Roger Federer bidding emotional farewell to tennis at Laver Cup
Roger Federer bidding emotional farewell to tennis at Laver Cup: Roger Federer will bid an emotional farewell to tennis as he faces off against Rafael Nadal at Laver Cup in London on Friday.
Credit: Sports.NDTV
Roger Federer will retire at the age of 41 when the Laver Cup in London is on Friday. Federer hasn’t played since the 2021 Wimbledon quarter-finals and last week announced his retirement. He will appear for one final time for Team Europe at the Laver Cup, joining with Nadal as they link up against team World’s Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock at The O2 arena.
The rivalry between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer has spanned nearly two decades as both have won 42 Grand Slam singles titles. Nadal holds a 24-16 winning record while they’ve played 40 times, nine of those matches in grand slam finals with Roger winning the most with 20. However, these two players will be on the same side of the net in a Ryder Cup style tournament slated for next year.
Team Europe is comprised of six tennis players: four members of the so-called “Big Four” of tennis and two new additions. With Federer’s retirement, Italy’s Novak Djokovic and Great Britain’s Andy Murray will fill his place in the finals on Friday and Saturday.
Rafa, Federer said as he was playing in a press conference this week. The tennis player has said that it’s “really different” to play with Rafa or Novak on the tennis court. Also, the player mentioned how great it is he gets the opportunity to play with such players.
Nadal is excited to play Federer, who has beaten him in their only two Grand Slam meetings. This will be the first time they have played on the ATP tour, and it’s the biggest meeting of their careers so far.
The 36-year old said with a smile on his face that to be part of this historic moment would be something amazing. The three time Grand Slam singles champion said that after all the great times he had with Djokovic, their first victory together will make for an exciting story.
John McEnroe, the namesake of John McEnroe Tennis Academy, is full of disbelief at how Federer’s retirement will impact tennis. Federer has prolonged his career with incredible skill that has rarely been matched by other players.
The Swiss is one of the greatest sportsmen in history. He loves the game and seems to never have enough time to play it. Despite Federer’s ultimate victory in the sport, Sampras will remember him with a smile. Pete Sampras makes a mention of how Federer surpassed his record of Grand Slam singles titles in 2009.
He had a tough battle with you at the Centre Court of Wimbledon and walked off feeling like you were his equal. Twenty years later he discovered that you had 20 majors, been number one for years, dominated our sport, basically done it all.”
On Friday, Casper Ruud faces Sock in Norway’s first match of the Laver Cup. Stefanos Tsitsipas plays Diego Schwartzman for the first singles match. Andy Murray and Alex de Minaur go head to head at the beginning of the night session, followed by Rafael Nadal against Stan Wawrinka.