Lloyd rues Federer’s exit buthasseenthemanwho can pick up the baton
Friday night was the moment many tennis fans hoped would never come.
Roger Federer waved goodbye after a glittering two decades at the top of the sport that included a record eight Wimbledon titles.
John Lloyd was sad to see him go, with the BBC commentator believing that Federer could have managed one more trip to SW19 as his farewell.
It was an emotional night at the O2 Arena as the Swiss star’s greatest rivals – Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Sir Andy Murray – were all there in the same Europe team as him for the Laver Cup.
The four have been at the forefront of the golden era of men’s tennis, racking up 66 Grand Slams and three Olympic Singles gold medals among them.
Injuries have finally caught up with Federer at 41, while Nadal at 36 and Djokovic and Murray, both 35, are closer to the end of their careers, too.
They will leave a huge hole when they all depart, but Lloyd was thrilled by events at the US Open earlier this month.
He believes that the victory for Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, which took the 19-year-old to World No. 1, was exactly the boost the men’s game needed.
“The big four will be a huge loss because we’re not just talking about one player,” Lloyd told The Sunday Post from his Florida home.
“All, in their own way, are mindboggling in what they have achieved, and what they mean to oursport.
“But watching the US Open got me as charged up for a Grand Slam as I have in a long time.
“Some of the tennis was phenomenal. And in Carlos Alcaraz, tennis is going to have its next crossover star. He has come through probably quicker than expected.
“Down the road, I think he will win 10-plus Grand Slams.
“The New York crowd is a tough one, but they took to Alcaraz and you could see him grow over those two weeks. They saw something special – a player who is a
ridiculously good athlete, and can still get so much better.
“With him and other young players, like Jannik Sinner of Italy, we’re going to be OK.
“But we just need to put plasters on Rafa and Novak, so they can stick around for a couple more years.
“There will be a hit when they go – there can’t not be – but I don’t think it will be as big as I was expecting two or three years ago.
“You looked at the next group coming through of Daniil Medvedev, Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev and you thought, ‘They’re good players, but they can’t carry the sport’.”
However, for all of Alcaraz’s talent and potential, it is hard to imagine anyone gaining the popularity of Federer.
The crowd favourite almost wherever he played, Federer’s mix of brilliant play and warm demeanour was a perfect mix.
While, for Lloyd, there was a feeling of privilege in being able to commentate on his matches.
“People used to ask me when Roger was at his peak if it was boring covering one-sided games,” he
recalled. “For me, it was exactly the opposite. I knew he would always
hit a handful of shots in a match that would make me go: ‘Wow’.
“No other player could hit them, or even have the imagination to hit them. You were commentating on a genius.
“His tennis was on a different planet. The grace, the movement like a ballet dancer and the sheer look of the strokes.
“He was also an amazing competitor, who fought as hard as anyone. And he was equally gracious in victory or defeat, which is great.
“Federer drew people to him. He speaks so many languages, has a nice sense of humour and was never arrogant.
“He was a charismatic, but modest, champion.
“When he announced he was retiring, I was shocked. I couldn’t imagine him not playing one more Wimbledon, so this is a sad moment for the sport.”
As Federer walks away, he joins Serena Williams in retirement, with the American great having said goodbye in New York last month.
And, for Lloyd, the departure of Serena and her 23 Grand Slam titles is a bigger hole to fill for the women’s game.
“For me, Serena and Venus Williams is the greatest-ever sports story,” he said. “That will never be repeated.
“There are a lot of interesting players, but it will probably take two or three years for them to really step up.
“Emma Raducanu is one of them – if she gets her game back to the level that won her the US Open.
“There will be a big gap for a while, although I’m not 100% convinced that Serena is done yet!”