Roger Federer brings down curtain on his career with a defeat, but still dazzles alongside longtime friend and rival Rafael Nadal
Roger Federer’s career may have ended in a defeat on Friday, but the five-minute standing ovation that followed was a testament to the unique, indelible mark he left on the sport of tennis.
The adulation of the crowd, seemingly endless rounds of applause and chants of “Roger, Roger, Roger,” reduced Federer to tears.
“I’m happy, I’m not sad,” he said after the match, a 6-4 6-7 9-11 defeat to Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe alongside longtime friend and rival Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup at London’s O2 Arena.
“I enjoyed tying my shoes one last time. Everything was the last time.”
Following 24 years of excellence on the court — more than 1,500 matches, 103 singles titles, and 20 grand slams — this was Federer’s last competitive match.
The epic tiebreak that sealed the win for the American pair was a fitting end to not only a match that, despite the intense and often emotional build-up, far surpassed expectations in its grandeur and quality but also a career that has produced so many moments of genius and provided joy to so many.
For a three-day competition between teams from Europe and the rest of the world that has rarely felt like much more than an exhibition since its inception in 2017, the announcement of Federer’s retirement added some welcome prestige to this weekend’s play.
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