“Rafa, Novak and Andy crying with me next to me, it’s extremely moving“, Roger Federer told franceinfo on Sunday, 24 hours after his last match played in doubles alongside Rafael Nadal for the Laver Cup, in London. For his last interview in French, Roger Federer admits to hoping “leave traces” in world tennis. He also emphasizes being “very proud” of his “liaison with French fans“.
What are the strong images of your last match with Nadal?
This is the moment when I see Rafa (Nadal), Novak (Djokovic) and Andy (Murray) crying with me next to me, all together. It is extremely moving. It touched me a lot. There were times like walking into the stadium knowing that this is the ultimate time in a competition like this. It was special. There is necessarily a moment with my family, when they arrive, knowing that they are already at the edge of the court. Towards the end, I know that’s not where you have to look otherwise you no longer see the ball with tears in your eyes. There are all the fans. That’s why I’m very happy because I was able to do it in a full stadium. And I was also a little scared with the queen who died, we didn’t know if we had the right to have the Laver Cup this weekend. So I think I was very lucky.
Now that you are retired, what image would you like to leave in sports history? What would you like people to say about you in 10 years, 20 years, 50 years?
That the guy was nice to cheer on or see. It led to something else in tennis. It wasn’t just another player. It’s time that will decide that, and the fans and the journalists. I gave it my all, I had fun, I trained a lot, like all the other super athletes. I know I had an incredible bond with my fans, but also with neutral fans. I have always tried to represent tennis in the best possible way. Sometimes I did better, sometimes less well. But it’s hard to play hide and seek for 25 years. So I find that people know a little about who I am. Afterwards, if it left traces, so much the better.
When will we see you again in France? The last time was at Roland-Garros and behind closed doors during the Covid-19 epidemic.
The last match at Roland was not really that. There was no one in the stadium. I knew this could be my last game at Roland. I hoped it wouldn’t be at night but unfortunately I also had to bite into that apple: playing late at night. On the one hand I am also happy and happy to have been able to play a match like this during the Covid, thoroughly. Without fans, it’s really good shit. I am also very proud of my connection with the French fans. I think I have a lot of fans in your country. You are big tennis fans in general. You have always liked a little champagne tennis. I think I was maybe one of the players closest to that. That’s why I say a huge thank you. I’ve always loved playing there. I could win everything. There is no plan at the moment to know when I will go back to France. But we are not very far. Then I will pass very soon, I am sure.