Laver Cup: Now fixed - Roger Federer contests last career match with Rafael Nadal
Roger Federer will play the last match of his tennis career alongside Rafael Nadal : the two will play doubles on Friday, the first day of the Laver Cup 2022.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Sep 22, 2022, 02:19 pm
That was clear from the published schedule for opening day. Casper Ruud starts against Jack Sock (from 2 p.m. CEST), then Stefanos Tsitsipas plays against Diego Schwartzman. In the evening (from 8 p.m. CEST) Andy Murray celebrates his Laver Cup premiere against Alex de Minaur.
And finally the big highlight follows, with the second meeting of "Fedal": Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal meet Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe.
Fedal: Second appearance after 2017
For Federer and Nadal it is the second joint double appearance in their careers. In 2017 they played Sam Querrey and Jack Sock in the inaugural Laver Cup and won 6-4, 1-6, [10-5]. In 2019 there was almost a second joint appearance in Geneva, but Nadal canceled his assignment shortly before the start of the game due to foot problems.
The Federer farewell, it is of course the big topic in London this year: the Swiss Maestro announced his retirement from professional tennis last week, the knee, which has been operated on several times, has recently caused problems again. Federer recently explained that he had to reduce his workload accordingly.
A single is out of the question anyway, but he wanted to keep a double open. So here it comes, on the first day of the Laver Cup, which is "only" about one point. He hopes to be able to appear in an acceptable form, said Federer in advance.
Nadal on Federer doubles: "Something unforgettable"
Nadal himself had not been in London so far, but informed on Wednesday that he wanted to arrive today. In the meantime he has arrived, at the first press conference he explained: "After everything we have experienced together so far - there is something wonderful, something unforgettable, being part of such a special moment. Maybe we can win the match."
Federer's last match appearance on a tennis court dates back to 2021 when he lost to Hubert Hurkacz in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Shortly afterwards he confirmed the renewed knee problems and another operation.