The first day of the “after Federer” era: the intimate video with the children and his tweet as a former tennis player

The calendar seemed to mark the passage of time less for him. Nobody wanted to see the one who moved with a racket play for the last time. Until injuries became more common and so did his absences from tournaments. Therefore, those who did not want that day to come understood that it would not be long.

The farewell of Roger Federer took place on Friday 23 September 2022 at the O2 Arena in London, as part of the Laver Cup, the tournament promoted by the Swiss and which has been part of the ATP calendar since 2019, despite not distributing points. At the end of the first day of his fifth edition, the 41-year-old tennis player played doubles with Rafa Nadal and, despite losing, received the ovation of 17,000 people.

This Saturday 24, therefore, became the first day of the “after Federer” era. And, far from making the fans sad, the former tennis player cheered them up with a message on his Twitter account.

“yesterday was a magical night. Thanks again to all the players and fans who have been here to share this moment with me. It means the world “, dedicated the winner of 20 Grand Slam titles and who remained number 1 in the world for 237 consecutive weeks, between February 2004 and August 2008.

That tweet, the first of the time DF, accumulated in just two hours more than 155 thousand likes and more than 17 thousand retweets, as well as hundreds of replies from those who want to express their love again from every corner of the planet. Because Federer, finally, aroused admiration even in his rivals, who a few hours earlier both at the O2 Arena and on the networks were enthusiastic about the retirement of an idol for all.

It wasn’t, however, the only message Federer made on his Twitter account this Saturday. The neighbor used it to retweet one that Ivan Ljubicic I had passed some time before. “Thanks boss. What a trip! I would definitely rather train than play against you”the Croatian told him, who was first his rival, then his friend and finally his coach. “I will never forget the amazing memories”the Swiss answered.

Ljubicic was one of the special guests in London. There he was shown in one of the seats, those also occupied by Federer’s wife, Mirka, their daughters and sons and their parents, with whom he experienced one of the most exciting moments of the night, once the broadcast was over, while inside his friend Nadal was heartbroken. He did not cry for the defeat but for the departure of his greatest rival and friend, the one who also marks the winner of 22 Grand Slams and absolute ruler of the brick dust that for him is nearing the end of the game.

The most exciting meeting of the night

“Everyone is here tonight, my sons, my daughters, my wife who has always supported me. He could have stopped me a while ago, but he didn’t. It allowed me to play, it didn’t stop me, it’s spectacular, “said the 41-year-old Swiss, referring to Mirka in the most sentimental message of the approximately 7 minutes in which he spoke, with breaks to cry, when his last match was over.

But a few minutes later, when the official broadcast in Argentina had already ended, the meeting with his inner circle took place on the field. There, in addition to receiving kisses and support from Mirka, Dad Roger has embraced his four childrenthe twins Myla and Charlene and the twins Leo and Lennart.

“I’m so happy, I’m not sad”, he repeated to his sons, mainly to his daughters, who cried when they saw their father cry. Then he hugged his mother and thanked her ear, and did the same with his father, who throughout the broadcast was focused on the cameras and did not hide the joy and excitement of seeing his son playing. for the last time. .