It would be special: Federer hopes to partner with Nadal in Laver Cup farewell (AP Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Roger Federer confirmed he would only play a doubles match at Laver Cup
- Federer’s partner is yet to be decided
- The Swiss great hopes to share the court with Rafael Nadal
Legendary Roger Federer is hoping to share the court with his arch rival and good friend Rafael Nadal in the final match of his professional career at Laver Cup 2022. Federer announced his retirement from professional tennis on September 15, adding he would hang up his boots after the Laver Cup.
Federer, speaking to the Swiss media on Tuesday, confirmed he wouldn’t play singles at the Laver Cup and that his final match would be a doubles match on Friday for Team Europe in London. Federer also said he would withdraw from Laver Cup after the doubles match to allow Matteo Berrettini to take his spot.
Federer and Nadal have shared a glorious rivalry, one of the best in sport, leave alone tennis. The two have met 40 times on the tour, producing some of the greatest tennis matches in the history of the sport. Despite the fierce on-court rivalry, Federer and Nadal have a great rapport off it.
Notably, Nadal had posted a heartfelt message after Federer announced his retirement, saying it was a sad day for him.
Federer will team up with Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic for Team Europe but the Swiss great has made his intentions clear while maintaining that he would leave the pairing to the team captain Bjorn Borg.
“I think it would be quite a unique situation if it (pairing with Nadal) were to happen. For as long as we battled together, there was always this respect for one another — our families, our coaching teams, we always got along really well,” Federer told a news conference in London on Wednesday.
“This city has been special to me, maybe the most special place.”@rogerfederer London#LaverCup pic.twitter.com/7DCWLWQnit
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 21, 2022
“For us as well to go through the careers we’ve both had and come out the other side and be able to have a nice relationship, I think is maybe a great message as well to not just tennis and sports but maybe even beyond.
“For that reason it would be great. I don’t know if it’s going to happen but it would be a special occasion.”
If Federer and Nadal pair up on Friday, it won’t be the first time as the two had teamed up to beat Sam Querrey and Jack Sock in a doubles match in the inaugural edition of the Laver Cup in 2017.
