Laver Cup: Roger Federer loses last match of career
Roger Federer lost the last professional tennis match of his career with Rafael Nadal against Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe 6: 4, 6: 7 (2) and 9:11 at the Laver Cup 2022.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Sep 24, 2022, 01:27 am
Here is the match to read in the live ticker.
Roger Federer in doubles - that hasn't happened on the ATP tour for a very long time. It was 2015 in Indian Wells when Federer and compatriot Michael Lammer were eliminated in the first round in Indian Wells (for chroniclers: against Marcin Matkowski and Nenad Zmjonic). In the same year there was another appearance in the Davis Cup with friend Marco Chiudinelli (and a loss against the Dutchmen Thiemo de Bakker and Matwe Middelkoop). After that, however, Roger Federer only indulged in pair skating as part of the Laver Cup.
And so it was fitting that the competition between Europe and the rest of the world, which he himself created, marked the end of an extraordinary career. Alongside Rafael Nadal, his rival with whom Federer has an excellent relationship. This was confirmed by the images that showed the two legends backstage during Andy Murray's match against Alex de Minaur.
Federer plays through the net
The fact that the Laver Cup is an invitational competition without any influence on the ATP world rankings did not seem to bother the players and certainly not the fans in the O2 Arena. Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe, the opponents on that historic Friday night, didn't feel like handing out gifts either. Sock is considered the best doubles player in the world in tennis circles, while Tiafoe defeated Nadal in singles at this year's US Open.
The first highlight of the match was to be a mistake by Federer, who basically played the ball through the net into the American field.
In terms of sport, Nadal and Federer showed their very efficient side: while Sock and Tiafoe missed their break chance in the ninth game, "Fedal" used their first set ball to make it 6:4. Sock/Tiafoe retaliated early in the second act, making the break to make it 2-1. Federer and Nadal hit back to 3: 3, everything balanced again. In the eleventh game, Frances Tiafoe took the initiative - as a setback, mind you. But Nadal fended off a 0:40 and three more break chances. A tie-break was fixed just before midnight London local time.
A match tiebreak ended his career
The Americans started with a mini break, Federer countered with a volley point to make it 1: 2, after a mistake by Nadal the guests were ahead again, sides were changed at 4: 2 for Sock and Tiafoe. There shouldn't be a point for Federer and Nadal.
Roger Federer's career ended with a match tiebreak. The Europeans quickly led 3-0, with Sock and Tiafoe leveling almost effortlessly. After that, Sock packs an incredible rescue stroke. After twelve points played, the situation was still balanced. When the score was 7: 7, Tiafoe Federer nailed a ball to his back, the next mini break. But the answer followed immediately - equalization again. And then the first match point for Federer and Nadal after a forehand error by Frances Tiafoe.
But it didn't go that fast. Another change of sides at 9:9. Tiafoe unpacked a forehand hammer, now he and Sock had their first match point. And Jack Sock converted that with a forehand passing shot. After the first day of the Laver Cup 2022 it is 2:2.
What followed were tears from the maestro. And congratulations from all sides.