An emotional Roger Federer wishes he could ‘go on forever’ as he prepares to retire from tennis
Follow live updates as Roger Federer bids farewell to tennis and plays the final match of his career alongside Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup. Perhaps the greatest champion in tennis history, Federer will retire from the sport aged 41 and the moment has brought the sport and his rivals together at the O2 Arena.
Federer’s wish to play his last match with arch-rival Nadal was fulfilled, but ended in defeat after a thrilling battle with Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe, which the Team World pair 4-6 7- 6 (11-9) won a decision. tiebreaker
“It’s been an incredible day,” said an emotional Federer. “I told the guys: I’m happy, not sad. It feels like a celebration. It was exactly what I expected.”
Before tonight’s doubles, three singles matches were played. Casper Ruud won the opening match of the day against Sock 6-4 5-7 (10-7), followed by Stefanos Tsitsipas who crushed Diego Schwartzman 6-2 6-1 to double his lead ‘Europe.
However, the match was overshadowed by a freak climate change protest in which a man set his arm on fire while on the pitch, while wearing a T-shirt that read: “End Private Jets in the UK”.
Murray then faced Alex De Minaur as Team World claimed their first point after a long 5-7 6-3 (10-7) victory, before the eyes of the world turn to Federer for last time and the Swiss brought his legendary career. until the end. Follow live updates from the opening day of the Laver Cup below:
Laver Cup 2022 LIVE: Latest updates from Federer’s final tournament
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Laver Cup 2022: Reaction after Federer’s last match
Federer closes: “It’s been a fantastic night. Thank you all.”
(AFP via Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood September 24, 2022 12:41 am
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Laver Cup 2022: Reaction after Federer’s last match
“It’s incredible. I didn’t want to feel alone out there. I’ve always felt like a team player, singles don’t let you do that. Being on the team with the boys has been a pleasure.
“It feels like a celebration. It was exactly what I expected.
“It has been a perfect trip. I would do it all over again.”
Federer tears up talking about his family and what their support has meant to him.
“It’s been a lot of fun for the last 13 years,” he says. “They’ve been very supportive. I could have stopped a long time ago, but they kept me going.”
Jamie Braidwood September 24, 2022 12:37 AM
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Laver Cup 2022: Reaction after Federer’s last match
Roger Federer: “We’ll get out of this somehow. It’s been an amazing day. I told the guys: I’m happy, not sad.
“It was all for the last time. I didn’t feel any stress, even if I thought something might come out, a calf, my back. I got it.
“It was a fun game. Playing with Rafa, having the boys here. Having Rod Laver. Thanks.”
Jamie Braidwood September 24, 2022 12:35 AM
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Laver Cup 2022: Reaction after Federer’s last match
“Roger, Roger!” sounds around the O2 – as the lights dim, there’s a video montage of tributes and highlights.
Jamie Braidwood September 24, 2022 12:32 AM
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Laver Cup 2022: Federer / Nadal 6-4 6-7 (9-11) Sock / Tiafoe – Game, Set and Match!
There are special scenes where Federer hugs every member of Team Europe, then the World Team, and then thanks Nadal, Djokovic and Murray on court.
No one has left the O2 as tennis unites to thank Roger Federer.
Jamie Braidwood September 24, 2022 12:30 am
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Laver Cup 2022: Federer / Nadal 6-4 6-7 (9-11) Sock / Tiafoe – Game, Set and Match!
It will be Federer to serve… It’s wide and long… Then Tiafoe moves to the backhand and Federer taps! An incredible drama! We are level 9-9!
Whoops: Nadal gets up as Tiafoe lands a right hand down the line, around the body! Now it’s Team World with a match point.
And that’s it! Sock trades forehands with Federer, before finishing with the winner at the end!
Federer’s career ends with a defeat, but that will not be the memory of the night.
Jamie Braidwood 24 September 2022 00:23
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Laver Cup 2022: Federer / Nadal 6-4 6-7 Sock / Tiafoe – Tiebreaker
Phew. Sock smashes a forehand at Federer, who can’t get it off the net.
VOLLEYBALL by Federer! He read Sock’s pass shot and jumped to his right, before turning it into the corner! It’s level 7-7!
Tiafoe hits Federer with a forehand, taking him in the arm! There are boos but the World Cup leads again, 8-7.
Nadal then turns around in celebration as Tiafoe reverses the nets! Level back to 8-8. Tiafoe hits the forehand again, and it’s match point for Federer and Nadal!
Jamie Braidwood September 24, 2022 12:19 AM
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Laver Cup 2022: Federer / Nadal 6-4 6-7 Sock / Tiafoe – Tiebreaker
Remarkable! Sock somehow hits a winner on the run, which Tiafoe can’t believe. He moves the world forward, but Tiafoe volleys into the net. It was a chance, but Sock makes amends with a slipped volley. The world advances 5-4.
Nadal finds the space at the back of the court to hit and equalize in the net! Federer’s ACE in the middle! Europe leads 6-5.
But the return is long, and we are equal again.
Jamie Braidwood 24 September 2022 00:14
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Laver Cup 2022: Federer / Nadal 6-4 6-7 Sock / Tiafoe – Tiebreaker
Nadal spins and roars as he takes out two shots and he and Federer lead 3-0! That gets everyone on their feet.
Federer’s return finds the net, and then Nadal goes long! Then Federer can’t control Sock’s driven pass and the World Cup is tied again at 3-3.
Jamie Braidwood 24 September 2022 00:09
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Laver Cup 2022: Federer / Nadal 6-4 6-7 Sock / Tiafoe – Second set of world victory!
Ah, an awkward silence follows as Federer hits a long forehand and then volleys into the net, setting up three set points for Tiafoe and Sock. During the race, Federer cannot keep his forehand in play and the level of attack of the world team.
Now we will play a decisive tie breaker.
Jamie Braidwood 24 September 2022 00:06