Roger Federer narrowly lost the last match of his great tennis career. Afterwards there were great emotions, many tears – but also a comforting conclusion.
Roger Federer fought bravely for a long time. But when he was asked about his wife Mirka and his four children, it finally happened to the 41-year-old Swiss. Federer cried bitterly and couldn’t speak at first. Then he says in a halting voice. “I would never have gotten this far without you. You have allowed me to keep going.”
It was the emotional climax of a farewell gala full of emotions and feelings for the tennis legend. At 0.25 a.m. local time on Saturday night (September 24th, 2022) in London one of the greatest sports careers came to an end. With tears in his eyes, Federer said goodbye to tennis. After more than 100 tournament wins and a total of 20 Grand Slam titles, the 41-year-old Swiss ended his impressive career.
“Roger, Roger” chants in farewell
Federer was not granted a final victory in his last official match. At the Laver Cup, Federer lost alongside the Spaniard Rafael Nadal to the US duo Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe in a match tiebreak 6: 4, 6: 7 (2: 7), 9:11. After that, Federer hugged all his teammates and let the spectators celebrate him. “Roger, Roger” chants echoed through the arena in London.
“It felt like a celebration and that was exactly what I wanted”, Federer said in the subsequent interview on the pitch. Again and again he had to interrupt the conversation with the American ex-professional Jim Courier because he had to cry. “It was a perfect trip. I would do it again the same way”said the longtime world number one. “I’m happy, not sad.”
Three knee operations a reason for the resignation
Federer announced last week that he would end his career after the team competition. The Swiss had to have a total of three knee operations. He played his last game on the ATP tour at Wimbledon over a year ago.
The Laver Cup pits a European team against a selection of players from the rest of the world from Friday to Sunday. After the first day it is 2:2.
Nadal – from competitor to Federer friend
Federer’s last appearance was significantly delayed because Brit Andy Murray and Alex de Minaur from Australia had faced each other for almost two and a half hours. Everyone was just waiting for the moment when Federer would step onto a tennis court for the last time for an official game.
At 10:03 p.m. local time, the time had finally come. To the deafening cheers of the fans, Federer entered the arena alongside his long-time rival and now-boyfriend Nadal. “After all the great things we shared together on and off the pitch, being part of this historic moment is something I will never forget.”Nadal had said before the game.
tension not to hide
And the two superstars, who have won 42 Grand Slam titles together, thrilled the audience from the start. Federer and Nadal kept joking together, the rest of the Europe team around Novak Djokovic was also in a good mood. And in terms of sport, too, Federer kept flashing that he hadn’t forgotten how to play tennis at the age of 41 and after knee operations.
Before the game, Federer could see the tension. The longtime number one tried again and again to create a relaxed atmosphere with jokes. But even on the way to the arena, which Federer shared live with his fans in an Instagram video, the special feature of the moment was noticeable to the Swiss maestro. “I’ve done this 1,000 times, but this feels different”said Federer.
On the pitch, however, the 20-time Grand Slam champion largely had his nerves under control and found the right mix of relaxed and serious. Despite a match point in the third set, it wasn’t enough for a last win.