Posted: 21:00, 21 September 2022 | Updated: 22:51, September 21, 2022
Roger Federer has been photographed posing alongside old rivals and current tennis stars at Tower Bridge ahead of his final tournament this week. The retired tennis star is set to bring the curtain down on his illustrious career at the Laver Cup at London’s O2, just down the river from where he won a record eight Wimbledon titles. Federer is making the most of his latest tournament as he posed with fellow tennis players Novak Djokovic, Sir Andy Murray, Casper Rudd, Cameron Norrie and Stefano Tsitsipas. Federer posted the photo on social media with the caption: “Ready to take on the world.” Roger Federer has been photographed posing alongside old rivals and other stars on London Bridge After falling out with some old rivals, the 41-year-old revealed he had no intention of walking away from a sport he had graced for so long. Speaking to reporters at London’s O2 Arena, where Federer has twice won the ATP Finals title, the Swiss was emotional at times as he explained the decision to hang up his rackets. Asked what his plans are for the future, Federer said he will not fade away like Sweden’s great Bjorn Borg, who captains Europe against the Rest of the World this week. Federer (right) also revealed he would not fade away like Sweden’s great Bjorn Borg “I just wanted to let the fans know that I’m not going to be a ghost. It’s funny, I talked about Bjorn Borg, he didn’t come back to Wimbledon for 25 years and that hurts every fan,” Federer said of the 11-time major winner who retired from tennis at the age of 26. “But I don’t think I’ll be that guy. I feel that tennis has given me so much. I’ve been around the game too long. I have fallen in love with so many things. “You will see me again. In what capacity, I don’t know. I still have to think about it a bit, give myself some time.’ Federer announced last Thursday that the Laver Cup, the team event he helped create, would be the final act of a professional career spanning nearly a quarter of a century. Federer hopes to bow out in a doubles tie, preferably alongside arch-rival Rafa Nadal (left) Elaborating on his decision to retire from competitive action, Federer described the past few months as stressful, saying he was unwilling to “risk it all” by having more surgery on his troublesome right knee. “At some point you sit down and go, ‘okay, we’re at an intersection here, at a crossroads, and you have to take a turn, and which way is it?’ “I wasn’t willing to go in that direction, let’s risk it all. The hardest part after that is when you realize, okay, this is the end.’ Federer has not played a match since losing in the 2021 Wimbledon quarter-finals and is in no shape to play singles at the Laver Cup. He hopes to bow out in a double tie, preferably alongside arch-rival Rafa Nadal. “I don’t know if it’s going to happen, but obviously it could be a special moment,” he said. The 41-year-old announced last week that the Laver Cup would be his last event on the tour His first Grand Slam title was in 2003 when he beat Mark Filippoussi to win the first of five consecutive Wimbledon titles before losing to Nadal in a classic game in 2008. “Maybe the most special place,” he said of London. “I realized it all summer and then I was looking for a place in time where I could call it. “It felt right to end my career here. Having Bjorn on the bench with me when I leave will be something that will be a very nice thing. Having a team behind me also wouldn’t feel so lonely when I call it a day.” Federer’s 20 Grand Slam titles were surpassed by Nadal (22) and Novak Djokovic (21) in an unprecedented golden era for men’s tennis. But regardless of the stats, many still consider him the greatest to ever play the game. He claimed 103 career titles, second only to Jimmy Connors, and spent a record 237 consecutive weeks as world number one from 2004 to 2008. “Everyone has to come away from the game, it’s been a great, great journey,” he said.
