Federer farewell

24 Sept 2022 01.03 BST Federer: 'It's been a perfect journey' “It’s been perfect journey, I would do it all over again,” Federer says. Asked to reflect on his journey from junior champion to grand slam champion to sporting icon, he says: “It was never supposed to be that way. I was just happy to play tennis and spend time with my friends, really.” “It’s been so much fun,” he adds. “It’s been amazing. Thank you, everybody. I’ve had so many people cheer me on. And you guys here tonight, it means the world.” Federer is then asked about how much his family’s support helped him along the way, and that’s when the waterworks really open up. “We have to go there?” he says, jokingly. “I’ve done OK so far I feel. I’m at least able to talk. In my vision I was never able to talk, so I’m doing way better. Everybody’s here tonight from my family, so it’s great. I’ve had so much fun over the last 13 years [of marriage]. Everybody’s here, the girls, the boys. My wife’s been so supportive. She could have stopped me a long, long time ago, but she didn’t. She kept me going and allowed me to play. It’s amazing. Thank you.” He continues, barely able to form sentences at this point through the tears: “I find it always funny that we always blame my mom for everything, because without her, I wouldn’t be here of course. So thanks to my parents, you have been amazing. Thank you. And just everybody, too many people to thank. It’s just been incredible, my God. A fantastic night. Thank you, everybody....

The legendary duo played an impressive match and even took the first set. But Team World’s Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe clawed their way back and produced some stellar shots late on to defeat Federer and Nadal 4-6, 7-6(2), 11-9. The 41-year-old sobbed as he was congratulated by his team at the end of the pulsating encounter, and the camera soon cut to the Spaniard who was also caught up in the emotions of a truly special evening. Nadal wept as they embraced one another in the middle of the court along with the rest of the players. Taking the microphone to speak to the crowd after his final match, Federer said: "We'll get through this somehow, will we, right?! Look, it's been a wonderful day. I told the guys I'm happy, I'm not sad. It feels great to be here. I enjoyed tying my shoes one more time - and everything was the last time. "Funny enough with all the matches and having the guys being here, fans, family, friends, I didn't feel the stress so much even though I did think something was going to go - pop a calf or block a back or something in the match. I'm so happy I made it through. The match was great and I couldn't be happier. It's been wonderful. And of course playing with Rafa, on the same team, having all the guys here and all the legends, Rocket [Rod Laver], Stefan Edberg - thank you. It is amazing, it really is [to share the court with Rafa and the others]. “I didn't want it to feel lonely out there. It felt lonely for a second when they told me to come out one ...

The match ended in defeat, but that mattered little to the packed arena as they witnessed one of the greatest sportspersons of his generation walk away from a sport he dominated for over a decade, alongside the very men who were themselves reduced to tears. Rafael Nadal could do little to control his emotions as he watched Federer hug each member of the 'Europe' team of the Laver Cup. After the match, Federer gave what will be his last on-court interview and thanked his family, friends, fans and rivals, but also, his wife - "My wife’s been so supportive. She could have stopped me a long, long time ago, but she didn’t. She kept me going and allowed me to play. It’s amazing. Thank you.” Roger Federer's Full Speech “We’ll get through this, somehow,” Federer said as he started to speak. “It’s been a wonderful day. I told the guys: I’m happy, I’m not sad.” “It feels great to be here. I enjoyed tying my shoes one more time. Everything was the last time. And funny enough, with all the matches and having the guys being here – fans, family, friends – I didn’t feel the stress so much, even though I did think something was gonna go- I’d pop a calf, or block a back or something in the match,” he joked. “So I am so happy I made it through. The match was great. I couldn’t be happier. It’s been wonderful." “And of course, playing with Rafa on the same team and having the guys – everybody here, all the legends – Rocket, Edberg, Stefan, thank you,” he said as he broke down in tears. “I did...

Another legend is leaving professional tennis behind. Roger Federer, 41, who’s won 20 Grand Slam titles, finished five seasons ranked No. 1 in the world and led a golden era of men’s tennis alongside his rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, has announced that he is retiring from playing tennis professionally. “I am 41 years old, I’ve played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years, and tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt,” he said in a video shared to his Twitter and Instagram accounts. He also posted screenshots of his farewell letter to Twitter. “While it sometimes feels like it went by in 24 hours, it has also been so deep and magical that it seems as if I’ve already lived a full lifetime,” he added. Federer acknowledged feeling his age lately, especially after the past three years that saw him working through various injuries and surgeries. And he called his decision to step away from professional play “bittersweet.” “I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form. But I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear,” he said. “Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career.” Federer thanked his wife, Mirka — a fellow tennis player — and their four children (two sets of twins) for their support. “Seeing my family cheering me on from the stands is a feeling I will cherish forever,” he said. And he also ...

Britain Tennis Laver Cup An emotional Roger Federer, left, of Team Europe sits alongside his playing partner Rafael Nadal after their Laver Cup doubles match against Team World's Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe at the O2 arena in London, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. Federer's losing doubles match with Nadal marked the end of an illustrious career that included 20 Grand Slam titles and a role as a statesman for tennis. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) LONDON (AP) — This day, this match, had to come, of course, for Federer bid adieu Friday night with one last contest before he heads into retirement at age 41 after a superlative career that spanned nearly a quarter-century and included The truth is that the victors, the statistics and the score (OK, for the record it was 4-6, 7-6 (2), 11-9) did not matter, and were all so entirely beside the point. The occasion was, after all, about the farewell itself. Or, better, the farewells, plural: Federer’s to tennis, to the fans, to his competitors and colleagues. And, naturally, each of those entities’ farewells to Federer. “It's been a perfect journey,” Federer said. “I would do it all over again.” When the match and, with it, his time in professional tennis ended, Federer hugged Nadal, then Tiafoe and Sock. And then Federer began crying. There were plenty of tears to go around; Nadal wiped his own away, too. “When Roger leaves the tour, an important part of my life is leaving, too,” said Nadal, 36, who used the words “sad” and â...