LONDON/STARNBERG, September 24, 2022
Roger Federer has lost his last competitive match as a professional tennis player. Alongside Spanish Matador and long-time rival Rafael Nadal, the 41-year-old Swiss Maestro fell to US-Americans Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-7(2), 9-11 in the doubles rubber on the opening day of the Laver Cup in London.
In front of an enthusiastic crowd inside The O2 Arena, Federer and Nadal broke serve two times but missed one match point in the match tie-break. In the end it was Sock, who nailed a winner down the line to secure victory in two hours and 13 minutes, leveling 2-2 after Day 1 between Team World and Team Europe.
Team World triumphs in the doubles.
The moment @JackSock92 and @FTiafoe defeat Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.#LaverCup pic.twitter.com/aHLDM4GCij
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 23, 2022
“We’ll get through this somehow. It’s been a wonderful day. I told the guys I’m happy, not sad. It feels great to be here. I enjoyed tying my shoelaces one more, every thing was the last time,” Federer said in his on-court interview.
“I didn’t feel the stress so much even though I thought maybe something was going to go, like a calf, but the match was great.
“Playing with Rafa and having all the greats here, all the legends, thank you.”
Federer captured 20 Grand Slam titles but hasn’t played on the tour since Wimbledon 2021 because of a knee injury.
Earlier in the day, Casper Ruud from Norway outlasted Sock in the opening singles match 6-4, 5-7, 10-7 followed by a 6-2, 6-1 victory of Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece against Argentine Diego Schwartzman. Alex de Minaur of Australia secured the first point for Team World with a hard-fought 5-7, 6-3, 10-7 win over Briton Andy Murray.
