Video: Nieminen talks retirement – and Federer

WIMBLEDON – For the first time since he retired at the end of the 2015 season, former world No. 13 Jarkko Nieminen of Finland is actually at a tennis tournament.

And he picked the big one – Wimbledon.

The last year and a half have been busy. Nieminen, still only 35, was recruited to play floorball in a professional league; it’s called “salibandy” in Finland. He and his wife had their first child.

But now, he’s getting back into the game.

Here he is talking about his plans.

The visit to Wimbledon, which lasted a week, meant saying hello again to a lot of old pals and familiar faces.

One of them was his buddy and frequent practice partner, Roger Federer.

Not too many players could get Federer up to Finland to play a farewell exhibition. But Federer did that for Nieminen.

He is just two weeks younger than Nieminen. So, of course, we asked the Finn about what his Swiss friend has accomplished this season (the interview took place just a few hours before Federer advanced to the semi-finals with a straight-sets win over Milos Raonic).

Here’s what he said.

Nieminen looks like he could still run a marathon. Unreal.