Roger Federer closes his professional story and opens his legend

The day has finally come. After 24 years of career, 310 weeks as world number one and with 20 Grand Slam titles under his arm, Roger Federer said goodbye to professionalism. It was an emotional farewell to the Laver Cup, where he played a double with Nadal and they fell in an agonizing super tie-break.

Under the deafening ovation of an audience dedicated to his figure and his history, Roger Federer jumped on a tennis court for the last time as a professional. He did it accompanied by Rafael Nadal, in what is already, a few hours later, an emblematic postcard of modern tennis. Together, with laughter and complicit gestures, as if the greatest rivalry in history had not occurred between them. And it is that the same has transformed them into friends, when he could well have put them in an abyss for each other.

That’s why the farewell was full of emotional details. London, the city where he won Wimbledon eight times and the Masters Tournament twice. The Laver Cup, the tournament he imagined with his representative and which he has strongly promoted in recent years. Stefan Edberg, his childhood idol, making the draw . Each gesture was meticulously chosen to celebrate a day that paralyzed tennis in the 21st century.

A decision that hurt the fans, but that was understood during these days. With 41 years and a rebellious knee , which had prevented him from playing for the past two seasons, the Swiss is no longer here to stay on the circuit. Having no chance of being able to play a single due to physical problems, during the doubles duel, he also clarified that his legs did not react in the same way. Vision and touch remained perfect though, as Federer’s best parting shot was the play in the net.

But all that didn’t stop him from celebrating in the first set. It was 6-4 for the pair who together have 42 Grand Slam titles . They started slower and with little shooting, but little by little they prepared, managing to break through in the ninth game of the set. The stadium exploded and teammates including Djokovic ran to congratulate the Swiss and the Spaniard.

In the second that yes the doubts arrived. Despite the fact that they started well and even managed to come back from a breakdown, fatigue started to set in and they ended up losing the tie-break 6-2.

Already in the super tie-break of the third set, the farewell was finalized. At first it looked like the European duo were going to celebrate, but after an agonizing game, where they had a match point in favor They fell 11-9. The farewell was with a hug with colleagues and rivals. Total show in a court where even Nadal ended in tears.

Thus ends one of the most impressive stories in sport. Federer’s career is not only measured in trophies and victories, but also in relation to the global impact his figure has generated and in this regard, there seems to be no one greater than him. His tenure as a tennis player is coming to an end, but his legacy is just beginning.