Romanian tennis legend Nastase believes Federer should play as long as he wants

Former world number one Ilie Nastase of Romania believes Swiss tennis superstar Roger Federer should play as long as he wants. Nastase, who won the US Open in 1972 and the French Open in 1973 shared his thoughts about these retirement rumours surrounding Federer.

“I wish people wouldn’t say that Federer has to retire,” Ilie said. “I think Federer should play for as long as he wants. I don’t agree with those people who say that you should retire when you are past your absolute best or prime.

“No, Federer doesn’t have to prove anything. I wish people wouldn’t say that Federer has to retire. I think Federer should play for as long as he wants. I don’t agree with those people who say that you should retire when you are past your absolute best or prime. No, Federer doesn’t have to prove anything. Federer can play to 60 if he wants to. If he wants to carry on playing, no one is going to say, ‘no, we don’t want Federer to play’. He is going to retire when he feels like it.”

“I don’t think that he has to retire just because he is no longer the world number one. That happens to everybody, as you can’t stay as the world number one forever. He retires whenever. Federer said something interesting once. He said that he was watching Rod Laver, and me, and he said he was trying to copy us and to be like us. And that’s a great compliment for us.”