Rafael Nadal, longtime rival and friend, was also weeping during an emotional retirement ceremony after final match
Throughout the final week of Roger Federer’s life as a professional tennis player, he handled his emotions far better than he had envisioned. But at the end of his final match alongside his rival Rafael Nadal, a tense 4-6, 7-6 11-9 loss representing Team Europe against Team World’s Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe at the Laver Cup in London’s O2 Arena, the 41-year-old finally succumbed.
Before Federer’s first grand slam title at Wimbledon in 2003, men’s tennis was at a crossroads. As the influence of top US players waned, some believed the immediate future of the sport was bleak. But first Federer arrived, playing in his seemingly effortless way, driven by his endless toolbox of shots and learning how to harness his audacious talents, and then Nadal followed as a perfect foil, his physical, topspin-heavy style marking them as stark opposites.
“When Roger leaves the tour, an important part of my life is leaving too because of all the moments that he has been next or in front me during important moments of my life,” said Nadal, who is now 36. Nadal and Federer sat together during the ceremony, even holding hands, and there were displays of emotion from all directions. Djokovic, 35, put his hands on Federer’s shoulders, and Andy Murray, also 35, hugged him warmly several times.
It has been a historic month for tennis. Serena Williams, who turns 41 on Monday and is only a month younger than Federer,Despite talk of retirement following both players as early as the late 2000s, they paired their success with astounding longevity. Finally, many years after most of their rivals left, their era is coming to an end.
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