Roger Federer moved to tears bids farewell to tennis – Liberation

The image will remain. Two of the greatest players in the history of tennis sitting on a bench, in tears, eyes wide open and hand in hand. Just after their double defeat against the American pair Sock-Tifaoe in the Laver Cup, it took long minutes for Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to realize: yes, the professional career of the Swiss maestro is now over.

With 103 titles on the ATP Tour, including 20 Grand Slams, 310 weeks at the top of the rankings, including 237 in a row during his longest period of reign, the imprint of “King” Federer on tennis is not close to fading.

A huge thrill ran through the O2 Arena and its approximately 17,000 spectators when he last entered a court as a professional tennis player. It was to applause and tears that he left in the middle of the night.

“It’s been a wonderful day, I told the guys, I’m happy, I’m not sad, it’s wonderful to be hereassured the Swiss champion of 41, despite already bright eyes. I didn’t have a fireworks display in my head where I saw my career flashing by or what I’m going to miss. That was weeks ago, when I was making phone calls to tell some people. It hurt me but tonight was just joy.

He had chosen the Laver Cup, a team match between Europe and the Rest of the World, which he helped to create, in London, a city that witnessed some of his greatest exploits at Wimbledon or the Masters, to draw his reverence.

Emotion gradually winning, Federer tried to joke about it with former player Jim Courrier, who asked him on the court and in front of the public about his first feelings as a former professional tennis player: “We’re gonna get there one way or another, huh?“, he slipped, his throat tight.

After a year and a half without playing and with a right knee which forced him to retire, he feared “a calf glitch or a locked back during the game, so I’m really glad I finished it”. Even if it ends in a 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 9-11 defeat, in doubles with his rival and friend Rafael Nadal, against the Americans Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe, in this competition which opposes Europe and Rest of the World.

After the match point, all the blue players (Europe) fell into his arms for long hugs tinged with tears, from Nadal to Novak Djokovic via Andy Murray.

But the hardest thing for him was to talk about his family present in the stands. “Do we really have to go through this?”he asked, before changing his mind and paying homage to his wife, Mirka, whom he met 22 years ago, who “so supported”.

After almost a year and a half without playing, Federer had chosen a doubles match, an exercise in which his quality of service, his touch and his eye still work wonders.

“The part that scared me the most was speaking into the microphone”

It also allowed him to surround himself with a team, and what a team! He had by his side Nadal, his one-night partner, but also Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, two players of his generation and whom he saw progressing until they challenged his superiority and even overtook him, as well as the next generation, embodied by Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Matteo Berrettini, who will replace him for the rest of the Laver Cup.

The presence on the bench of Björn Borg, as captain, as well as those of John McEnroe on that of the Rest of the World and of Rod Laver, the first player to have won the four Grand Slams twice in a calendar year and to whom the competition makes tribute, did not look out of place in this tennis celebration.

The formula of the Laver Cup, which allows the whole team to approach players at side changes to provide advice or encouragement, created a very friendly atmosphere.

And if the match itself sometimes looked like an exhibition, not playing it thoroughly would almost have been a crime of lèse-majesté. “We will take advantage of the moment but we will not hold back, sorry Roger”warned Sock before the game.

Despite some limitations, Federer answered present. “Honestly, I was surprised that I could play so well tonight, and I just enjoyed it. It was great from start to finish.” he assured.

The second set, lost in the tie-break (7-2), offered a dramatic epilogue with an intense crossover during the super final tie-break. Federer even served for the match at 9-8, but in the end it was the Americans who spoiled the party a bit by finally winning 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 11-9.

In view of the incredible career and the importance he will have had in the evolution of this sport in the 21st century, this defeat will be an adventure and he himself said he was ready for his new life which began in the London night.

“The part that scared me the most was talking on the microphone […] But I managed to keep in mind […] how wonderful the day had been, that it was not the end, that life goes on”.

Update at 9:10 a.m. with new photos.