We know more about Roger Federer’s last match. The Swiss, who announced Thursday, September 15 on social networks his retirement, will play a single double at the Laver Cup as a goodbye. “I think it should be Friday night”, he said this Wednesday in front of the press, in a necessarily special atmosphere.
The six players from each team are normally due to play one or two of the nine singles spread over the three days of the exhibition, which will take place from September 23-25 at the O2 Arena in London. Federer thus obtained the authorization of the captains of the European team, Bjorn Borg, and of the team of the ” Rest of the world »John McEnroe, to play only one doubles (there is one per day).
“It’s an event I didn’t want to disrupt but, at the same time, I know my limitssaid the former world number 1, who spent a year and a half away from the courts trying to treat his right knee. I’m obviously nervous that I haven’t played for so long, I hope to be competitive. » Despite a farewell somewhat upset by his recalcitrant body, the player with twenty Grand Slam titles, whose last match dates back to July 2021, at Wimbledon, still hopes to live a last “really special moment”.
“We fought for so long”
And if Casper Ruud, Novak Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas or Andy Murray are possible partners, everyone dreams of seeing him end his exceptional career alongside Rafael Nadal, both their rivalry and the famous “ Federal » punctuated the circuit for more than a decade.
“Obviously it could be a pretty unique situation if that happens.abounds Federer. We fought for so long, but there’s always been this respect between us, our families, our coaching teams, we get along really well.. To have been able to maintain this good relationship is also a great message for the sport and beyond and for that reason it would be great if that happened. It would be a really special moment. »
Opposed for years in the race for titles and the place of world number 1, the two players had already found themselves on the same side of the field in 2017, during this same exhibition, during a double they had win. The whole world therefore hopes to see them join forces and their talent one last time this Friday.