Roger Federer to close career with ‘unique’ doubles partner at Laver Cup
Roger Federer would love to close out his career in a doubles match with friend and greatest rival Rafael Nadal.
The 20-time Slam champion confirmed that due to his lack of match fitness, in all likelihood his last career match would come in a doubles rubber at this week’s Laver Cup in London.
Of course, there is no guarantee who Federer would line up with for Team Europe among Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Casper Ruud or Stefanos Tsitsipas.
“We’ll see with who it is,” Federer said in a special pre-tournament press conference. “I’m nervous going in because I haven’t played in so long. I hope I can be somewhat competitive.”
Federer and Nadal faced off 40 times across 15 years at tour level, including in nine Slam finals.
The head-to-head finished 24-16 in favour of Nadal, though Federer won their most recent meeting in the semi-finals of Wimbledon 2019.
The duo have teamed up in Laver Cup doubles before, at the inaugural event in Prague back in 2017, defeating Sam Querrey and Jack Sock.
When asked if he would like to play his final match alongside Nadal, Federer responded as you might expect.
“Of course, no doubt. I mean, I think it could be quite a unique situation, that if it were to happen for as long as we battled together to having always this respect for one another, the families, our coaching teams, we always got along really well.
“For us as well to go through a career that we both have had and to come out on the other side and being able to have a nice relationship I think is maybe a great message as well to not just tennis but sports and maybe even beyond. For that reason I think it would be great.
“I don’t know if it’s going to happen, but I think it could be obviously a special moment.”
Photo credit Getty Images
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