(Worth noting: A good chunk of those absent years were due to the COVID-19 pandemic.)
What was the first thing you thought when the emotions subsided?
Celebrating his gold medal in the stands of Roland-Garros at the 2024 Paris Games.
Scanner
Posing with his gold medal in Paris.
Tennis is always evolving, of course, but do you see one chapter closing and another beginning?
Its definitely a transition, but it takes time.
Celebrating his gold medal in the stands of Roland-Garros at the 2024 Paris Games.
Its a natural process, and people have been talking about it for many years.
Those guys were or are all top-10; Medvedev has been number one.
Theyre going to stay up top for a while, along with the younger ones.
Posing with his gold medal in Paris.
But I think youre thinking of Alcaraz and [Jannik] Sinner.
People that dont necessarily even follow tennis, per se, theydofollow rivalries; they follow contrasts.
You ended up having a three-sided rivalryfour, if we include Murray.
During his 2021 US Open final against Daniil Medvedev.
Its something that I like to believe has left a great, positive mark on tennis.
Tennis was a huge part of the pop culture conversation in 2024, largely due to the movieChallengers.
Did you see it?
Photo: Nick Remsen
YeahI had a little chat with Zendaya about it as well in Paris, before the Olympics started.
Do you think tennis will keep growing, beyond being a kind of pop culture talking point?
I think we have all the aspects to be evenmorepopular.
In both the zeitgeist and in terms of people participating?
Id like to see more public tennis courts.
Id like to see the sport expanding in local communities.
And now, with the emergence of pickleball, padel, all the racket sports…
Padelis huge.
Yeaheveryone is talking about it.
Yesthey had it on the sides of the net.
Whoever plays tennis lives the longest!
Lacoste does an amazing job of itbut then again, they were founded hand in hand with tennis.
Thats a smart callout.
One hundred percentthats why Im saying the potential far exceeds what you see on the court itself.
You have so many different elements that are in play.
Youve long had memorable interactions with crowdsthough sometimes theyve been a bit tense.
Of course, Ive had matches where the crowd was against me and cheering for my opponent.
But Ive also had plenty of amazing matches where I experienced an amazing atmosphere.
Twenty thousand-plus people gave me a standing ovation.
That really caught me off guard.
During his 2021 US Open final against Daniil Medvedev.
How do you really, truly relaxor do you never really unplug from tennis?
I primarily spend time with my kids and my wifemy family is everything to me.
I take a stab at be involved in the kids everyday chores, taking them to school.
You have a nice tan right nowwere you just on one of those getaways?
Its like an active form of rest for me.
Physically, I like to always be active, even when I am resting between tournaments.
OhI love to ski, I forgot to say that.
So I got to spend quite a bit of time in my childhood on the hill.
Do you have any concern of…injury?
I bet they do.
I trust my own instincts.
I love that sentiment.
As they get older, though, whats the most fun partand maybe whats the most challenging aspectof parenthood?
The most fun is the fact that theyre still kidsthey always want to play, so theyre super-creative.
Theres always this interaction happening on a daily basis for the smallest things.
And we forget, a lot of times, to be playful.
Adult life is way too serious.
Adult life is hard, kids or not.
I love spending time with kids because of that.
I enjoy that childish, innocent, pure energy.
And also, through ourfoundationwork, our mission is to support early childhood development.
It sounds like that thinking and those values might also be applied to ones approach to tennis.
The challenge of having everything alignedmind, body, soulto face shifting and maybe sometimes tough situations?
You have to come back the very next point for stay grounded, for stay in the match.
So, yeahits similar when you see it from that point of view.
Whats on your to-do list, in a strictly personal way?
I have a bunch of thingsIm curious about so many things in life.
I still want to learn to play the saxophoneIreallywant to learn.
Youre reminding me that I have to play more.
You should start a jazz band.
I would love to learn how to sing, how to play instruments.
Sax is number one, but then I want to learn others.
And I would love to learn how to do theater actingI love theater.
Not necessarily movies, but theater first.
I just love the live interaction.
Do you have a favorite play?
Yes, but in our countryyou wouldnt know it.
I am trying to pick up certain tips from comic actor friends.
I would love to learn how to paint and how to draw, arts and crafts.
With comedy acting in particular, and with your sense of humoryoure going to get a role somewhere.
Hes amazinghis facial expressions, his impersonations.
Thats a lot of creative pursuits.
Im also passionate about wellbeing, health, recovery, sports science, biotech, fintech, and medtech.
Im very into these things.
Theres a lot going on.
Tell me more about that.
Once, or as youre about to, say goodbye?
As Im entering whatever last phase this is of my career.
And I dont know how long its going to lastI dont put a limit to it.
Last question, and its around the acronym GOAT.
Weve seen some athletes really lean into it.
Do you like the term?
Do you think its silly?
Does it even cross your mind?
I think it started to become quite present only five, seven years ago, or something like that.
If the GOAT discussion is something that gets people really interested in tennis, I support that.
Im not going to say what I think about it, though, and who the GOAT is.
Ill leave that to other people to discuss.
I dont think Im in a position…I dont think its my spot to be discussing that.
We will never know.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
