Federer nervous before emotional farewell
Nadal proud of friendship with arch rival as Swiss great bows out
Roger Federer may have been one of the sporting world’s great communicators over the last two decades, but the Swiss confessed he had dreaded being handed a microphone after his glorious career came to a close at the Laver Cup in London late on Friday.
The 41-year-old polyglot, who has given countless oncourt interviews in his 24 years at the top of the game, feared his emotions would render him inarticulate after his final doubles match at the O2 Arena.
“This is the part I was extremely worried about, taking the microphone. I wanted to be able to have an evening where I did not have to take the mic,” he told reporters.
“Maybe you think it’s logical that I have to take the mic. In my mind I didn’t, because I know how impossible I am on the mic when I am emotional.
“Weeks ago, for a fact, I was so scared of this moment that it really worried me.”
In the event, even though the tears did flow, the 20-times Grand Slam champion was able to find the words to express his feelings to fans, his rivals and his family.
“I was able to remind myself ... how wonderful this is,” Federer said.
“This is not the end-end, you know, life goes on.
“I’m healthy, I’m happy, everything’s great, and this is just a moment in time.
“This is how I was able to at least say everything I wanted, I believe.
“I was able to get to all those places. It was wonderful.”
That Federer and his great Spanish rival Rafa Nadal lost their doubles match to Americans Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe barely mattered as the night became a celebration of one of the greatest players to have graced the game.
Though he was happy with his farewell address on Friday, Federer said he felt there were a few more words of thanks he needed to dole out to fans in other parts of the world.
“I was just making sure I relayed my passion for the sport to the fans, and let them know that hopefully we’ll see each other again on a different type of tennis court somewhere around the world,” he said.
“I have no plans whatsoever for where, how, when.
“All I know is I would love to go and play places I have never played before or go say thank yous for years to come to all the people who have been so supportive of me.
“The hard part about the Laver Cup was that tickets were already sold out.
People who maybe would have also loved to be here couldn’t make it.
“Maybe there is another way down the stretch we can all party together.”
Sitting courtside, Nadal cried as his rival bid an emotional farewell, later saying an important part of him was also leaving the men’s Tour with the retirement of the Swiss.
Nadal, who has won a record 22 Grand Slam singles titles, said it was a difficult night for him emotionally as the defeat to the American pair of Sock and Tiafoe marked the end of the Federer’s dazzling career.
“For me, has been huge honour to be a part of this amazing moment of the history of our sport, and at the same time a lot of years sharing a lot of things,” the Spaniard said of Federer.
“When Roger leaves the tour, yeah, an important part of my life is leaving too because of all the moments he has been next to or in front me in important moments of my life.
“So it has been emotional (to) see the family, see all the people. Yeah, difficult to describe. But, yeah, an amazing moment.”
Federer, who won 20 major singles titles, played Nadal 40 times in one of the most compelling rivalries across any sport.
Despite the ferocity on court, they have remained friends off court.
It was perhaps most apt that the Swiss chose to have his final dance with Nadal on his side of the net.
Loud cheers accompanied Federer and Nadal, or “Fedal” as they are jointly nicknamed, on to court. After entertaining the sell-out crowd during the match, both were overcome by emotion.
“I think every year the personal relationship gets better and better,” Nadal, 36, said.
“I think in some way we understand at the end we have a lot of things in common . We probably approach life in a similar way.
“On court we have completely opposite styles, and that’s what probably makes our matches and our rivalry one of the biggest and most interesting.
“Very proud to be part of his career in some way. But even happier to finish our career like friends after everything we shared on court like rivals.