That the man whose brainchild this was, Roger Federer, had used this very event to play his last ever match—an emotional doubles with old friend and rival Rafael Nadal—had certainly cranked up the expectations and hopes a notch.

The aftermath of that ‘Fedal’ doubles match was almost overwhelming for the protagonists, despite missing out on a fairytale-style concluding win for both men. For Nadal would not play again in the event either: He was needed back home where his wife was due to give birth.

All the more reason why Federer’s teammates would want to put a winning seal on the weekend. After all, the Swiss had stayed on for the duration, sharing the bench, cheering on each and every colleague, and throwing in some coaching advice at every turn. The camaraderie and the affection were tangible.

So it fell to Andy Murray and Matteo Berrettini to go for the first win against Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jack Sock—after the Italian world No15 had helped Novak Djokovic to a doubles win late last night.

If Europe could pull that one off—and make no mistake, Sock was as formidable a doubles player as any man on either team—it would open the door for a rip-roaring climax for Djokovic, who had done double-duty on Saturday night in splendid style.

The 21-time Major champion, against Auger-Aliassime, would be old master against young pretender, 35 years old against 22, and the mighty Serb had edged their first match, in Rome this year, in a close tussle. And as Djokovic said after his demolition of Frances Tiafoe on Saturday, the black court here suits his game, keeping the ball low and deadly.

First, though, it was Murray—who suffered a tough three-set loss to de Minaur on the first day—and Berrettini—who edged Auger-Aliassime just as tight a nail-biter.

And their tails were up from the word go. A quick break was followed by another that left Murray serving for the set. And he obliged with a love hold, 6-2. But as happens so often in doubles, the momentum shifted at the start of the second, a break in the second game, and a 3-0 lead to Team World. Europe had break-back chances but could not convert, and the outstanding serving of Auger-Aliassime saw them to the set, 6-3.

And in the tie-breaker, World took a 7-5 lead, Europe levelled at 8-8, but Murray netted a volley, while Sock nailed the killer blow at the net to take the match, 10-8.

The packed arena would therefore be treated to at least two singles matches, and Europe fielded first Stefanos Tsitsipas against Frances Tiafoe then, if needed, Casper Ruud against Taylor Fritz.

First, Djokovic needed to keep Europe in the lead against the flying-high Auger-Aliassime. Djokovic took a speedy first-game break, but the Canadian hit back immediately to level 2-2. And come the eighth game, he ripped a series of winners past Djokovic to break to love, 5-3, and served out the set, 6-3. Perhaps the weight of those two evening matches on Saturday, after a lack of competition for so long, had drained the batteries.

Auger-Aliassime then broke in the first game of the second, with Djokovic seeming to have tightness in his racket wrist. He kept shaking it out, and apparently had strapping under his sweat band. Federer got into coach mode again, suggesting the Serb put pressure on the Canadian’s backhand. That done, sure enough Djokovic drew errors and a love break, to a huge ovation from his team: 3-3.

However, the Canadian was playing very well, held to love for 5-5, and again took it to a tie-break. There, they changed ends 4-2 to World, and Auger-Aliassime worked 6-2, four match points. A huge forehand winner, and World took the points, and the lead for the first time, 10-8.

It had been an outstanding performance from the Canadian, with three times as many winners as Djokovic, twice as many net points won, and it paved the way for a World victory: Tiafoe needed only to beat Tsitsipas, which he had done twice in their four meetings.

But it was Tsitsipas who went on the attack from the first ball, breaking in the fourth and consolidating for 4-1. Another break, a hold to love, and he had the set, 6-1 in just 20 minutes.

The second set lived up to the expectations of their past matches, as close and tense as it can get. They battled to a tie-break, and the noise became deafening, as the set-winning point switched from man to man. It was vital that Tiafoe held on to take it to the deciding set, but vital that Tsitsipas win the match to take it to a final match.

But it was Tiafoe who won the final point of the set, after saving four match points, 7-6(11). If he could do the same in the match tiebreak, first to 10, he would seal victory for Team World.

Tiafoe continued in the same attacking vein, marching to a 7-4 lead, and had the crowd on its feet with a drop, lob, forehand-winner combo. It was enough to get it done, a exhibition style conclusion for one of tennis’s showmen, 10-8, and the roof lifted off the O2.

Heartbreak, of course for Tsitsipas in particular, and for Team Europe in general. This one meant more than just a win for the Europe squad, it had meant celebrating the main man, Federer—and allowing him to lift the Laver Cup.

Tiafoe was, naturally, ecstatic: “It is an unbelievable feeling. Our captain Jonny Mac was tired of losing… saying we needed to get it done this year on his fifth try. All week leading up I kept saying this was our year.”

Bjorn Borg was left to lift the Europe spirits after the match—a tough task given the nature of the weekend, and that Federer had already lost his last competitive match on Day 1 with Nadal, and had now seen the team lose the trophy for the first time.

Borg said: “For me, it was very special to have this team, this great team. Of course right now we are a little disappointed because we lost, but the tennis has been great—good matches, close matches.

“But to have the big four, and they are different with the younger generation, it’s been fantastic. Roger here, one of the greats, retiring from tennis, stepped away, and we are all a little bit sad about that.

“But we had a good time. Of course we wanted to win. I mean, that’s why we are here… But we will definitely be back and bring the Cup back to Europe.”

The next edition of the Laver Cup will be held in Vancouver Canada—a highly appropriate location on two counts. Auger-Aliassime was a key component in this year’s victory, and only continues to grow into his talent.

And the venue’s name? Rogers Arena.

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He may have played only seven events and 28 matches in 2022, but the fact that he had not played since winning Wimbledon in July—prevented from taking part at the Australian and US Opens by his vaccination status—seemed not to matter.

The Serbian machine was well oiled, fast, fluid and immediately into winning ways as he made his first contribution on court to Team Europe in the Laver Cup.

He has clearly relished being back at the O2 with all his illustrious peers: Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and the retiring Roger Federer. But until Saturday night, his support had come from the team bench and on the practice court. Now the sharp tennis and even sharper tactical mind of Djokovic had a chance to take Europe back into the lead as the tournament headed to its final decisive day.

And he did so with such confidence and aplomb that he spent just 72 minutes dispatching Frances Tiafoe, 6-1, 6-3, and another 82 minutes, with Matteo Berrettini, in putting out Jack Sock and Alex de Minaur, 7-5, 6-2.

He was, then, back in the locker room with Team Europe in little more time than it had taken Federer and Nadal to complete—and just lose—their momentous doubles match the previous night.

So how did he view his performance after so long away?

“I felt that I needed to make my presence felt on the court. That’s what allowed me, I think, to get away with that comfortable first set. It was a big confidence boost for me.

“After not playing for a few months, you don’t know really how you’re going to feel It’s quite unpredictable. But last three, four days of practice sessions here, I have been hitting the ball very well. I like the conditions. I like the court. Suitable to my game.”

Given the circumstances of his great—but older—rival Federer retiring, Djokovic was asked about how long and how much he expected to play in the coming years. The Serb is 35, compared with Federer’s 41, but the entire set of the former ‘big four’ has turned expectations about age at the elite level of tennis on its head.

“Well, I feel older than him [Berrettini at 26 is one of the older among the new generation making its mark in the top 10]. But I don’t feel yet so old for my tennis career to finish… I still feel my body is serving me, is listening to me well. That’s the key I think when you get to 35-plus.

“I think you just feel that things are different than when you were 25, for sure, with the way you respond, your body responds… if you play a few weeks in a row. Obviously, that’s different. So I am adjusting my scheduling much, much more, you know. I’m not playing as much as I played a few years ago. I want to peak at the best tournaments, biggest tournaments in the world, which are Grand Slams and some of the biggest ATP events, playing for my country.

“That’s what gives me the most motivation and inspires me to play the best tennis. I really want to keep going. I don’t have the ending of my career on the horizon at the moment.”

He then talked about how much he enjoyed the unique qualities of the Laver Cup, that it allows intimate, private time with fellow players without their extended teams.

“Well, first of all, the atmosphere is completely different in the locker room than what we experience normally on the tour, because we are teammates, we are not rivals for the only time probably.

“I have played [Laver Cup] only once in Chicago, but I had a fantastic time. This year even better. I mean, of course, one of the greatest reasons for that is because I experienced Roger’s farewell last night that is the biggest story in the sports globally.

But also, just because the concept of the Laver Cup is so unique that regardless of whether Roger is retiring or not, I think this competition will live and create very beautiful memories for players [to] take with them on the tour, and they talk about these experiences and memories with each other. So it creates better bonds and relationships between the teammates.

We respect each other. Of course we always did, but, you know, it’s kind of more of a friendly atmosphere that you take later on the tour.”

Finally, he returned to his hopes for longevity, and for using his enforced time away from competition to his advantage. As well as time with family and at his tennis centre in Belgrade, and travelling to places he has not seen before—he plays in Tel Aviv Kazakhstan this autumn—he added:

“Also, trying to preserve the body and have a long career. I don’t have years in my mind, whether that’s another year or 10 years or whatever it is. I just want to keep going as long as I feel good and I can compete with the youngsters, that I could be one of the candidates to win Grand Slams.”

Djokovic was scheduled to play one more tie in the Laver Cup, too: Europe needed to win two matches on Sunday to seal victory—13 points. Only if the finish line was not reached would the ‘youngsters’ return: Stefanos Tsitsipas against Tiafoe, then Casper Ruud against Taylor Fritz.

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The tournament already knew that Federer would be replaced by Matteo Berrettini once the Swiss champion’s doubles match was over: His knee following multiple surgeries was not up to any more.

But the squad faced a double whammy. Rafael Nadal had arrived later than the rest, delayed by personal matters at home. He came already tired and emotional as he awaited the safe arrival of his first child, and was also hugely affected by joining his great friend and rival in Federer’s last match. Indeed the two men were still ‘on duty’ at gone 2am after their loss in front of a passionate crowd.

Even so, Federer, who had almost certainly not got back to his hotel, family and bed before 4am, and in a still-heightened state of emotion, joined the parade of Team Europe onto court for their first singles match. He may not be playing, but he would be backing them to what he hoped would be the winning finish line.

First up was the 15-ranked former Wimbledon runner-up Berrettini, after a difficult summer of hand surgery and then a Covid infection that forced him out of Wimbledon.

He took on the 22-year-old Canadian talent, Felix Auger-Aliassime, currently ranked two places higher but with a 1-2 record against the big Italian. And last year, he lost in a tight match at Laver Cup in a final tie-break. It would follow a similar pattern this time.

They played an intense first hour in which neither man gave way in some high-quality exchanges. Just one break point came and went in the entire hour-and-a-quarter set, but the Italian edged a tense tussle, 7-6(11).

Come the second set, and the young Canadian got the upper hand, targeting the weaker Italian backhand and breaking in the third game. He served out the set to love, 6-4, to take the match to a 10-point tie-breaker. Here, Berrettini cheered on by Federer and Andy Murray sealed the deal, 10-7, in what had been a long and compelling contest.

The Italian said “just honoured to, you know, represent Team Europe instead of [Roger] in singles.

“I’m not lying when I say that I’m here because of him. Like he was really the one that I was looking up to. He was the one that I was supporting, cheering for him. I was getting upset… So for me, living these moments is something that really means everything. So it was tough, tough to sleep. I didn’t get a lot of sleep.

“But at the same time, I was really pumped to step in and give my best. I’m really happy obviously for the win, but I feel like this weekend we’re kind of celebrating something that is bigger than Laver Cup, than tennis. It’s just him.

Still Federer and Murray were in residence on the team bench, often deep in conversation, often giggling over some shared comment. It certainly looked as though Federer had put stresses and strains of the previous night behind him.

Next came Briton Cameron Norrie, taking Nadal’s place in the tournament, against Taylor Fritz, in what looked initially like a baptism of fire: He went 4-0 down in the blink of an eye before holding serve to get on the scoreboard. But the power and zip of the younger American forced error after error, and Fritz broke the Briton for the set, 6-1, in under 25 minutes and with 11 winners to Norrie’s two.

In previous matches, the two men were 5-5, and one apiece this year, both going the distance. Each had won a Masters title and broken the top 10: It should have been a close affair.

Murray and Federer were in Norrie’s ear between sets. Whatever they said, it had a quick impact, a break in the first game. He was working the angles with his flat leftie strikes, but Fritz began to up the pace again, and broke back for 2-2.

But with more input from his bench, Norrie suddenly had a break point, and converted to huge roars all round. He would serve out the set, 6-4 for another match-tie-break.

There, Fritz took a commanding lead, 5-2, and although Norrie edged closer, he could not stave off the American’s serve: Fritz took an important win, 10-8.

So with the teams at 4-4, it was the turn of Novak Djokovic to make his return to competitive tennis for the first time since he won Wimbledon over two months ago.

The mighty Serb had played only seven tournaments this year, prohibited from both the Australian and US Opens by his unvaccinated status. So he had lost the No1 ranking that he had held longer than any other player, but he had become an highly-involved member of a starry Team Europe preparing for the retirement of one of his greatest rivals.

And Djokovic was clearly keen to get things moving; he took on double duty, playing Frances Tiafoe in singles, and returning immediately with Berrettini to play doubles against Alex de Minaur and Jack Sock.

Tiafoe was at a career-high ranking of 19 after a breakthrough run at the US Open, so he had reason for optimism, especially after his performance alongside Sock in beating the Federer/Nadal duo in doubles already.

Now, the first man to come and tap Djokovic on the arm was Federer, and the two men through the course of this Laver Cup, more so than during their more stilted relationship at Chicago, had become closer during this special week.

Both men were very familiar with the O2 venue and their many meetings here, but were getting to know one another better during these bonding days before the tournament—dinners, galas, boat trips, and quality time on the team benches, practice courts, and in the team locker room.

And for someone who had not played for so long, there was no rust at all on the Djokovic serve and shot-making: a fast opening hold, and then a break in the third game.

With Djokovic 4-1 up, it was Murray who came down for an intimate chat while Federer ambled to the Team World area with a shrug that said—well, he is a 21-time Major champion.

This was statement tennis: Djokovic missed just two first serves as he raced to the set, 6-1, and did not drop a point on serve. He needed no suggestions or pointers from the bench: They just applauded.

It continued in the second set with an immediate break, and then a challenging hold for Djokovic, 2-0. Tiafoe needed to find some pattern changes but nothing seemed to break the accuracy and clean-hitting of Djokovic, who worked another break chance.

Tiafoe saved it, but could make no inroads on the Serb’s serve, and eventually, almost inevitably, Tiafoe found himself serving at 3-5. The end came swiftly, 6-3, a 72-minute win in which Djokovic made 17 winners for only three errors.

But after a long tribute to Federer and the impact of the previous night’s conclusion, Djokovic pointed out that he had only a quarter of an hour to prepare for another match. Europe was now 6-4 up, and another win would take them to 8-4 overnight.

• Djokovic and Berrettini sealed the doubles win, 7-5, 6-2, to give Europe an 8-4 lead into the last day, where matches will be worth three points apiece. The winning team needs to reach 13 points.

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In what was always going to be a tough match-up for 35-year-old Andy Murray against another young player, Alex de Minaur, the home favourite lost a gruelling two-and-a-half-hour battle—and was devastated. Team World had a point on the board.

But the big match of the day, nay the tournament, was the final coming together of the most famous rivalry in sport, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Forty times they had played one another, and through the 18 years since their first match, they had grown closer than any sporting rivals might hope for. They were, in short, friends.

And for this final match, they would play on the same side of the net to try and win another point for Team Europe. They had done this once before, in Prague in 2017, and won. But this time was different. Federer had announced his retirement after 24 years of record-making tennis, and this doubles match—his first in 15 months following repeated knee surgery—was his swansong.

A measure of the moment had been writ large on the faces of the entire Europe team, but especially on Nadal’s. He had come late to London, and would withdraw from the team immediately afterwards to return for the imminent birth of his first child. But he pulled out all the stops to get here.

And the two veteran stars produced some glittering tennis, amid smiles, hand-pumps, cheers, and one of the most raucous and partisan crowds the O2 had ever seen. The Roger-and-Rafa show delivered to win the first set, with Federer playing particularly well around the net, and proving the years of hype around his serve were all justified.

Having lost the second set in a tie-break, though, they headed to a match-tie-break. And there, Federer had the chance to close out an emotional win with that iconic serve, but Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe had other ideas, and took the match, 4-6, 7-6(2), 11-9.

It drew Team World level with Europe on 2-2: Those were the facts of the matter. But they were barely noticed in the emotional drama that began to unfold around Federer.

A measure of the affection, the respect, indeed adoration for the Swiss star—and he has won the ATP’s Fans’ Favourite Award every year since 2003, before he even rose to No1—was writ large in the arena. Not a person among the 16,000 left for more than half an hour, through tear-stained interview, music from Ellie Goulding, and the arrival of Federer’s family for heart-breaking embraces.

He hugged all four children close, telling them not to cry because he was happy. He could barely speak the words through his own sobs.

As for Nadal, he too was clearly raw with emotion. They sat side-by-side, hands together, eyes glazed with tears, and the tableau was completed by the team who had buoyed up Federer during these last days in the public eye.

And make no mistake: these were historic moments. Never before had the ‘big four’ come together as one: Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger and Rafa. And the enormity of Federer’s farewell impacted their own stories: Each man had built long and intense rivalries with him, and each could not but consider when their own departures could come.

By now, it was after 1am, and a packed media centre awaited the last chapter of the last dance of Federer and Nadal. They came at last, at a little before 2am—together, of course.

There is no better way, then, to conclude what began as a normal match-day and ended as an emotional spectacle, than with some of the words each man then shared.

Federer: “Some moments I was horribly nervous like before a big final, then some other moments I totally forgot about it because I was with the guys and we were joking. Classic goofiness comes through, and you forget about everything and have a good conversation.

“The last two days have been tough, to say the least. Thankfully in moments I totally forgot about it, slept great, everything was wonderful, I could enjoy it, I feel. And because of that I think I will be able to have a better recollection of how it went…

(Photo: Getty Images / Laver Cup / Media Handout)

“I know some people on my team and in my close circle have not gone through the same emotions maybe until tonight. That’s why, for them, it was extremely difficult probably to go through tonight. But I felt overall I did OK, even though, sure, I was crying, too.”

Nadal: “I have to say that first couple of serves for me were super difficult. I started with double fault [smiling]. I was shaking a little bit. Have been a difficult day to handle every single thing, and at the end everything become super emotional. For me, have been huge honour to be a part of this amazing moment of the history of our sport, and at the same time a lot of years sharing a lot of things together.

“When Roger leaves the tour, an important part of my life is leaving too because all the moments that he have been next or in front of me in important moments of my life.”

Federer: “This was the part I was extremely worried about, taking the microphone. All I told Tony [Godsick] was I want to be able to have an evening where I do not have to take the mic… because I know how impossible I am on the mic when I am emotional, because I had it many times before.

“But I was able to remind myself how wonderful this is. This is not the end-end, you know. Life goes on. I’m healthy, I’m happy, everything’s great, and this is just a moment in time, you know…

“This how I was able to always get a second wind, and like really able to at least say everything I have wanted, I believe.

“For me, I didn’t have fireworks in my head where I see my career flashing by, all the things I’m gonna miss. This was weeks ago. There it was hard for me making phone calls, letting people know that this decision is happening. There I felt pain, but now, tonight was all happiness.”

Nadal on Federer: “When I started to be a better player, then was Roger always there in front of me. For me was always the guy to beat. So at some point we were probably the biggest rivals—I think always in a very good way… But is true that the personal relationship, when we were getting older, I think every year the personal relationship gets better and better. I think in some way we understand at the end we have a lot of things similar. We approach the life probably similar.

“On court we have completely opposite styles, and that’s what probably makes our matches and our rivalry probably one of the biggest and most interesting. But in the family life, personal life, probably we approach life not in a very different way, no?

“So that’s why we can trust each other, we can speak very often, and we’re able to speak feeling free, feeling confident. Having somebody like Roger that I feel confident to talk about any personal thing, it’s something that is very beautiful after all the things that we shared together and all the important things that we fighted for such a long time.”

Federer about Nadal: “I don’t know how we got to this place over all these years. We have been very connected, especially, I feel, last 10 years… Anyway, I’m very happy it is where it is today, that I can call up Rafa and talk about anything.

“But just also having Rafa’s family here this weekend… I can feel their passion, I guess, for me, who I am as a person. That obviously resonates big with me. I think he feels the same way when he sees my parents, my children, my wife, everybody.

“It’s been great. I think we enjoy each other’s company, and we have so much to look back on, but also just enjoy spending time together. We have a million topics to cover. I always feel like any evening we ever spent together we never have enough time.”

Finally, for all Federer’s fans around the world, perhaps a glimmer of light:

“Hopefully we’ll see each other again on a different type of tennis court, somewhere around the world. I have no plans whatsoever, where, how, when. All I know, I would love to go and play places I have never played before or go say thank-yous for years to come to all the people that have been so supportive of me.

“Because the hard part about the Laver Cup was that tickets were already sold out. Maybe there is another way down the stretch we can party all together.”

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He took on Diego Schwartzman, ranked 17, and with a 3-2 head-to-head advantage. Three of their matches had been this year, with the last two going to the 24-year-old Tsitsipas. However, there had been some very close encounters, and this promised the same.

Tsitsipas got off to a fast, aggressive, impressive start, breaking early, attacking the net to claim 10/11 points there, as though to celebrate the Roger Federer style of tennis that so influenced the Greek’s own game.

Tsitsipas has never made a secret of his admiration for Federer’s tennis, claiming in the Team Europe press conference:

“He’s the reason I pursued a single-handed backhand. He’s the reason I felt a need to go for a professional career in tennis.”

He went on to break again, 6-2, but at the start of the second set, the Argentine dug in with some outstanding tennis in a long opening game, breaking the Greek’s serve at the fourth attempt. But the advantage did not last, Tsitsipas broke back, held to love, and broke to love, holding again with ease for 4-1. It was a run that Schwartzman could not stem, and the Greek and Europe ran to the 6-1 win and a second point on the board.

He had notched up 17 winners for just six errors, and 15 points won at the net. His hero would be delighted.

It was little wonder that both he and Ruud had felt a few extra nerves in these opening matches. They were being watched by arguably the best three players ever to pick up a racket, plus the icon after whom the tournament is names. Stir in the extra element of trying to win the trophy for Europe to give Federer the perfect send-off this weekend and it was a lot for young players to manage, no matter that they were currently the two highest ranked men at the O2.

Ruud said: “I mean, when the news came that this was going to be his last tournament or last event for Roger, I immediately thought of course how sad it was, but also that I’m going to give it all to try to help him, in a way, and help the team for him to finish with a win.

“It was a little bit tough and nerve-racking to be out there, but I think we all going to give it all for the team, but also extra special for Roger, and we all want him to finish his career in the best possible way with a win.”

Tsitsipas could barely contain his admiration for Federer in particular and the event in general: “It’s such a privilege to be here for the last dance. I have worked hard to be sitting right next to them. I have sacrificed a lot, and I’m super proud that I’m able to share this by their side with Bjorn Borg, having Mr Rod Laver to be here to watch us perform and play.

“This is the ultimate that you could ever ask, you know… For me to be here and be kind of a big part of it is something that will definitely remain unforgettable, a big highlight of my life and something that I will definitely be able to recall for many years to come.”

Next up was the highly anticipated contest that brought home hero Andy Murray back to the scene of one of his greatest victories, the ATP Finals in 2016. Having won Wimbledon and Olympic gold that year, the Briton went on a winning spree that earned him the No1 ranking into the bargain.

However, what happened after that is well known: multiple hip surgery, such that he contemplated the end of his tennis career at the Australian Open 2019. But he has battled back, now with a metal hip, and back inside the top 50 for the first time in over four years.

He took on, in Alex de Minaur, a young player ranked 22 and 12 years his junior. And the nimble Australian had also beaten Murray in their only previous match, though it was over three sets and almost three years ago.

The entry ceremonies here are lively, loud and full of emotion, and if Murray had not felt the weight of the moment before, he probably did when introduced as “the only two-time Olympic gold medallist, and your national hero—Andy Murray.”

Murray got off to a slow start, broken in the first game, soon 2-0 down, but with a game on the board, he had Federer on one shoulder, Nadal on the other at the change of ends.

He was beginning to dig in, find his rhythm, and a spectacular rally sealed by a high backhand volley led to a break back. A hold, and he led for the first time, 4-3, and even had a break chance, but three de Minaur aces assured the hold.

A marathon 12th game finally worked a break and set point for Murray but another long rally took it back to deuce with the match 80 minutes old and still not at a tie-break. But at last, Murray got the breakthrough, helped by a double fault, 7-5.

However, he was looking dog tired, and de Minaur got a quick break in the second, and then broke again for the set, 6-3. So a first-to-10 tiebreak it was, and the younger man had the marginal edge to its end, 10-7, a point back to Team World.

And so to the last and joyful dance, but more of that later.

• There was no fairytale ending for Federer, though he and Nadal came very close in a nail-biter that lasted two and a quarter hours. Sock and Tiafoe edged the win, 4-6, 7-6(2), 11-9, and there followed a tear-stained celebration of Federer’s retirement. The O2 remained crammed to the rafters with fans desperate to show their respects and affection as the clock headed to 1am: A rare sight, and a privilege to witness.

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It had not been part of the long-term plan for the iconic O2 arena in London to host such a moment. Federer’s home town of Basel was on the schedule for next month, and because he had not played since a straight-sets loss at Wimbledon 15 months ago and a third bout of surgery on the same knee, many had already pencilled in Basel as ‘the one’.

The ‘one’ where Federer, now 41 years old, would choose to bring down the curtain in front of his home fans.

That turned out to be a step too far. Instead, Federer had to face reality a few months back that his body no longer wanted to co-operate. A scan in July merely proved it, so retirement became a matter of how and when, not if.

After a holiday to churn it over, the decision came: What better place than the Laver Cup, where he already knew he would be among those players who had so impacted his career: Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and, best of all, Rafael Nadal.

With his childhood idol Bjorn Borg as captain of Team Europe, and on the stage where he had won a record six ATP Finals titles, what could be a better time and place?

And soon, it was confirmed that the Swiss knee was not even up to the task of a singles match. So his ‘dream conclusion’ was to play doubles with dear friend and rival Nadal. Thus it was agreed by Borg and Team World captain John McEnroe that the rules of the tournament could—should—be bent just a touch.

For those closest to Federer—family, friends, coaches—there had undoubtedly been many tears already. And the Swiss was tested time and again since arriving in London: a long, solo press conference, then an intense Team Europe press conference, and one-to-ones with an endless stream of broadcasters.

There were certainly moments in those public arenas where he had to pause and gather himself, bite his lip, fidget with his collar, clasp and unclasp fingers. Even for a man who has sat through hundreds of interviews, and faced many heart-breaking defeats, this was a test of the highest order.

It is not as though Federer, famed for his calm and control on the court, was any stranger to shedding public tears, both in victory and defeat. There has been hardly a Major where he did not succumb, and in Basel 2019, when he won is 10th title, his fifth in a row, he wept as the standing ovation extended for minute after minute.

It would surely have been even more emotional had he known that this 103rd title was last title, knew that he would only play around half a dozen more events as one surgery to his right knee became two, and then the third soon after last year’s Wimbledon.

And so it was remarkable that, in the run-up to his swansong on Friday evening, he had managed to keep a lid on the waterworks. Indeed the comments of his fellow players had each of them as close to breaking point as Federer himself.

Nadal: “Tomorrow gonna be a special thing. I think very difficult, difficult one. Gonna be difficult to handle everything, especially for Roger, without a doubt. For me too. You know, at the end, one of the most important players, if not the most important player in my tennis career, is leaving, no? At the end, living this moment will be difficult… In a personal way, yes, has been very, very, very sad news and a tough day.”

Djokovic: “It’s a sad day for tennis but just sport in general. But Roger’s legacy will live forever. That’s for sure.”

Murray: “But this, to me, I think it feels right. Like, seeing him and Rafa on the same side of the net together and finishing their careers as a team in this event with Bjorn on the side of the court, John McEnroe there, Rod Laver in the stands. Is going to be a really cool way to end an incredible career… I don’t think there’s many better ways to go out than like this.”

Borg: “What Roger did for tennis, he did so much PR for the sport, in general. One of the greats, all these guys here, but… what he did for the sport all around the world, it’s amazing. We should all be proud… But what he did for so many years, it’s fantastic.”

Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic (Photo: Getty Images / Laver Cup / Media Handout)

Federer has said many times that he is ‘a glass half full type of guy’, and he elaborated to Savannah Guthrie on NBC:

“I felt all of [the stages of grieving], also the ones where ‘I don’t want to deal with it, I just don’t want to think about it, don’t talk to me about it.’ I went through a lot of sadness and emotional moments, where you start thinking about everything you’re going to miss, and then you think, OMG, my life’s going to be miserable after. And then, you realise no, no, no, actually we’re going to have more time and do these amazing things now, so it’s going to be great.”

To Arab News, he added:

“I was in a very worried, scared place to face the music, the media, the fans and everything, being able to talk about it in a normal fashion without getting emotional, just because I know how much it means to me.

“But I feel like I probably went through a lot of different stages—I don’t know if you can call it grieving— and then you get to, I really don’t want it to be a funeral. I want it to be really happy and powerful and party mode, rather than the other side.”

So for now, the extrovert, positive Federer will drink in every minute, and he is not one to shy away from life’s little pleasures: No doubt he downed some Moet et Chandon at the black-carpet gala at Somerset House last night, and maybe something equally indulgent at dinner with his illustrious companions at the Tower of London on Wednesday.

The time is not for sadness but for a celebration for the 24 years of sublime tennis and outstanding achievements the great Swiss man has produced. His fans got more, and for much longer, than they could ever have hoped for.

First day progress

Federer and Nadal would join forces for the second time, following Andy Murray against Alex de Minaur in the evening session. The ‘Fedal’ pairing first made its appearance at the Laver Cup in Prague in 2017, when they beat Jack Sock and Sam Querrey in a 10-point tie-breaker. Sock will this time be joined by Frances Tiafoe in a very strong American pairing: It may, or may not, be a fairytale ending for Federer on court, but he will stay at the tournament until the trophy is decided on Sunday—and will hope in Europe’s favour again.

The initial script did not go quite to plan in the opening match. Casper Ruud served for the first set, only for Sock to find a flurry of winning passes to break back. The Norwegian did break again for the set, 6-4, but lost the second, 5-7. Ruud also went down 3-0 in the deciding 10-point tie-break, but pulled it back to earn the first point for Europe, 10-7.

Each of the four matches on Day 1is worth a point to the Team. On Saturday, the matches become worth two points, and finally on Sunday, three points per win. The first team to 13 wins the Cup.

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Laver remains the only man to complete two calendar Grand Slams—one in the amateur and one in the Open era—and his classy but deadly style of tennis, plus a modest and unassuming personality, inspired many of the greats who followed.

Now, with the Australian well into his 80s, he is still an icon of his sport, and as enthusiastic about tennis as ever. What is more, his name has become familiar to a whole new generation of fans, with his presence a familiar sight at the Majors.

And he has clearly relished the association, and friendship, of Federer and Laver Cup captains Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. He donated one of his own trophies to be incorporated into the Laver Cup trophy, and has yet to miss any of the four iterations: Prague, Chicago, Geneva, and Boston. He has now made it to London, too, for this fifth playing of the tournament, and is thus inspiring the young members of Team Europe and Team World just as he inspired the older generations.

This time, the event will be a particularly emotional affair. Federer, now age 41 and with a knee that has remained stubbornly resistant to rehab from three surgeries in two years, announced his retirement just before coming to London. To make the occasion still more memorable, all three of his greatest rivals through much of his career—Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray—will join him in a glittering Europe line-up that also includes three more top-10 players.

Federer, though, is set to play just one match, and that in doubles, in a special partnership with his closest tennis friend and rival, Nadal, who flew into London just in time for their Friday-night match.

Trying to prevent a fairy-tale ending for Federer will be a formidable American pairing of Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock. They certainly have the qualities and passion to make that a serious possibility, but win or lose, expect tears on all sides when the match is done. For it will mark the end of a career as illustrious as that of the tournament’s namesake. Laver and Federer, as great as they come.

First, however, Europe will hope to get off to a flyer in the day session with its young stars, world No2 Casper Ruud followed by No6 Stefanos Tsitsipas. And completing a home-crowd pleasing evening session, former world No1, Wimbledon and gold medal Olympic champion, Andy Murray will play the 22-ranked Alex de Minaur.

How it all works

Schedule

Match-ups will be determined prior to the first match each day through the blind exchange of line-up cards by the captains.

Friday and Saturday

Day session 1pm: 2 singles matches
Night session 7pm: 1 singles, 1 doubles match

Sunday

12 midday, 1 doubles, followed by 3 singles matches. If points are even, there will be a one-set doubles decider.

Friday line-up, day

Ruud vs Sock

Tsitsipas vs Diego Schwartzman

Friday line-up, evening

Murray vs Alex de Minaur

Federer/Nadal vs Sock/Tiafoe

Tournament structure and scoring

· Each match win is worth one point on Friday, two points on Saturday and three points on Sunday. If points are tied at 12-all on Day 3, a doubles set with ad-scoring and a tie-break will decide the champion. The winning team must reach 13 points.

· Each team comprises six players, with three of the six qualifying based on their ATP singles ranking after the French Open. Three others are “captain’s picks”

· Both singles and doubles matches are best-of-three sets with ad scoring. The third set is a 10-point Match Tie-break.

· Each player will play at least one singles match during the first two days*. No player will play singles more than twice, and at least four of the six players must play doubles. No doubles combination can be played more than once, unless for the Decider on Day 3, if points are 12-all.

· The tournament is sanctioned by the ATP but does not carry ranking points for the players.

*Because Federer is not fit enough to play singles, his place will be taken by Matteo Berrettini for the remainder of the tournament.

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This was a unique taster in a truly novel event that will see all of the so-called ‘big four’ of tennis join forces for Team Europe. Indeed, Team World captain John McEnroe must wonder what he has done to deserve taking on Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray—plus, for good measure, the new world No2 Casper Ruud, No6 Stefanos Tsitsipas and as alternates, No8 Cameron Norrie and No15 Matteo Berrettini.

But that quartet, well they were the ones that most of the fans were here to see. All former No1s, with a tally of 65 Major titles and 116 Masters titles, 12 ATP Finals trophies plus a clutch of Olympic medals, they had come together in what, unexpectedly, took on a new dimension when Federer announced that it would be his last event before retiring from the sport he had graced for around 24 years.

Little wonder, then, that the three super-stars of the last couple of decades, along with home hero Murray, drew such crowds and such passion. Never had the four played one another on the same court, with Federer and Nadal facing Djokovic and Murray. And they will never do so again, so the phones were out in force to capture the moment.

But preceding this memorable session had been another more intimate, and highly emotional coming together of Team Europe in the confines of the pre-tournament press conference. And it was inevitable that questions and answers focused on the occasion—the closing chapter of Federer’s career.

Sitting in the centre of his team, Captain Bjorn Borg was flanked by Djokovic on one side, Federer on the other. And on the left of the Swiss was the newly-arrived Nadal, affirming that the two great friends and rivals would indeed play together in the first doubles match on Friday evening.

To Djokovic’s right was his own childhood rival Murray: The two are separated by just a week in age, came through juniors together, and went on to face one another in countless finals—most notably for Murray in his first Major victory at the US Open.

From the general, the questions soon became particular, and the mood reflective. It began with Nadal, asked about the pressure of playing with Federer in the Swiss man’s last ever match:

“Different kind of pressure. After all the amazing things that we shared together on and off court, to be part of this historic moment gonna be something amazing, unforgettable for me… “

The two go back a long way: the first of 40 singles matches was back in 2004, Federer age 22, Nadal not quite 18, and the Swiss man, newly at No1 in the world, knew immediately that he had a significant rival.

Nadal won in the third round of the Miami Masters, and while Federer beat him in the title match the following year, the Spaniard became a thorn in his rival’s side through countless finals. Not until the last few years, indeed, had Federer begun to turn the tables by winning six of their last seven matches.

They had, though, joined forces on other occasions, in particular in exhibition matches for each other’s charitable foundations, and it was away from court that the bonds clearly grew, between both them and their families.

Little wonder, perhaps, that both men had to hold back the tears as they spoke of what this last event meant to them. Federer’s first comment:

“I’m not sure if I can handle it all. I’ll try. I have had some tougher moments as well in the past, being horribly nervous, you know, all these years sometimes before matches. This one definitely feels a whole lot different.”

Nadal, in his turn, became emotional about their relationship, and what lay ahead:

“Something that probably we are very proud [of] has been a friendly rivalry. Not easy sometimes, because we are playing for such important things for our tennis career, but at the same time we were able to understand that, at the end, personal relationships are more important sometimes than professional things.

“Tomorrow gonna be a special thing. I think very difficult, difficult one. Gonna be difficult to handle everything, especially for Roger, without a doubt. For me too. You know, at the end, one of the most important players, if not the most important player in my tennis career, is leaving, no? At the end, living this moment will be difficult. Of course I am super excited and grateful to play with him.”

But Nadal’s response to a question about the prospect of his own retirement hit the mark: Federer bowed his head, bit his lip:

“Well, I don’t need to listen to this news to know that the end is closer. You know, the normal cycle of life is this, no? Some people leave and others need to come. Nothing new. History repeats always. Just this time it’s us, and in this particular case is probably one of the most if not the most important player in the history of this sport that is leaving after super great and super long career. Some of us, we were able to share this long career together…

“Is true that when first leaving, in your mind you miss something, no? In a personal way, yes, has been very, very, very sad news and a tough day.”

Then Djokovic:

“Of course we always wanted to win against each other. We always wanted to be better than each other. But as Rafa said, on a personal level, of course it’s different. It’s a sad day for tennis but just sport in general. But Roger’s legacy will live forever. That’s for sure.”

And finally Murray, who struggled to hold it together: For he, more than most on the panel here, had looked down the barrel of the retirement gun, had shed his own tears in the very public arena of a press conference at the Australian Open in 2019, but bit the bullet, had a replacement hip, and returned to the fray. His own trials and tribulations now underpinned his words and tone.

“I mean, for me the last few years, I think as you get older as athletes and with some of the physical issues, you do think about when should you stop and when is the right moment and how would you like it to be.

“It’s impossible to know, I think. But this, to me, I don’t know—maybe it doesn’t feel the same way for Roger, but I think it feels right. Like, seeing him and Rafa on the same side of the net together and finishing their careers as a team in this event with Bjorn on the side of the court, John McEnroe there, Rod Laver in the stands. Is going to be a really cool way to end an incredible career.

“Yeah, I have thought about it myself, but I don’t think there’s many better ways to go out than like this.”

It was enough to draw a notable interjection from Federer:

“Maybe one thing I would like to add. I always felt—or sitting here it feels good—that I go first from the guys. It just feels right [smiling].”

And that has been his way of coping, it seems, these last days: turning the pervading mood of sadness with a bon mot. As his rivals lined up to choose their most memorable matches against him, he jumped in:

“It’s going to be a win! I hope so, for them. They all beat me many times.”

And after Djokovic picked his first, his losing final to Federer at the US Open in 2007:

“He’s being nice now! Thank you, Novak… We are going to get to the other 20-plus matches.”

Sure enough, Djokovic added a second, the epic Wimbledon title match of 2019, in which Federer failed to convert two match points: “2019, sorry, Roger, finals of Wimbledon.”

Federer jumped in: “What happened? [grinning] I’ve blocked it out!”

Not that the young members of the team did not feel just as moved. Tsitsipas said:

“I missed Roger actually a lot… He’s someone I always thought, when is he going to come back? Having that opportunity [to practise] a few days ago made me kind of feel alive again, feel in a way inspired, because he’s the reason I pursued a single-handed backhand. He’s the reason I felt a need to go for a professional career in tennis. So it’s a very special moment to be part of this competition.”

Finally, the coup de grace, came from Borg who, in his day, was the cool, calm and collected presence on and off the tennis court. But his association with this event, sharing the captaincy with his own friend and rival McEnroe, and forming a close bond with Federer, who idolised the Swede when he was young, has released the restraints.

His closing statement left barely a dry eye in the room:

“Roger stepping away from tennis, you know, to have the greatest player who ever played the game to be part of Laver Cup, to be part of Team Europe, for me personally, I cannot feel better to have all these players here.

“What Roger did for tennis, he did so much PR for the sport, in general. One of the greats, all these guys here, but… what he did for the sport all around the world, it’s amazing. We should all be proud… But what he did for so many years, it’s fantastic.”

And with that, they stood, left the stage and, one suspects, got rather emotional behind the scenes.

However, rather like the public practice session this afternoon, that was the taster: Hold your hats for that doubles match, and the uproar as ‘Fedal’ leave the stage to face the media together one last time.

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For there has been Wimbledon, where the Swiss star won the junior title in 1998, then beat his idol, seven-time champion Pete Sampras, in 2001. Federer was still just 19 years old, but it would be their only meeting, as Sampras retired the following year.

Two years later, and Federer began a dominance on the All England Club’s grass that would outstrip even Sampras—eight titles from 22 appearances. Federer’s run ended with his now-infamous quarter-final loss last year, when he endured his only 0-6 set on Wimbledon’s grass.

With it came not just desperate disappointment, as he has revealed several times this week, but the realisation that two knee surgeries and just a handful of matches during 18 months of rehab had not been enough to get his body back on track.

In short, his remarkable comeback of 2017, after just one knee operation, would never be repeated. The now 41-year-old Federer resolved, after a third surgery on the same knee, to face up to his inescapable retirement—and that meant he would never play on Wimbledon’s turf again.

But another corner of London had, over many years, also shown off the best of Federer. The ATP Finals moved to the O2 in 2009, and there he would extend his tally of victories to a record six. He may not have won here since 2011, but only once in 17 appearances did he ever fall short of the semis. And the only time he did not qualify in that stretch? It was the year of his first knee surgery in 2016. He had dropped to No17 in the ranks, but promptly returned in January to win his 17th Major at the Australian Open.

So London’s iconic O2 became the entirely appropriate court to host the final match of its greatest tennis champion. For this year’s Laver Cup—Federer’s brainchild, and now into its fifth iteration—begins this Friday, and what is more, it will feature for the first time all three of Federer’s great rivals from the last two decades: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

Perhaps it was all part of the grand scheme, for Federer has known for many months that retirement was imminent, though he told the media at his first full press conference that the timing and shape of the departure unfolded after a summer holiday with his family—and a bad-news scan of his knee.

The letter he wrote and published last week, along with a moving audio version, had, he revealed, been written over several days and in many versions. He was desperate to get it right, desperate to break the news ahead of the Laver Cup, and to give himself, his family and his colleagues time to absorb and adjust to the news.

That the planned appearance at his home tournament in Basel had been abandoned spoke volumes about his physical shape. Speaking first to the Swiss media in London, he revealed that he would not even play a singles match in the Laver Cup: It would be just one doubles match.

“So here I am trying to prepare for one last doubles, and we’ll see with who it is. I’m obviously, I don’t know, nervous going in because I haven’t played in so long. I hope I can be somewhat competitive.”

Then after Friday night, he will retire from the tournament and give way to Team Europe’s alternate, Matteo Berrettini, for the required singles duty.

Roger Federer (Photo: Mercedes Benz / Media Handout)

Asked who his preferred partner would be for the notable swangsong, though, he did not hesitate:

“Of course [I’d like it to be Nadal]. No doubt. I mean, I think it could be quite a unique situation, you know, 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 careers that we both have had and to come out on the other side and be 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.”

Of course in theory, it will not be the decision of either Federer or Nadal—but it is hard to imagine captain Borg would deny them and the millions of ‘Fedal’ fans the chance for one last dance.

The two had joined forces once before, in the first Laver Cup in Prague. They had, too, faced one another on the doubles court early in their careers: Indian Wells in 2004—a win for Nadal with Tommy Robredo.

Indeed Nadal became a thorn in Federer’s side almost as soon as the precocious Spaniard got into his stride around 2006. Yet during his 30s, Federer began to eat into his negative head-to-head record, winning six of their last seven matches. All the while, their friendship grew over their years, and more than once they had played exhibition matches for each other’s charitable work.

So London’s O2 is not just the right city, right court, and right event for Federer to bid his farewell. It will very likely be the right partner, too, to share a truly emotional moment.

Federer held it together for his long press conference, pausing to take a calming breathe when asked if there were any regrets in his career.

“I mean, yes, of course you have regrets, but never really, because I do believe things happen for a reason… I’m happy it happened the way it did. I’m probably famous for having some tougher losses, as well, but then also dealing with them and seeing it as an opportunity to get better, to grow from it.

“I’m happy I don’t have flashbacks at tough moments in my career. I see more the happiness, me with trophy, me winning, my winning moments, and I’m happy that my brain allows me to think this way, because I know it’s not easy to sometimes push defeats and those things away.

“I mean, obviously as a tennis player, you also have to take tough decisions… I always believed I cannot let my team decide everything… I am in charge at the end of the day. I am the one at the centre, and I am the one to blame. I’m not going to start blaming others for things I decided. So that’s why I don’t feel like I have regrets.”

He used the word ‘bittersweet’ in that retirement love-letter to tennis less than week ago, and now he explained its meaning in a poignant conclusion:

“The bitterness, you always want to play forever. I love being out on court, I love playing against the guys, I love travelling. I never really felt like it was that hard for me to do, of winning, learn from losing, it was all perfect. I love my career from every angle. That’s the bitter part.

“The sweet part was that I know everybody has to do it at one point. Everybody has to leave the game. It’s been a great, great journey. For that, I’m really grateful.”

Then it came to an end, perhaps Federer’s last solo press conference: Surely any more will be alongside the men who have played such a huge part in this compelling, golden age. But if his parting thoughts are enough for him, they can be enough for the rest of us.

“Was I happy on and off the court, did I like my life on the tour? And I did. I think I had the best of times. Obviously the last few years have been what they have been, but I’m very happy that I was able to win another five slams from [my record] 15 on. For me it was incredible. Then I made it to over 100 titles—and all that stuff has been fantastic. Then just my longevity is something I’m very proud of.

“Don’t need all the records to be happy, I tell you that.”

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“Of all the gifts that tennis has given me over the years, the greatest, without a doubt, has been the people I’ve met along the way: my friends, my competitors, and most of all the fans who give the sport its life. Today, I want to share some news with you all.”

Sure enough, he went on:

“Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognise when it’s time to end my competitive career.”

In truth, the door to one of tennis’s greatest careers had been steadily closing for a while. It had even seemed that way as long ago as 2016, when well into his 30s, he had a long hiatus following a first surgery to his knee. That, and persistent back problems, forced hard choices. He withdrew from the French Open—ending an unbroken streak of 65 Majors—and finished the season after Wimbledon.

That he had returned in 2017 for an Indian Summer that took him to three more Majors and back to No1 made him seem near invincible. Yet by now, into his late 30s, the body that had served him so well for so long—and his first tour match-win was in 1998—was finally refusing to play ball.

He put it simply in his announcement:

“The past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries. I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form. But I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear.”

Because 2019 had been his last full year of competition, a year of four titles, plus final runs at Wimbledon and Indian Wells and the semis at Roland Garros. A fine season by any measure, but he was on borrowed time.

Come 2020, the Australian Open would be his only tournament—though even then, it was a semi finish. His other knee demanded attention, two surgeries and lots of recovery time, but in the event, that proved not to be enough.

Roger Federer (Photo: Marianne Bevis)

Time was creeping up on the apparently ageless Federer, and he returned only gingerly in 2021, played scant matches as he headed to the beloved Wimbledon where he had won the junior title, and then beaten his idol Pete Sampras while still a teenager.

How much trouble that knee was still giving him he has never revealed, but he had won only a single match at Halle in preparation, and his final Centre Court appearance spoke for him: a straight-sets loss in the quarter-finals, concluded with a bagel.

The sense of ‘loss’ had been profound just a year before, when the Swiss held two championships points, only for Novak Djokovic to deny him. Now… well, it really did feel like the beginning of the end.

Perhaps the signs were already there. He had withdrawn from the fourth round at Roland Garros, citing knee problems. Still more significant, Federer and his family had, during the month of Wimbledon, auctioned all his memorabilia—the rackets that had won records, the kit that had graced magazine covers, the shoes still stained red by Roland Garros clay, all sold in aid of his Foundation.

Sure enough, more knee surgery came in August, as he turned 40, and his video message was at pains to manage expectations. He would, he said, by out for many months, but “I want to give myself a glimmer of hope to return to the tour in some shape or form.”

Updates continued to postpone his return, most recently citing the Laver Cup and the Swiss Open. That schedule alone was heavy with meaning: The former event was his ‘baby’, his tribute to Rod Laver’s legacy; the latter was played in his home town of Basel.

In the event, even that schedule proved optimistic. There were rumours of more knee trouble, and if Federer has ever committed to one notion in his career, it is that he would only play as long as his family and his body were willing. He would not jeopardise his physical wellbeing and his future life with those he most loved.

Of course, accepting the inevitable is one thing. Accepting the prospect of a new era without Federer’s uniquely special contribution on and off the court is another.

His fans, naturally, will take time to become reconciled. His fellow players, too, have been vocal in their gratitude and sadness. Stand-out tributes came quickly from his oldest rival, Rafael Nadal:

“I wish this day would have never come. It’s a sad day for me personally and for sports around the world. It’s been a pleasure but also an honour and privilege to share all these years with you.”

And from the woman who, at almost exactly the same age, delivered her own farewell message a fortnight ago, Serena Williams:

“I wanted to find the perfect way to say this, as you so eloquently put this game to rest—perfectly done, just like your career. I have always looked up to you and admired you. Our paths were always so similar, so much the same. You inspired countless millions and millions of people—including me—and we will never forget.”

Messages poured in from great former champions like Laver, Christ Evert and Martina Navratilova, who said:

“What a heartfelt message, full of love, life, hope, passion and gratitude. Which is exactly how Roger played the game we love so much. Thank you thank you thank you!”

Billie Jean King added: “Roger Federer is a champion’s champion. He has the most complete game of his generation and captured the hearts of sports fans around the world.”

But there has been just as much affection and respect from young champions, the new standard-bearers who have won both Majors and the No1 ranking already:

Carlos Alcaraz, age just 19:

“Roger has been one of my idols and a source of inspiration! Thank you for everything you have done for our sport! I still want to play with you! Wish you all the luck in the world for what comes next!”

Roger Federer (Photo: Marianne Bevis)

And Iga Swiatek, only 21:

“I just want to thank you for everything you’ve done and everything you are for our sport. It’s been a privilege to witness your career. I wish you all the best.”

So anything that this particular admirer says pales against the brightness of such tennis icons. Yet I have just as much to thank the Swiss man for—not least in spurring me to abandon one career for another that took me back to my youthful love of tennis.

I have now travelled the world, been to countless tournaments, reported extensively through a ‘golden age’ of tennis that has seen not only Federer but also Nadal and Djokovic stride past what seemed the untouchable Sampras record of 14 Majors.

I have thrilled to Andy Murray’s journey to Olympic gold, Davis Cup and eventually to No1, and watched Serena with nothing short of awe.

But the most abiding pleasures have coalesced around Federer’s uniquely elegant, athletic, fast-paced style of tennis, which dipped into my old-school tennis memories.

And the appeal only grew with familiarity. Contrary to his calm, on-court persona, he is an extrovert, a glass-half-full optimist, one who seems always to have time for signing for his fans, for speaking in three languages to the media, but whose timetable was invariably packed with the PR demands of the tour, with exhibitions, and with fund-raisers for his foundation. And judging from the plaudits of his colleagues, always the time to extend a hand of welcome or help to his fellow players.

I always anticipated that Federer’s career would end before mine, yet after so many years, it was I who first planned my exit route following a few personal wake-up calls. I decided to draw my ‘line in the sand’ back at the O2, where I saw the then 30-year-old Federer win his 70th career title, his sixth at the ATP Finals—on my birthday in 2011.

Since then, I have seen him win his eighth Wimbledon, reach his 100th title in Dubai, become the tour’s oldest No1 in Rotterdam. Again at the O2, I photographed him accepting two of a record 40 ATP Awards, including the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship gong—from Edberg himself.

And whether smiling down my camera lens or looking me in the eye as he answered my questions, he has been the model of patience and courtesy.

So his closing words about his departure speak for me and many more, too:

“This is a bittersweet decision because I will miss everything the Tour has given me. But at the same time, there is so much to celebrate… I have laughed and cried, felt joy and pain, and most of all I have felt incredibly alive.”

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