Laver Cup: The rest of the world had a perfect Sunday and became Federer’s farewell villain

The ground was set for the extraordinary career of Roger Federer It had a movie ending. Everything was ready in the imposing O2 sand in London for the Swiss to greet tennis with a trophy in their hands, at the fifth edition of Laver cup, that exhibition tournament that he himself conceived and made reality. The 20 Grand Slam winner had surrounded himself with a dream roster with his three colleagues from the Large 4, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic Y Andy Murray, and some of the best young players of the moment, to accompany him in his latest performance. A squad that seemed invincible and that almost ensured a new victory for the team Europe and an unbeatable farewell to one of the best of all time. but the team World he became the “villain” of the story and, at the least opportune moment and when he seemed the least favorite, he shouted champion for the first time and left Roger empty-handed.

After starting the last day of competition 4-8 under the global scoreboard, those headed by John McEnroe (among those who were again Diego Schwartzmann), signed a flawless performance this Sunday and with three wins, added nine points (each Sunday win is worth three points) and ended up winning 13-8.

Felix Auger-Aliassime Y Jack Sock They started the comeback. The duo won in the first match of the day for 2-6, 6-3 and 10-8 in a very hard duel against the couple formed by Andy Murray Y Matteo Berretti. Minutes after that win, the Canadian returned to the field, beat Djokovic 6-3 and 7-6 (7-3) and left the world team at 10-8 and a title win. Y Francesca Tiafè he gave the coup de grace by winning 1-6, 7-6 (13-11) and 10-8 against Stefanos Tsitsipas and unleash the red party in the English capital.

Federer failed to lift the trophy, but he didn’t care. Maybe you felt bad for a few minutes; After all, even though his body – especially that right knee that forced him to undergo surgery three times in the last two years and ended up pushing him to retire – told him it was time to quit, the competitive spirit of him survives. . But he ended up saying goodbye to London and tennis with a big smile, thanking his teammates, promising to return to the event next year, in another function, and congratulating his rivals and asking them to celebrate with enthusiasm.

“It was an incredible comeback. I was confident for this last round, but well done. Johny (McEnroe) and his team played very well and deserve the win. I hope they have a great party,” Federer commented. “My team has been fantastic. I enjoyed every minute. It was fantastic, a little emotional at times, but I recovered, the team recovered … I hope I am not to blame for this defeat. It was a wonderful weekend and I can’t thank you enough for that. ”

“I’ve waited a long time to be in this position. And we finally have a title, world team !!!” John McEnroe celebrated, elated. “It took a long time, they beat us several times, but before we were very close, we got to taste it. This is a great young group of guys. We had great legends against us. See Andy, Novak, Roger and Rafa together again It was incredible, but my players believed we could win and they brought intensity and energy. We knew we would have a chance, even if it was going to be an uphill battle. And to say it’s fantastic is an understatement. ”

The blue team was the favorite, captained by four rackets that have dominated the men’s circuit for almost two decades -Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray-; the Norwegian Casper Ruud, recent finalist at the US Open and brand new number two in the world, and Tsitsipas, sixth in the standings, completing the starting sextet; and two substitutes for luxury, Berrettini (15th) and the British cameron norrie (8 °).

Those in red shirts were fewer, on paper. They landed in London with the Americans Taylor Fritz (12th), Tiafoe (19th and great performance in New York, where he was semifinalist), Auger Aliassime (13th), Schwartzman (17th) and the Australian Alex de Minaur (22nd) as leading singles players and Sock, three-time Grand Slam champion and two-time Olympic medalist in doubles.

A World Cup victory against that almost unbeatable team from Europe seemed like a utopia. But the “cuckoo” of the Large 4 – which, beyond the present of its members, imposes respect for its history – quickly dissipated.

Federer had announced a couple of days before the start of the event that he would only play a doubles match alongside Nadal. And he respected. After that Friday night when the entire O2 Arena ended up crying with him, he retired to the bench and just advised and advised his teammates during matches. Rafa also played doubles – lost to Tiafoe and Sock – before returning to Spain to accompany his wife, who will give birth to the couple’s first child in October. With the departure of the Swiss and the Spaniard, Berrettini and Norrie joined the team and the playing field was leveled.

Murray, while enjoying a great moment after several seasons complicated by injuries, is still far from his best level and lost to De Miñaur on Friday. And Djokovic, who had a good start on Saturday – he beat Tiafoe in two sets, losing only four games and, together with Berrettini, he also got a doubles victory -, he could not shine this Sunday, complicated, as he later commented, by a right wrist problem.

“The two matches yesterday (for the one on Saturday) put me to the test. I hadn’t competed for many months and doing it on a slow court, where the balls are big and heavy, had an impact on my wrist, which was annoying. me for several days, ”said the current world number seven, who hadn’t played since his consecration at Wimbledon. “It wasn’t easy against Felix. I couldn’t serve as fast or as precise as I wanted. I felt the lack of competitive pace. And he deserved to win.”

After Friday’s 2-2 draw, in which each team won two games, Europe tipped the scales in their favor and took a solid lead on Matchday 2. But even with that 8-4 in favor of the blues, the feeling in the air was that the reds’ comeback was not impossible. And that’s how McEnroe and his players showed him in the closing of the most balanced Laver in his history.

“Our captain was tired of losing. He told us we had to win this time. And I’ve been saying it all week, this was our year,” Tiafoe said after beating Tsitsipas. “It was a win for the whole team, not just me. Felix beat Novak, he also played great with Jack in doubles. And all the guys showed up and added that.”

“It was an honor to share the court with Roger on Friday. Tennis won that night. We will all miss him, although I will not be surprised that he beat me and everyone at the Grand Slams. He is a better person than a tennis player. Player. The legends. they never die “, commented Federer who was perhaps the main culprit for the Swiss missed a perfect farewell.

The fifth was the fascination with the world. In the edition where there seemed to be less chance and where everyone – or at least most of the tennis fans – wanted to see Roger Federer champion for the last time, the red jersey team expanded and shouted champion for the first time. once upon a time.