Roger Federer prepares the last game of his career: “I’d like to play doubles with Rafa Nadal”

London already vibrates Laver cupwhich will hold a more than special edition over the weekend, which will mark the end of the race for Roger Federer, one of the greatest tennis players of all time. The Swiss and almost all of his teammates Europe team -the only one who is not yet in the English capital is Rafael Nadalwho announced it will arrive this Thursday – they’ve already shared training sessions on the imposing black court O2 sand. All the players of the Rest of the worldwith Diego Schwartzmann included. The big anticipation is Friday, when Roger will play his last game.

This was confirmed by the former world number one and winner of 20 Grand Slams only one of the doubles points will be contested, as had been assumed for days. It will be the duel will close the action of the first day of competition, around 21:00 local time (17 in Argentina). And perhaps, paired with his great rival and friend, Nadal. At least, that’s what all fans of him and even Roger himself expect.

“I would like to play doubles with Rafa, it would be a unique situation. In all the time we have fought together, we have always respected each other and we have always gotten along very well. Having the career we’ve had and being able to have a good relationship, I think that’s a great message not just for tennis, but for sport and maybe beyond. That’s why I think it would be great. I don’t know if that will happen, but obviously it could be a special moment. ”

“I am happy and surprised at how good my shots are,” said the Swiss, who played his last game on 7 July last year, when he fell in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. “I won’t be able to play solo, it was pretty clear in advance. I asked our captain, Bjorn Borg, if I could only play one double and he told me that I could do what I wanted, that seeing me on the pitch would be a dream for everyone. The pressure I have is great. I’m nervous, because I haven’t played for a long time, but I’ll try to be competitive. ”

Beyond the obvious sadness for what will be the end of more than two decades of professional career, Federer has assured that he is happy and does not want the tournament – in which the European team, champion of all previous editions, will seek the fifth title in a row – be a “funeral”.

“I want it to be something cheerful, moving and with a party atmosphere,” he said that since he landed in London on Sunday, he hasn’t stopped smiling, having fun and in a great mood. This was also seen this Wednesday, during the press conference in which he talked about everything.

“At the beginning of the (European) summer, during training, I noticed that the knee was not right. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy and that it was part of the process, but there came a time when I saw it. I could, that was the end. I made the decision a few days after Wimbledon. It was hard for me not to tell too many people. I was in that delicate situation for a long time, so I know it was the right decision. “

And he recalled: “Last year’s comeback was extremely difficult because I was so far from 100%. It was great for me to have reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. The last set against Hurkacz was one of the worst moments of my career. I realized that nothing works anymore. It’s over. Disappointment felt like fireworks in my head. I didn’t know how to proceed with this knee“.

After that defeat in the English Grand Slam, he underwent surgery for the third time on his right knee, which since 2020 has complicated him. Then he had to go through a healing that didn’t go as planned. Although he admitted that, in any case, his love for tennis led him to not give up and, despite the idea of ​​retirement was already in his mind, he tried a new recovery.

“At the beginning of the summer I still wanted to do athletic exercises. I was running at 15 kilometers per hour on the treadmill, but in the end it became too difficult, but that’s normal. It was a great challenge to listen to my body and explore with the team what else I could do. The knee deserved a break, over time he could no longer hear the question of how he was doing. I was so tired of rehab, of training, of always being positive. I didn’t want any more operations, “Federer said.

“I was at a crossroads, but I wasn’t ready or willing to risk everything, because tennis is a very difficult sport to recover from. The hardest thing after that point, of course, is that you are sad when you say ‘Well this is the end’. I almost ignored it for a while, but when I made the decision, I felt like a load was lifted off my shoulders.“said the Swiss.

While he’s sure it’s time to hang up the racquet, he still acknowledged that he felt a bittersweet feeling, hours after playing his last game.

“I know that I will miss the circuit very much, the daily work to compete and improve myself. Tie my shoes, put the headband on, look in the mirror and say ‘You are ready’. You always want to play forever. I love being on the field, I love to compete and I love to travel. That’s the bitter part, “she mused.” The sweet part is that I know everyone has to do it at some point. Everyone has to leave the game. It was a great, great journey. For that, I am very grateful“.

His best moments and his plans for the future

Since Federer announced that Laver would be his last tournament, social networks and internet pages around the world have been filled with videos recalling his best points, his biggest wins and the most important moments of his extraordinary. career. Picking just a handful seems like a tall order, even for Roger himself.

“I didn’t think about what the best moments were, but I remember Wimbledon 2017. Also, when I won in Australia that year and on many other occasions. Sometimes, my memories are focused on those conversations that took place outside the game. , out on the pitch, because of the people I met along the way. I went there and I’m very lucky. As a child I couldn’t even imagine such a huge success, “he commented.

Although at some point in the conversation with the media, he was encouraged to choose: “One of my big moments, of course, was winning my 15th Grand Slam at Wimbledon when Pete (Sampras) was sitting there.“, he recalled about the title that allowed him to break the record for best winner in that category that he shared, until then, with the American.

“Everything that came after was a bonus. That was the record and then of course there were others along the way… I’m very happy to have managed to win another five Grand Slams. It was amazing. Then I hit over 100 titles (he got 103). All of this was fantastic. “

The Swiss, who led the rankings for 310 weeks (a record 237 in a row), ensured that one of his greatest achievements, for him, was being able to control the strong temper he had in his early years: yes got mad easily and used to break rackets – and I became a consistent player.

“I wasn’t professional enough at first. I know it is an image that some remember and, perhaps, I could have avoided it. Even if tennis makes you change the character and perception of things as well. Y he was famous for being quite erratic. Becoming one of the most consistent players of all time is also a big surprise to me. For being able to stay on top for so long and compete in any tournament I signed up for and really mean ‘I hope I can win the tournament’, for more than 15 years. It was a great achievement. I’ve always noticed that Michael Schumacherin Tiger Woods and all the other guys who have been on top for so long, and I don’t understand how they did it. The next thing you know, you are part of that group, and it was a great feeling. “

What does the future hold? It is not yet clear to him, although he knows for sure that he will continue to be tied to tennis.

“I would very much like to continue playing exhibition matches. I still have the opportunity to fill the stadiums. I want to keep fit and it will be on my priority list to continue training,” he explained.

This Wednesday, when he ran across Novak Djokovic Y Andy Murray in training at The O2, he greeted Goran Ivaniseviccoach of the Serbian, and commented, between laughter: “I’m ready to be with you, on your side.” It may have been an indication that we may soon see a “coach Roger”. From his background they said that he has already received a call from several players who want him on the bench, even if he has not accepted any.

Although Federer himself surprised when he said that a while ago he dared to picture himself on the other side of the camera. “I didn’t think I’d ever say that, but about six months ago I suddenly thought: “Commenting on tennis, who knows?”. I always said that ‘Never in life’; and when it occurred to me, I thought “Am I crazy?”. “, he said between a laugh.

The professional circuit will miss Federer’s exquisite and elegant game. But, to the delight of his fans, it seems the Swiss has no intention of straying too far from tennis.