John Higgins vows not to replicate 'cringey' Roger Federer retirement when he hangs up cue - The Mirror

Roger Federer's emotional farewell from tennis has come under scrutiny from John Higgins, who plans to walk away from snooker a long way away from the limelight

John Higgins insists his snooker retirement will be low-key after aiming a dig at tennis legend Roger Federer over his exit from the sport.

Federer called time on his glittering career last month and partnered old rival Rafael Nadal in his final match at the Laver Cup. Both Federer and Nadal failed to hold back the tears after the match but snooker legend Higgins has branded the emotional farewell "cringey".

And the 47-year-old is adamant there will be no repeat when he - or fellow stars Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Higgins - decide to call it a day and hang up their cues.

On Federer, Higgins said: "What a player he was and what a great champion but, put it this way, if Ronnie retires I don’t think I’ll be there holding his hand and crying – I am never doing that.

"I reckon if it was me retiring it might just be a handshake, that’s it and walk off out of the arena. I don’t know what I would do if Ronnie asked me to play doubles with him for his last match."

World No.5 Higgins has threatened to quit in recent years but believes he still has a while to go, while lauding praise on his fellow experienced snooker stars.

"When it comes to how much longer I might go on, obviously tennis is different to snooker – it is a lot more physical, in great health and stay clear of injuries," he added.

“We don’t get too many injuries stretching over a snooker table and we can go on a little bit longer than they can! It’s as long as your eyes last for us, then we can keep doing well.

"I hold Ronnie and Mark Williams in the highest esteem, Ronnie for winning his seventh title and Mark for all he has done. I think that world title this year has cemented in everyone’s eyes that Ronnie is the greatest player of all time."