LONDON — Roger Federer is a father of four — two girls who are 13, two boys who are 8 — and so perhaps that is why, as he wraps up his playing career at age 41, he thinks about the GOAT debate that has engulfed the tennis world the way parents might look at their children.
Folks love to ask: Who's the greatest of all time in men's tennis — Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic?
"People always like to compare. I see it every day with my twins. Without wanting, you compare them. You shouldn't — ever," Federer said during an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, hours after his farewell news conference at the arena that will host the 20-time Grand Slam singles champion's final competition, the team-based Laver Cup.
"Naturally, we do the same in tennis. ... I am my own career, my own player, that needed those challenges. They needed a challenger like myself," he said, leaning back on a couch, having traded in the blue blazer and polo shirt he wore earlier for a navy pullover, white T-shirt and black jogger pants after practice. "We made each other better. So at the end of the day, we'll all shake hands and be like, 'That was awesome.'
"Now is somebody going to be happier than the other? I mean, in moments, maybe."
Federer called the topic "a good conversation, let's be honest" and "definitely a fun debate" that "you can endlessly talk about." But he also used the word "silly," given all that he and those two rivals have accomplished in their careers, with Nadal's 22 major singles titles the most in men's tennis and Djokovic's 21 second only to Nadal.
"I always say it's wonderful to be part of that selective group," Federer began, talking about the so-called Big Three rivals, then paused to sigh.
"How can you compare? What's better? To win when you're old or when you're young? I have no idea, you know. Is it better to win on clay or grass? Don't know. Is it better to have super dominant years or come back from injury? I don't know. It really is impossible to grasp."
Referring to Nadal, who is 36 and is expected to be Federer's doubles partner for his final match Friday, and Djokovic, who is 35, Federer said: "What I know is they are truly amazing and greats of the game and forever and will go down as one of the — maybe THE — greatest."
Federer, who is Swiss, grew up a basketball fan, and he brought up the Michael Jordan versus LeBron James back-and-forth from that sport.
"Who is the greatest? Probably MJ. But is it LeBron? Some stats say he is. I think it's a phenomenon of (social) media. Everybody calling each other 'GOAT.' 'GOAT.' 'GOAT.' 'GOAT.' 'GOAT.' 'GOAT.' I'm like, Come on, OK? There cannot be possibly that many 'GOATs,'" Federer said, then cracked himself up with a Dad joke: "In Switzerland, we have a lot of them, but they're in the fields."
Federer promises he won't make a comeback. His surgically repaired right knee won't allow it, and his age doesn't help.
He is adamant, though, that he will remain connected to tennis. That will include showing up at certain tournaments, he said, "to say farewell or goodbye, because I've been a part of those tournaments for 20 years."
It will include watching on TV, some of the time, and keeping an eye on results, all of the time. He particularly plans to keep tabs on Nadal, who won the Australian Open and French Open this year, and Djokovic, who won Wimbledon but couldn't enter the Australian Open or U.S. Open because he isn't vaccinated against COVID-19.
"It's been quite strange not seeing Novak in a lot of the draws," Federer observed.
When Federer won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003, the men's record for most major trophies was held by Pete Sampras, who had won his 14th at the U.S. Open the year before in what turned out to be the last match of the American's career.
There is no one on the list between Sampras and the Big Three.
"At this point, once either they surpassed you, or you're not playing anymore, it doesn't matter how far up they go," Federer said of his two biggest rivals. "For me, as long as I could be a part of it and control some of it, I cared more."
When it comes to the pursuit of more Grand Slam titles by Nadal and Djokovic, he said: "I hope they go and do everything they want. I really hope so. Because it would be great for the game and nice for their fans, for their family. As long as it makes them happy."
Federer, who announced last week via social media that he would be retiring after the Laver Cup, said it took him a bit to get used to the idea of stepping away from competition. But it was something he understood he needed to do after running into setbacks in July during his rehabilitation from what was his third surgery on his right knee in about 1 1/2 years.
"You're sad," Federer said, "in the very moment when you realize, 'OK, this is the end.'"
And yet he also said he is at peace with the decision to walk away, which comes a few weeks after 23-time Grand Slam women's singles champ Serena Williams played what is expected to be her last match at the U.S. Open. He wants this farewell to be a celebration.
"I really don't want it to be a funeral," he said. "I want it to be really happy and powerful and party mode."
He gave credit to the various coaches and other members of his team through the years for helping push him.
"People see me on the court and they're like," he said, then lowed his voice to a whisper, "'Oh, my God! He's so gifted! Like, he can do it all by himself!'"
That, Federer said, is nonsense.
"We need inspiration. We need motivation. We need people to kick our ass and tell you, 'OK, put on your shoes and go for a run. Put on your shoes and let's go practice. I know you don't want to do it here. I actually also don't want to be here, but let's still do it. And then you can go relax,'" he said. "It's a challenge. But a good one. And I would do it all over again."
And then he smiled.