Emotional Roger Federer wishes he could ‘go on forever’ as he prepares to retire from tennis
Follow live reaction as a tearful Roger Federer bid farewell to tennis after playing the final match of his career alongside Rafael Nadal in the Laver Cup. Federer, who will go down as perhaps the greatest champion in tennis history, retires from the sport after a thrilling defeat to the Team World pair of Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe, who won 4-6 7-6 (11-9) on a deciding tiebreak late in to the night in London.
Afterwards, Federer was emotional and Nadal joined him in breaking down in tears as the 41-year-old reflected upon his career and his final goodbye. “It’s been an incredible day,” Federer said. “I said to the guys, I’m happy, not sad. It feels like a celebration to me. It was exactly as I hoped for.”
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), and was followed by Stefanos Tsitsipas crushing Diego Schwartzman 6-2 6-1 to double Europe’s lead. However, the match was overshadowed by a bizarre climate change protest in which a man set his arm on fire while on court, while wearing a t-shirt that read: “End UK Private Jets”.
Follow live reaction from the opening day of the Laver Cup, below:
1663980246Emotional Roger Federer ends career with final defeat alongside Rafael NadalIt was after midnight in London when the final point of Roger Federer’s career was played. That it meant his final match ended in a heartbreaking defeat, on a deciding tiebreak, did not seem to matter. Federer was in tears shortly afterwards, not due to the result, but because of the people he could share the moment with. Rafael Nadal was soon crying beside him. By the end, there was barely anyone who wasn’t.
Report from a special night:
Emotional Roger Federer ends career with final defeat alongside Rafael NadalFederer and Nadal were beaten on a historic night as Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock won a thrilling Laver Cup match 4-6 7-6 (11-9)
Jamie Braidwood24 September 2022 01:44
1663977414Laver Cup 2022: Reaction following Federer’s last matchAnd there’s the final goodbye – an extraordinary night here and plenty more of reaction to come.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood24 September 2022 00:56
1663977201Laver Cup 2022: Reaction following Federer’s last matchFederer now sets off on a lap of the O2, saying goodbye to his fans.
It’s 0:50am and barely anyone has left.
Federer is then joined by both teams in the middle of the court, and they lift Federer into the air!
(AFP via Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood24 September 2022 00:53
1663977080Laver Cup 2022: Reaction following Federer’s last matchFederer is met by his wife Mirka courtside, both of them in tears.
This shot of Nadal and Federer is quite incredible.
There is so much love at the O2 for Roger Federer.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood24 September 2022 00:51
1663976491Laver Cup 2022: Reaction following Federer’s last matchFederer signs off: “It’s been a fantastic night. Thank you everybody.”
Rafael Nadal is in tears too. Who isn’t.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood24 September 2022 00:41
1663976241Laver Cup 2022: Reaction following Federer’s last match“It is amazing. I didn’t want to feel lonely out there. I always felt like a team player, singles doesn’t let you do that. Being on the team with the guys, it’s been a pleasure.
“It feels like a celebration to me. It was exactly as I hoped for.
“It’s been a perfect journey. I would do it all over again.”
Federer tears up speaking about his family and what their support has meant for him.
“It’s been so much fun over the past 13 years,” he says. “They have been so supportive. I could have stopped long ago but they kept me going.”
Jamie Braidwood24 September 2022 00:37
1663976152Laver Cup 2022: Reaction following Federer’s last matchRoger Federer: “We’ll get through this somehow. It’s been an incredible day. I said to the guys, I’m happy, not sad.
“Everything was for the last time. I didn’t feel stress, even if I thought something might go, a calf, my back. I made it through.
“It was a fun match. Playing with Rafa, having the guys here. Having Rod Laver. Thank you.”
Jamie Braidwood24 September 2022 00:35
1663975924Laver Cup 2022: Reaction following Federer’s last match“Roger, Roger!” rings out around the O2 – as the lights dim, there is a video montage of tributes and highlights.
Jamie Braidwood24 September 2022 00:32
1663975800Laver Cup 2022: Federer / Nadal 6-4 6-7 (9-11) Sock / Tiafoe – Game, set and match!There are special scenes as Federer hugs every member of Team Europe, then Team World, and then thanks Nadal, Djokovic and Murray all out on court.
No one has left the O2 as tennis comes together to thank Roger Federer.
Jamie Braidwood24 September 2022 00:30
1663975392Laver 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… Tiafoe then moves in on the backhand and Federer nets! Incredible drama! We’re level at 9-9!
Wow – Nadal ducks out the way as Tiafoe cracks a forehand down the line, around the body! Now it’s Team World with match point.
And that’s it! Sock exchanges crosscourt forehands with Federer, before finishing with the winner down the line!
Federer’s career ends in defeat, but that will not be the memory of tonight.
Jamie Braidwood24 September 2022 00:23
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