“My hope was I could play doubles with Rafa,” Roger Federer expresses his gratitude towards Rafael Nadal for playing in his farewell match despite personal problems
Follow Us
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal - IMAGO / PanoramiC
Roger Federer gave tennis fans the biggest heartbreak of this season when he announced his retirement from the sport after 24 years. Inactive post his surgery after his Wimbledon exit last year, Federer had to retire as his knee could not support him playing professionally again.
Federer announced his retirement in September informing that the 2022 Laver Cup will be his last-ever official Tour appearance. While he did not play a singles match, he instead played a doubles tie partnering rival turned friend Rafael Nadal for the match. While the pair was unfortunate to lose the match, the pictures of the two great champions and rivals crying together as tributes were paid to Federer became etched in every fan’s heart.
Federer recently appeared on The Daily Show hosted by comedian Trevor Noah. Noah asked Federer about his retirement match and especially about playing with Nadal who was then expecting the birth of his firstborn. Despite doubt about the Spaniard’s appearance, Nadal found time to play with Federer and returned back home immediately to be with his wife as the couple welcome their first son shortly after.
“It was a very unusual situation for us, to be on the same team, number one. So I think that changed the whole dynamics of my farewell, if you want. Then my hope was I could play doubles with Rafa. So I had to call him after the US Open and it was a very emotional phone call, actually, because it was one of the first times I told somebody outside of my team and family,” said Federer speaking about Nadal.
“I had to call him and tell him, hey Rafa (Nadal), just before we make any other plans, I would love you to be at the Laver Cup and play maybe one last doubles with me. It would be amazing for because unfortunately, my knee is not so good anymore and I think it’s the end. He’s like ‘oh yeah, oh my god, I’ll be there, whatever it takes.’ He’s now become a father. I’m so happy for him.
“And we were not sure if he was going to make it because of the baby. So it was one of the first times I had to tell the that story and come to terms like, my career was ending. So when he showed up, and Novak was there, and Murray was there and Bjorn Borg was there and everybody was there. It was an amazing moment and then I knew it was going to be incredibly emotional,” added Federer further.
Roger Federer confesses to being happy about the way his retirement came about
For Federer, retirement was looming as his knee injury was frequently flaring up as he had to undergo multiple surgeries. The 20-time Grand Slam champion further went on to talk about his emotional farewell ceremony expressing his happiness at the fact that he said goodbye on the court after playing a match instead of announcing it in a press conference.
“I’ve always cried a lot in victory and in defeat when I was younger, I don’t know why but I do it. But I’m happy because I remember those moments even more so because of it. And then when it was all over and I had to take the mic, I knew it was going to be terrible for me. But I felt like I did pretty good. I was so happy. I was able to be there in tennis clothes because that was in my vision.
“For me to be there with the mic in the light and tell everybody ‘This is it.’ And it was amazing to do it in London too, where I had so much success. Laver Cup was beautiful and Rafa there holding my hand briefly, or I held his hand actually, It was amazing,” concluded Federer talking about his farewell match with Nadal.
Federer had promised to stay in touch with the sport and to turn up at exhibition events as and when possible. He did stay true to his words as he recently played in Tokyo for an event organized by one of his sponsors Uniqlo. Hope to see him more often in the coming season.
Stay Updated!
Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)