Roger Federer had remained very silent since the announcement of his retirement in a press release on Thursday, September 15. But a few days before what will remain as his last competition, the Laver Cup, the man with twenty Grand Slam titles spoke to the Swiss media on Tuesday, September 20, in London. The tennis legend explained that he would not be able to play one of the singles of the competition, and that he hoped to be able to hold his place in doubles, while his damaged knee for months is still not recovered.
“I think I’m going to play Friday night the doublehe warned the press of his native country. I think I manage to play at an acceptable level, but it’s been a long time since I played a real game, it’s going to come out hard and the pressure will be high. But if I don’t play, it won’t be a problem. The main thing is that I can thank the fans and that they can see me.“Federer could be lined up for the last match of the opening day, around 10:00 p.m., and hopes to team up with his eternal rival, Rafael Nadal.”It would be an absolute dream‘ admitted the 41-year-old.
“For me, quitting was no longer in doubt.”
Roger Federer,at a press conference with the Swiss media in London on September 20
The letter posted by Roger Federer had moved the entire sports planet, although it was not really a surprise, as the Swiss has not stepped on the courts since his elimination in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in 2021 (beaten by the Pole Hubert Hurkacz). “I was not 100%, so the quarter-finals at Wimbledon were already very good. But after that last match, I realized that it wasn’t going anymore, that it wouldn’t come back, and I had one of the most difficult moments of my career.“Federer is now certain of that,”stop was no longer in doubt“.
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However, he hung on week after week, until his return as a simple guest on the London lawn he cherishes so much, on July 3 for the 100th anniversary of the Center Court. “Ten days later, the knee was still at the same stage, I saw no further progresshe explained. I was already advancing on very thin ice, why persist? There, I said to myself: ‘OK, I understood. This time it’s over. And I know it’s the right decision.’ It was towards the end of July, but I then remained well three weeks without drawing the conclusions of my decision.“The Stomach”tied for two or three weeks” but today relieved, Roger Federer will be able to deliver a last goodbye to the sport that he has so often sublimated.