Tennis legend Roger Federer couldn’t hold back his tears after losing his farewell match in the 2022 Laver Cup in London on Friday. Federer paired up with his long-time rival Rafael Nadal in the doubles event at the Laver Cup against Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe, who defeated the star duo 4-6, 7-6 (2), 11-9 in a match tiebreak. The match was between Team Europe (Nadal and Federer) and Team World (Sock and Tiafoe).
The last match started off well for the star duo, who won the first set 6-4, but lost the second set 7-6(2) and the final set 9-11. All these years, the world has seen both players playing against each other. But both gave a spectacular treat to their fans after playing Federer’s last game together.
After the contest ended, the Swiss maestro, 41, couldn’t stop his tears during his farewell speech. A video of the duo has become widely popular on social media platforms in which Rafael Nadal, sitting courtside with Roger Federer, was seen crying as his great rival bid an emotional farewell to tennis.
The legend, in his farewell speech, said: “We’ll get through this somehow,” Federer said. “It’s been a wonderful day. I told the guys, ‘I’m happy. I’m not sad.’
“It feels great to be here and I enjoyed tying my shoes one more time. Everything was the last time.”
Federer thanks arch rivals
After explaining how the people around him made him less nervous, Federer continued by thanking Nadal and all those others in attendance. “I am so happy I made it through. The match was great,” Federer said. “I couldn’t be happier. It’s been wonderful. “And, of course, playing with Rafa [Nadal] on the same team and having the guys, everybody here, all the legends.”
After he was asked about how amazing it was to retire with his foes-turned-teammates by his side, Federer said he’s always been a team player.
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