‘Second Service’ tennis news: Taylor Fritz doubles down on coaching comments, Federer nervous about retirement speech
Looking back on the big tennis news in our exclusive ‘Second Service’…Fritz doubles down against coaching in tennis & Federer admits being worried before farewell plus more…
To start, Taylor Fritz was able to subdue Cameron Norrie on the Brit’s Laver Cup debut to ensure Team World keep pace halfway through the competition.
As has always been a feature of the Laver Cup, both men benefitted from team advice and coaching courtside.
Fritz has previously stated his disdain for the latest ATP rules update allowing players to receive on-court coaching.
“I hate on-court coaching because I feel like I can be analytical in my own head, figure it out myself, and I just think it’s up to the player to figure it out for themselves.”
In other news, Roger Federer has admitted that he was not looking forward to speaking in front of the Laver Cup crowd after his farewell match on Friday.
After he and friend and rival Rafael Nadal lost to Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe of Team World, all attention in the O2 Arena quickly turned towards the 20-time Slam champion.
Of course fans wanted to hear form the great man just as his retirement officially began, but Federer revealed he was worried he would not be able to hold himself together emotionally.
“Well, this is the part I was extremely worried about, is taking the microphone,” he told press after the match in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Furthermore, Andy Murray said his match against Alex de Minaur at the Laver Cup was one of the ‘most special’ of his career despite losing it.
“Tonight was special,” Andy Murray said. “To be part of this occasion and be part of this team – it was surreal.
“Standing looking over at my team and having Bjorn Borg supporting you and all of the guys that were there on the bench, it was really cool and a memory that I’ll have for a long time.”
Read about what else Murray had to say here.
Moving on, Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the Laver Cup due to personal reasons after he helped Roger Federer bring the curtain down on his career.
Nadal has had a tough few weeks with injury as he continues to nurse the abdominal injury that forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon.
His wife is also expecting their first child, making it an unusually stressful situation at home for the 22-time major winner.
“It has been difficult weeks, few hours of sleep, a little stress in general,” Nadal explained.
Lastly, Roger Federer was delighted by the level of tennis displayed by Novak Djokovic in the former world number one’s first competitive match for over two months.
“Such control, it’s great to see after so many months off,” before adding “Keep it up” after Djokovic thanked the Swiss for the compliment.
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