Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have had many epic duels over time. As Federer will get able to name it a profession, the 2 will share the court docket one final time — as companions.
Thursday’s Laver Cup draw revealed that Federer will workforce with Nadal in doubles for his remaining match Friday night time in London earlier than retiring. The 2 will face People Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock, then Matteo Berrettini will change Federer for the rest of the event.
“For so long as we battled collectively, having had all the time this respect for each other, our households, teaching groups, for us as properly to undergo a profession we each have had, come out the opposite aspect and have a pleasant relationship, is perhaps an incredible message to tennis and past,” Federer mentioned of teaming with Nadal, in line with ESPN.
Nadal, who appeared with Federer on the follow court docket Thursday together with Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, mentioned it’s going to “be troublesome to deal with the whole lot” about Federer’s sendoff match.
“After all of the wonderful issues that we shared collectively on and off court docket, be a part of this historic second gonna be one thing wonderful [and] unforgettable for me,” Nadal mentioned throughout Staff Europe’s group press convention, per Tennis.com.
The 41-year-old Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam winner, introduced his retirement on social media final Thursday, citing the “challenges” his lingering knee points have introduced.
Although it’s in vogue for growing older iconic athletes to waffle on retirements — Tom Brady unretired after 40 days and Serena Williams left the door ajar for extra tennis after the US Open — Federer advised NBC’s Savannah Guthrie that he’s “undoubtedly accomplished.”
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