After many close battles with each other over the years, Roger Federer will enjoy what he called a “special moment” in teaming up with Rafael Nadal for the final match of his career.
Federer, who will retire from tennis after this week’s Laver Cup, has confirmed he will play just one doubles match at London’s O2 Arena on Friday – the final act of his long, illustrious career.
And on Thursday, it was announced that the Swiss star will team up with Nadal, 18 years after they first faced each other on the ATP Tour in Miami.
The pair have met 40 times during their careers – including nine grand slam finals – and also played together at the 2017 Laver Cup.
“As long as we were playing together, always having that respect for each other – our families, our training teams – we got along really well,” Federer told reporters on Wednesday when asked about playing alongside the Spaniard.
“To go through the careers we’ve both had, to come out the other side and be able to have a good relationship, I think that’s probably a big message as well – not just in tennis, but in sports beyond this.
“For that reason, I think it would be great. I don’t know if it will happen, but I think it could obviously be a special moment.”
An honor and a real treat @rogerfederer 🙌🏻 https://t.co/HMVnl1Iu9b — Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) September 22, 2022 Nadal told a news conference on Thursday that he was “super excited” for Friday’s doubles match.
“After all the amazing things we’ve shared together on and off the field, [to] be part of this historic moment, it will be something yes, yes, amazing and unforgettable for me,” said Nadal, “and yes, very excited, I hope to have a good response, to play at a decent level and I hope together we can create a good moment and you might win a race.”
Federer and Nadal will face American pair Jack Sock and Francis Tiafoe on the first day of the Laver Cup on Friday.
Federer said he had to get permission from Team Europe captain Björn Borg and tournament organizers to play in just one doubles match at the Laver Cup this week.
The competition sees teams from Europe and the rest of the world go head-to-head in nine singles matches and three doubles matches over the course of three days.
“Here I’m trying to prepare for one last doubles,” Federer said on Wednesday. “I’m nervous going in because I haven’t played in so long. I hope to be somewhat competitive.”
The 41-year-old has undergone multiple knee surgeries in recent years, with his latest flare-up a straight-sets loss to Hubert Hurkacz in the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year.
He said he had even planned to return to the sport next year as recently as two months ago before reaching the decision to retire.
“I just wanted to let the fans know that I’m not going to be a ghost,” Federer said when asked how he would continue to play tennis after his retirement.
“I feel like tennis has given me so much, I’ve been in the game for so long, I’ve fallen in love with so many things.
“I love seeing people again and that’s exactly what I wanted to let the fans know – that you will see me again… What it could be, in what capacity, I don’t know. I still have to think about it a bit and give myself time.”
Among the many accolades of his tennis career, Federer won 103 singles titles and 20 grand slam titles – second only to Nadal (22) and Novak Djokovic (21) on the men’s all-time list.
He became the oldest No. 1 in the world at the age of 36 and also spent a record 237 consecutive weeks at the top of the world rankings between 2004 and 2008.
