Invited to the Daily Show television set in the United States on Wednesday, Roger Federer recounted his phone call to Rafael Nadal to convince him to come to his tennis farewell at the end of September during the Laver Cup in London.
This is one of the strongest images of the year. A sublime shot that will go down in the history of sport. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, crying and holding hands, like children after a Laver Cup match. On September 22 in London, the Swiss put an end to a monumental tennis career. A new leaf was turned and her Spanish rival also cracked after a final doubles match played side-by-side.
However, Rafael Nadal’s presence at the O2 Arena was not secured in advance. Roger Federer went to great lengths to ensure that the record holder of Grand Slam victories (22) was present for his farewell. “It was already unusual to be on the same team,” the young retiree said on the TV set of Daily show. My wish was to play him as I called him after the US Open. It was very moving as a conversation because it was my first time announcing it outside the framework of my team and my family.
And as Federer reveals, tears flowed from that first announcement over the phone: “I told him, ‘Hey Rafa, before you plan anything else, I’d like you to be at the Laver Cup and play one last doubles match with me.’ because unfortunately my knee… (imitates a hiccup) it’s no longer good, I think it’s over.’ He said to me (looking panicked): ‘Oh yeah? Oh my God, I’ll be there!'”
And Rafael Nadal kept his word despite his partner’s complicated pregnancy: “Now he’s become a dad, I congratulate him of course, but we weren’t sure he’d be there because of the baby.” And to conclude, always on the cloud of him: “Novak (Djokovic) was there, Andy (Murray) was there, Borg was there … It was an incredible moment. I knew it would be very moving”.
