The tear-jerking display of one of the sport’s biggest rivalries comes on Friday during the tennis player’s last professional game.
Tennis icon Roger Federer ended his career aged 41 in a doubles match alongside Rafael Nadal for Team Europe at the Laver Cup in London on Friday. Against world teams, Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock in the O2. Nadal and the newly eliminated player were 4-6 7-6(2) 11-9 down, as reported by ESPN. But the outpouring of love for Federer made the night unforgettable.
It was a perfect trip. I would do it again. It was great. It was so much fun. It was so beautiful. Thank you all. I have so many individuals cheering me on also you being here tonight means everything. Federer’s emotional farewell was also greeted with tears by arch-rival Nadal, who wept with him as he soaked up the atmosphere of the event before calling Ellie Goulding out several.
Clips of their emotional hug went viral on Twitter on Friday night.
“When Roger left the tour, yes, an important part of my life went too. Because all the moments he was by my side or in front of me in the important moments of my life,” Nadal told CNN. “It’s very emotional seeing the family, seeing everyone. Yes, it’s hard to explain. But [an] incredible moment.” The pair, who have combined 42 Grand Slam victories with Federer winning 20 and Nadal 22, have a long history in the sport. Their 2008 Wimbledon Final. Where Nadal won in the final set, was perhaps the most memorable. But both played their first match against one another in March 2004 at the Miami Masters.
Federer played his first junior match in 1996 at 14 and made his ATP debut in 1998 at the Swiss Open Gstaad two years later. The athlete won her 1st Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon in 2003. And has since earned her place in the sport’s Big Three alongside Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Federer announced his decision to retire earlier this month. Telling fans the event marked the end of a 24-year career after 20 Grand Slam titles, two Olympic medals and multiple No.1 rankings.