In an emotional audio recording posted on social media, Roger Federer announced that he would play the last tournament of his career in London, at the Laver Cup. 

https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal/status/1572918603757789184?s=20&t=auVNYPZuYgfl6STAqHk_HQ

Roger Federer will play his ultimate tennis match together with Rafael Nadal in a double’s game against Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe at 8.30 (British time). Tennis fans around the world will tune in to see the maestro’s sprezzatura one last time.

The decision of whether both legends would play together belonged to former champion Björn Borg, Team Europe’s captain. The Swede eventually put an end to the suspense and confirmed the line-up of a much-awaited game.  

https://twitter.com/andy_murray/status/1572942133970993152?s=20&t=ydtxf0hYq98IoO9r322OFQ

Roger Federer is viewed as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He won 20 Grand Slams (including 8 times Wimbledon) and a total of 103 tournaments.  He was also world number 1 for an impressive 373 weeks, including 237 consecutive ones, a record so far. 

https://twitter.com/rogerfederer/status/1573020712574541826?s=20&t=_bbKXtZYHKeBrIDTrVDVpg

At 41, the Swiss chose to bow out of the tour due to complications related to a knee injury that has been holding him back in the past few years. Nonetheless, he performed at an unusually high level until recently, adding the element of remarkable longevity to his legendary aura.

The Laver Cup is an exciting tournament, during which Team Europe (blue) clashes with Team World (red) in successive singles and doubles matches. The so-called big 4 of tennis (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray) belongs to Team Europe.

https://twitter.com/LaverCup/status/1573286801770516481?s=20&t=LNIFCfvq4mGcf-mIYUKPpw

Image: Twitter (@LaverCup)

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen