Serbian Novak Djokovic has paid tribute to his rival over the years, Swiss Roger Federer, who announced his retirement on Thursday praising the “incredible moments and battles” the two fought on the pitch.
“Roger, it’s hard to see this day and put into words everything we’ve shared in the sport,” Djokovic wrote on his Instagram account on Friday.
He added that they have had “over a decade of incredible moments and memorable battles”.
Swiss tennis legend Federer announced Thursday that he will retire from the game after a rich career in which he won 20 major championships and 103 singles titles, placing him among the greats of the game.
Djokovic and Federer have met 50 times, with the Serbian winning 27 games against 23 for the Swiss.
The duo also played 17 games in Grand Slam tournaments, including five finals, in which Djokovic excelled 11-6.
The 35-year-old added: “Your career has set the tone for what it means to achieve excellence and leadership with integrity and balance. It is a great honor to meet you on and off the pitch and for many years to come.”
Federer’s last big final was at the epic Wimbledon Championships in 2019, which Djokovic won in the final set tiebreak after the Swiss had previously lost two points for the title.
Federer, 41, is only behind rivals Djokovic (21) and Rafael Nadal (22) in the number of Grand Slam titles.
The “Big Three” will meet for the last time next week at the Laver Cup in London, the last tournament in which Federer will participate.
“I’m looking forward to celebrating your achievements and seeing you in London,” said Djokovic.
AFP
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