Frances Tiafoe reflects on childhood memories of Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal rivalry, admits surprise at seeing them hold hands at Laver Cup 2022
Frances Tiafoe was the opponent of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the 2022 Laver Cup, partnering Jack Sock.
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L-R: Frances Tiafoe, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal (via Imago/X)
American tennis star Frances Tiafoe recalled the heartwarming moment between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the 2022 Laver Cup as his favorite memory. The two tennis legends were seen crying in their seats after Federer’s retirement match in London.
Federer revealed that Nadal was the first person he told about his retirement outside of his inner circle. Despite going through a pregnancy with his wife, Nadal made it to London for the event. This iconic moment at the 2022 Laver Cup touched fans across the sports world.
They just love each other and the respect they have for each other is insane. I mean, that’s wild. I’m a kid, like eight, nine years old, watching these guys battle each other. And now, like, you know, at the end, they’re like holding hands, like the respect they have for each otherFrances Tiafoe said via the Laver Cup tournament website
Federer and Nadal first met during Wimbledon 2003, and their first match was in the third round of the 2004 Miami Open, where Nadal won. From then on, the two tennis icons formed a strong relationship.
One dude, Spanish, was barely speaking English when he first started. Another dude, you think he’s American with how well he speaks English, and he’s so fly and does everything like they’re so different. But they just love each other and the respect they have for each other is insane. So that was probably the coolest thing ever. And I was like, man, it’s just cool to be here. Like, forget what even just happened. It’s cool to be here.Frances Tiafoe added
After the Laver Cup was introduced in 2017, Federer and Nadal represented Team Europe together in three editions, including 2022. However, the 22-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from the tournament after his doubles match with Federer due to personal reasons.
Roger Federer set to make a controversial decision after business decline
As the tennis world moves on from the US Open, attention is turning to the Laver Cup. This tournament is famous for its exciting matches and lineups filled with star players. Fans are eager to watch Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz compete, but there’s a big change this year: ticket prices have gone up significantly, sparking concern among the tennis community.
The Laver Cup, founded by Roger Federer in 2017, brings together six European players and six from the rest of the world. It quickly became a top event in the tennis world. This year’s tournament will take place at Berlin’s Uber Arena starting on September 20, promising intense competition.
However, ticket prices are much higher than usual, with some costing up to 4,420 euros, while even the cheapest seats start at around 300 euros. These prices are much steeper than other tournaments, including the US Open, where the most expensive seats were around 1,500 euros.
The Laver Cup is facing financial difficulties, with reports of losses in both 2023 and 2024. The high ticket prices are blamed for lower attendance. The 2022 edition was more successful due to the presence of legends like Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal, driving a profit of 5 million euros.
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Fahad Hamid
(718 Articles Published)