The twenty-time grand slam winner was sidelined for more than a year due to knee problems. Federer underwent another knee surgery after Wimbledon last year and the recovery of the former number 1 in the world took longer than expected. Federer recently came to the conclusion that a return to the ATP Tour is no longer feasible. He wanted to come into action one more time, at the Laver Cup. The Swiss, together with Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, among others, forms the European team, which will compete against Team World in London.
Federer dropped Nadal ten days before his farewell letter on social media We already knew that he would stop playing tennis, after which he immediately asked the Spaniard five years younger if he still wanted to double with him at the Laver Cup in the O2 Arena in London as the final piece of a wonderful tennis career. Nadal did not hesitate for a moment and tonight did not shine against, but next to his eternal sporting rival.
“We’ll get through this, won’t we,” Federer began his speech after the party, which concluded at 12:30 a.m. local time in London. “I’m happy, not sad. It’s been a wonderful day. enjoyed it, doing it all for the last time. To have all my friends and family and all those tennis legends here with me was amazing. The match itself was great too, I couldn’t have asked for a better goodbye. I’ve always felt like a team player even though I’ve played almost exclusively singles in my career. The people around me have always been a big part of its success. That’s why I felt at home in this setting. For me, it felt like a party, not a goodbye I wish I could do it all again because it was an amazing trip with my friends and family My wife and kids are so supportive I am so forever grateful for that. She always let me play, thank you for that,” Federer said, his voice cracking completely.
The Spanish top talent Carlos Alcaraz (19), the number 1 in the world after his victory at the US Open, passionately sympathized with the match of the tennis greats via Twitter.
Team Europe of team captain Björn Borg had the first two games won against Team World of John McEnroe. Casper Ruud beat Jack Sock, after which Stefanos Tsitsipas convincingly beat the Argentinian Diego Schwartzman. The evening session started tonight with the match between Andy Murray and Alex de Minaur. The 23-year-old Australian defeated the 35-year-old Scot 5-7, 6-3, 10-7.