At the end of Roger Federer’s career on the edge of the Laver Cup, bittersweet tears are not only flowing from the Swiss. His biggest rival Rafael Nadal also shows surprisingly great emotions.
The emotional roller coaster ride had been in full swing for around 25 minutes since the end of Roger Federer’s last match. The Swiss tiger crossed the after midnight Center Courthugged and hugged his teammates Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as often as he could get hold of them. Bittersweet tears flowed again and again. Nadal and Federer in particular sobbed in unison, first at the teamfarewell in the middle of Center Courts. After the already emotionally charged farewell interview with Federer on the pitch, it overcame the two superstars during the live performance the British singer Ellie Goulding right again.
In the midst of this hustle and bustle and just at the moment when the around 20,000 spectators in the sold-out arena in London thought it couldn’t get any more emotional, the screens in the hall first caught Federer’s wife Mirka, then the couple’s four children and finally Federer’s parents . Everyone got their own moment with their husband, father or son in the middle of the spotlight. Particularly empathetic: Federer, completely in tears, made it clear to his children that they were only tears of joy. Again and again he called to the quartet: “I’m fine, everything is fine.” Ultimately, however, everyone in the Federer family let their emotions run free.
Roger Federer (left) and Rafael Nadal (right) high five
Recently no more training progress
As announced just over a week ago, Federer ended his career as a tennis pro on Friday evening at the Laver Cup in London. The 41-year-old did so in a doubles match alongside Nadal. He had wished for that at the end of his world career. For a single at the annual event founded by Federer and his agency in 2017 show event between a world selection and team Europe hadn’t had enough due to persistent knee problems. After two major operations in the summer, no satisfactory progress was made in training, Federer’s long-time trainer Severin Lüthi confirmed to the sports show before Federer’s last match at all. Federer had categorically ruled out any further intervention.
Thus, the respectable reaching the quarterfinals remains in Wimbledon 2021 with almost 40 years and the defeat against Hubert Hurkacz Federer’s last official game. Even before that, the Swiss had had to pause for a long time. Federer also lost against Nadal on Friday Party crasher Frances Tiafoe and jack sock. The Americans had Nadal and Federer in one match tie break after repelling one match points defeated 4:6, 7:6 (2) and 11:9.
Federer with irony to finish
In terms of running and sprinting, the limits on Friday were clearly recognizable. At the net he presented himself with old class and transformed shortly after the beginning of the matches a forehand volley reflexively in his first winners. Basic strokes also improved as time went on. The playful highlights was a converted half-flying volley to 7:7 im match tie break. What was also noticeable: Federer enjoyed his last match, joked with his teammates during the breaks in the game and showed a healthy dose of self-mockery. When in his first service game a kind of art shot slipped through a tiny hole on the edge of the net, he said when changing sides. “But my eyes are still good. I saw that he went through.” After the forgiven match point he joked about his sprint attempts: “Was that the slow motion?”
Tennis ace Roger Federer emotionally waves to fans after his last match
The result and the sporting significance were seconds after the match point secondary. “It was a wonderful day. I told the guys I was happy – not sad”, said Federer on the pitch. Later at 2 a.m. deep in the catacombs of the arena, the Swiss spoke at a press conference. “What I will remember in a few years is the people that were around me today and the emotional faces – Rafa is one of them.”, he said with a smile and apologized to the embarrassed looking Nadal. The Spaniard had already stated at the beginning of the press round: “If Roger leaves the tour now, an important part of my life will also disappear.” In the end, the former rivals hugged each other again.
Long-term coach Severin Lüthi was also very close to Federer on Friday, with whom the Swiss DavisCup-Captain since 2007. In conversation with the sports show shortly before the last match in Federer’s career he worked out two things. “It’s mostly that he’s just a good person”, said Luthi. He has experienced it every day how he stays on the ground, how he has respect. “You have to pay your parents a big compliment. He’s always interested in the other person and always asks questions because it’s also very exciting for him. That shows what a good person he is. That’s why it’s difficult Having problems with him as a person because he respects everyone.”
Federer’s secret image as a hard worker?
Despite the emotional state of the resignation, he thinks of others and his team first. “I was with Davis Cup in Ecuador the day after the announcement and I think he called me twice to ask if I was okay. Normally you would think he was devastated and sad. Of course he will also be nostalgic, but it is typical for him that he has his Coach calls and asks how he’s doing.”
The other, less well-known side of Federer was that of the hard worker. “Talent alone is never enough in life. I’ve had 15 years of training with him”, said Luthi. That was sometimes five hours of training in a row and units at 40 degrees in the shade in Dubai. “And he never stopped sooner.” At least he can save himself the hard units from now on – and take care of his emotions.