Roger Federer opens up on retirement questions after Benoit Paire US Open win

Federer beat Benoit Paire 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 to progress to the next round of the American Grand Slam.

The world No 2 was always in full control against his French opponent and was able to wrap up the win in straight sets.

Federer’s draw gets incredibly difficult from here on in, as he will now face Nick Kyrgios on Saturday.

There has been plenty of speculation over the past few years over when the 37-year-old will decide to call it a day.

But Federer revealed he’s been asked constantly about retiring for the best part of a decade and has learnt how to deal with the same questions.

“Well, it’s been nine years, so I don’t know what to tell you,” Federer said.

“In the beginning, you’re like, What? It can’t be true. Eventually, Okay, fine I get it, they’re allowed to ask it.

“Then you get to a point where everybody has to ask it because it could be that I would be the one in that very moment to reveal that this might be it.

“Then the journalist has to do their job and ask me that question. Almost every interview I do, they have to ask me the question, so…

“The thing is maybe I can tell you guys, I will not tell it to one journalist in that one moment. I don’t think I’m like that.

“I would first check with my family. If the team and everybody thinks that this is it now, and I feel it’s truly that, I wouldn’t probably tell it to that one journalist just it happened I was doing that interview that day.

“It’s been in phases. Sometimes you wonder why they ask you again because do they not hear what I said yesterday? Do they not listen to what I said two months ago?

“At this point I take it with a smile and I understand that everybody is just doing their job, I guess.”

Federer is among the favourites to win the US Open as he hunts for his 21st Grand Slam title.

The Swiss legend hasn’t lifted the trophy at Flushing Meadows for a decade with his last win coming back in 2008.

And Federer believes he is a better player compared to his last US Open victory.

He added: “Well, I really hope that this guy would win today just because I feel like I’ve improved many things over the years. I’m a more complete player than I was back then.

“I feel like the game has evolved, as well. Serving bigger. I don’t know. It’s just a different game today.

“I always feel the next generation is always better than the past one, yeah.”