![]() “I have a practice in the morning,” she tweeted, “but sleep needs to wait tonight.” Iga Swiatek, the world number-one on the women’s side, was forced to consider her priorities-and it wasn’t even close. Carlos Alcaraz tweeted, simply, “Who’s watching Laver Cup?” and then, mere minutes later, posted three sobbing emojis. And if they couldn’t be there in person, virtually everybody in the tennis world tuned in from wherever they were to watch history being made. relentless intensity.Tennis pros, both active and retired, and fans flooded London’s O2 Arena for the event-we’ll have a full report on the scene for you tomorrow. Over the years, Federer and Nadal showed off individual greatness and compelling contrasts across their 40 matches, 14 at Grand Slam tournaments, nine in major finals: righty vs. Borg (as it happens, the two Laver Cup team captains, John and Bjorn), Evert vs. ![]() Rafa - just one name apiece required - belongs up there with McEnroe vs. Perhaps they could have provided everyone with one final installment of a head-to-head matchup as memorable as any in the long history of their sport - or, indeed, any other. Open, the lone Grand Slam tournament at which they never faced off, somehow. Maybe it could have taken place about 15 miles away at Centre Court of the All England Club, say, or in Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros, or Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park, or even Arthur Ashe Stadium, the centerpiece of the U.S. Surely, there are those who would have found it particularly apt to see Federer finish across the net from Nadal, often an on-court nemesis but eventually an off-court friend. There also was a forehand that slid right between Sock and Tiafoe and seemed too good to be true - and, it turned out, was: The ball travelled through a gap below the net tape and so the point was taken away from Federer and Nadal. Federer showed touches of his old flair, to be sure, and of rust, as to be expected.Īs his parents and wife sat in front-row seats behind a baseline, there were a couple of early forehands that sailed several feet too long. ![]() Similar reactions arrived merely at the chair umpire's announcement before the third game of "Roger Federer to serve," and again when he closed that game with a 188km/h service winner.ĭoubles requires far less movement and court coverage, of course, so the stress on his knee was limited. They came ready to roar for him, some with Swiss flags, some with homemade signs, and they made themselves heard with a wall of sound when Federer delivered a forehand volley winner on the match's second point. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup) (Getty Images for Laver Cup) LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe interact during the doubles match between Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe of Team World and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe during Day One of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on Septemin London, England. ![]() The spectators remained on their feet for nearly 10 minutes, through the pre-match warmup, holding aloft phone cameras to capture the moment. He had said he wanted this to feel more like a party than a funeral, and the crowd obliged, rising for a loud and lengthy standing ovation when Federer and Nadal - each wearing a white bandanna, blue shirt and white shorts - emerged together from a tunnel leading out to the black court for the last match on Day 1 at the O2 Arena. Nadal was also in tears during the emotional scenes, while Federer also broke down while embracing wife Mirka and their four children, telling them he was happy rather than sad. Thank you to everybody who's coming tonight." But I could feel the pain."Ī couple of hours before Friday's match, Federer tweeted: "I've done this thousands of times, but this one feels different. "I kind of held it in at first, then fought it off. "For me, just personally, (it was) sad in the first moment, when I came to the conclusion it's the best decision," Federer said in an interview with The Associated Press this week about his emotions when realising it was time to go. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images for Laver Cup) (Getty Images for Laver Cup) LONDO9N, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer of Team Europe (L) shows emotion alongside their team mates following their final match during Day One of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on Septemin London, England. ![]()
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