from $40 to $90.
The most interesting question is how much does Federer earn from the cooperation with Uniqlo? Roger is owed $300 million from an endorsement deal with the brand. The deal was closed in 2018 for a period of 10 years, meaning Federer receives $30 million per year. You don’t need to be especially enthusiastic, just occasionally participate in company events and allow him to use his likeness. Five years ago, for Uniqlo’s sake, Roger ended his partnership with Nike, which paid him three times less. An important detail: the fact that Federer finished his career does not affect the financial component. This was another reason to part ways with Nike.
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The creation of the collection under the patronage of Federer means that the cooperation with Uniqlo is developing, reaching a new level and can continue under better conditions after the expiration of the current contract in 2028. Is Uniqlo overpaying Federer? Unlikely, because the brand made a name for itself largely thanks to Roger. The tennis player joined the little-known Japanese when he had already won 20 Grand Slam tournaments and close to 100 ATP singles titles, was the first racket in the world for almost five years in a row (from February 2003 to August 2008) and became a royal icon tennis.
Uniqlo does not overestimate Roger Federer. They simply accepted him into his family for a good financial reward, and in return they received no less benefit. Since the beginning of this year alone, the dynamically developing brand, which has more than 2,000 brand-name stores in 21 countries, has a net profit of $2.7 billion. This is a new record, which is largely due to cooperation with such a famous ambassador as Roger Federer.
Roger Federer and JW Anderson clothing collection at Uniqlo
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
Federer is behind Rafael Nadal (22) and Novak Djokovic (23) in the number of Slams won. Roger has already retired, unlike the Spaniard and the Serbian. This does not prevent him from earning more from endorsement deals than Rafa and Novak combined.
Federer has active endorsement deals with Credit Suisse Group, Rolex, Lindt & Sprungli, Louis Vuitton, NetJets, On, Sunrise Communications AG, Switzerland Tourism and Wilson Sporting Goods. Nadal is an ambassador for Nike, Santander, Emporio Armani, Babolat and Richard Mille. Djokovic has deals with Lacoste, Head, Asics, Hublot and Raiffeisen Bank. As mentioned, Uniqlo alone generates $30 million a year for Federer. Djokovic and Nadal earn roughly the same amount in advertising per year, for whom prize money in tennis still means something. Less for Rafa lately, who has been out due to injury for a long time and will only return for a farewell tour in the 2024 season. The Spaniard is already beginning to think about his own business after leaving tennis, investing in a hotel chain.
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Federer is one of the few athletes who earned more than a billion dollars before retiring. He is the company of basketball player LeBron James, golfer Tiger Woods, boxer Floyd Mayweather. soccer players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. This is the amount before taxes. At the moment, Federer’s “net” fortune is estimated at 550 million and, according to Sporting News, by the end of the year it will grow to at least 600 million dollars.
In May, Forbes wrote that Roger’s earnings for the last 12 calendar months totaled $95 million. This amount, if it changes in the coming years, is more likely to grow. Finishing a race is by no means a problem. A striking example of Federer’s financial dominance dates back to 2020, when it finally became clear about the decline of Swiss tennis, his total revenue for the year amounted to $106 million, only $6 million of which came from prize money for participating. in ATP tournaments. .
While speaking to reporters at a recent presentation in New York, Federer spoke about various topics, including serious topics like the rivalry with Nadal and Djokovic. But overall, Roger made it clear that he lives carefree with his family: his wife Mirka and his four children (twins Mila and Charlene, twins Lenny and Leo).
Roger Federer with his wife Mirka in Lesotho
Photo: from Roger Federer’s personal archive
The best illustration of Roger’s happy life is the story of his participation in Coldplay’s July concert in Zurich, when he took the stage, played the cocktail shaker and sang along with the lead singer during the song Don’t Panic, as well as the story of traveling to exotic countries.
“I met the group in Montreal. I don’t know what year it was, maybe 2016? We talked a little. I saw lead singer Chris Martin in the Hamptons a couple of times. And when they arrived in Zurich I wrote to them: “I am very happy, I would love to go”. Chris answered me and asked if he wanted to come on stage. I asked my daughter at dinner and she looked at me and said, “You have to do this. We only live once.” So I replied to Chris, “I’m in business.” I didn’t even know what I agreed to.
What non-tennis side of my life would I like to show people? I began to take trips that bring pleasure to the family more frequently. I took the children to Lesotho when I went to Africa for my foundation. We went to the Met Gala. My parents and I traveled on the Orient Express; when I played, there was no such opportunity, because the trip took me away from the game for a long time. I post all kinds of photos, and it’s nice to know that people are still happy to see me”, Federer said.
In the case of Federer, it can be said without reservation: Roger deserved what he now has. An epic tennis personality whose influence extends far beyond the court.
