Roger Federer played the last game of his legendary career on Friday on a historic night in London. The Swiss tennis icon lost on the first day of the Laver Cup together with Rafael Nadal to Americans Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock: 6-4, 6-7 (2) and 9-11.
41-year-old Federer said goodbye in a packed O2 Arena after an impressive career spanning nearly 25 years. The former world number one has won twenty Grand Slam titles and 103 ATP tournaments in his career and will go down in the books as one of the best tennis players of all time.
Friday marked the first time Federer has played an official match since his elimination in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in 2021. “King Roger” had long hoped to return to the top level, but persistent injuries forced him to play in the Laver Cup. to put an end to his sensational career.
Federer is also unable to play a singles match in London, so he ended his career with a doubles match. The Swiss has already expressed the hope of being able to form a couple with Nadal, his dear friend and his greatest rival throughout his career. Captain Björn Borg made that wish come true.
Nadal and Federer discuss strategy.
Nadal and Federer discuss strategy. Photo: Getty Images
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Federer and Nadal provide entertainment
Federer and Nadal regularly took the crowd to the bench at the O2 Arena, where it was nearly impossible to see that the Swiss hadn’t been in action for more than a year. Certainly Federer played on the net as in the best days of him. In the first set, the tennis icons placed the decisive break with a 5-4 advantage.
In the second act, the rallies and matches got longer and longer. After the back and forth breaks, a tiebreak had to make the decision. In it, Team World established: 7-2. Federer and Nadal took a 3-0 lead in the deciding super tiebreak. However, Sock and Tiafoe showed resilience again and tied the score in no time.
The two also showed resilience when they cleared a match point behind by 9-8, with Federer serving. The Americans then immediately put an end to the game and the career of the legendary Swiss.
Federer’s last entry to a tennis match.
Federer’s last entry to a tennis match. Photo: Getty Images
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Team Europe and Team World in balance
The doubles of Federer and Nadal was the fourth match of the first day of the Laver Cup, after three matches in singles. After the singles, Team Europe led 2-1: Casper Ruud faced Sock, Stéfanos Tsitsipás beat Diego Schwartzman and Alex De Minaur gave Team World the first point by beating Andy Murray. Due to Sock and Tiafoe’s doubles victory, he is now tied: 2-2.
The fifth edition of the Laver Cup will last until Sunday. Team World has never won the ATP tournament.
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