Roger Federer Reveals Why He Retired at Laver Cup: “I Did Not Want to Be Alone”

Roger Federer retired after playing doubles with Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup.

Roger Federer Reveals Why He Retired at Laver Cup: “I Did Not Want to Be Alone”

Roger Federer (Image via X/Dinora RF)

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The Laver Cup, co-founded by Roger Federer, is underway at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Team World, led by Andre Agassi, has a 9-3 lead over Team Europe, captained by Yannick Noah. Laver Cup’s co-founder, Roger Federer, is also in San Francisco for the same, though he is not in action on the court.

It was in the tournament back in 2022 in London that Federer called time on his illustrious career. On the final match of Day 1, the Swiss maestro played doubles with longtime rival Rafael Nadal and lost to the pair of Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe.

During his retirement ceremony, another of his rivals, Novak Djokovic, was also present, as well as the players from the respective teams. Laver Cup was the first and last tournament Federer played in 2022, and it wasn’t the only tournament Federer initially thought he would be retiring at. In the Served podcast with Andy Roddick, the 20-time Grand Slam champion recalled what went through his mind when he thought about hanging up his racket.

It was a process I went through very intensely because I always knew that retirement would be very difficult for me. I love the sport, and everything it entails means a lot to me. My knee had been bothering me for a while, and I knew I would retire, so I took a break that summer to decide where to retire. I was torn between the US Open, Basel, and the Laver Cup.

Federer last won a title at the 2019 Swiss Indoors by defeating Alex de Minaur. He also played his last Grand Slam final the same year, losing to Djokovic at Wimbledon.

I did not want to be alone on the court when I retired, so I chose London because it was where I experienced some of the best moments of my career at Wimbledon.

Roger Federer added

Federer made four appearances at the Laver Cup, playing 12 matches (won eight and lost four). In singles, he won all six matches, while in doubles, he won two and lost four.

Roger Federer on Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s dominance

When Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic were reaching the twilight of their respective career, there was a lot of curiosity about whether there would be another Big 2 or Big 3. But Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner emerged on the scene and ensured that tennis indeed is in the right hands.

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (3)
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

Since Djokovic’s 24th Grand Slam win at the 2023 US Open, Sinner and Alcaraz have split the last Majors between them, becoming the first men’s pair in the Open Era to do so. Federer, during his interview with Tennis Channel, also had something to say about the World No.1 and World No.2.

I think we all knew that they were going to be good, maybe they were going to be great, most likely, but we didn’t expect this kind of dominance right out of the gates. It’s very impressive, I must admit, and it’s amazing for the game.

Sinner edges 5-10 in the head-to-head matchups, losing in the French Open and US Open finals and winning at Wimbledon this year. Alcaraz is playing the Laver Cup, and he lost one and won one. The Spaniard and Jakub Mensik defeated Team World’s Taylor Fritz and Alex Michelson, but he suffered a straight-set defeat to Fritz on Day 2.

Sinner has never played in the tournament. He will be seen in action at the China Open, where last year, he lost to Alcaraz in three sets. The six-time Grand Slam champion will not be going to Beijing to defend this title; instead, he will make his debut at the Japan Open.

Also read: Joao Fonseca Relishing the Laver Cup Experience After Raising Team World’s Morale With Key Victory on Day 1