When Roger Federer announced his light Laver Cup schedule, there was only one player who could step on the court with him! As was expected, Roger wished to play his last career match alongside his great rival Rafael Nadal.
Federer and Nadal met 40 times between 2004 and 2019, battling worldwide and challenging each other to produce more. Roger and Rafa have always respected each other, and the Spaniard was more than happy to accompany the Swiss during his final tennis chapter.
Federer and Nadal shared the same side of the court for the second time and had a chance to celebrate the victory. Unlike Prague 2017, two legends wasted a match point in a 4-6, 6-2, 11-9 loss to Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe in two hours and 13 minutes.
As was expected, Roger and Rafa were very emotional after the match, sitting next to each other and crying. Federer and Nadal played their last encounter in the 2019 Wimbledon semi-final, with Roger moving on in four sets.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal cried after their Laver Cup loss.
Roger and Rafa stayed in touch during the pandemic, building on their friendship and getting a chance to gather again in London and celebrate the incredible career of the Swiss maestro.
The result was not in the spotlight, but Federer and Nadal still did everything to beat the young opponents. They squandered a match point on Federer’s serve in the match tie break and still gave the crowd something to cheer about.
Both teams made a reliable start and stayed neck and neck in the opening eight games. Nadal served at 4-4 and faced a break point. Federer saved it, and he and Rafa grabbed their first break in the next one to claim the opener 6-4 in 42 minutes.
Rafa lost serve at 1-1 in the second set before they pulled it back in game six after Frances’ double hit. Nadal had to dig deep on serve in game 11, saving six break points and keeping the pressure on the other side. Team Europe stood two points from the victory in game 12, but Sock remained calm to introduce a tie break.
The Americans opened a 4-2 gap, and Frances forced Roger’s mistake in the ninth point to wrap up a tie break and introduce a match tie break. Nadal raised his level and grabbed the opening three points for an early advantage.
The Americans bounced back and moved 4-3 up thanks to Sock’s brilliant point. Jack claimed another point at 4-4 while falling at the net before Roger sent Team Europe 6-5 up with an ace. Federer placed a volley winner at the net for 7-7, hungry for more in the remaining points.
The legends fought back to 8-8 and earned the match point after taking the next one. The Swiss failed to seize it, and Frances fired a return winner for 10-9 and the first match point. Sock landed a forehand down the line winner by Nadal to seal the deal and send Roger into a well-deserved retirement.
