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COMICS Thursday 22 sepTember 2022
Federer's farewell to be in doubles; comeback? 'No, no, no'
By HOWARD FENDRICH shirt, Federer took questions scan back, which wasn't referred to retirement as a will be missed — everything
AP Tennis Writer from various media outlets what I wanted it to be," Fe- "bittersweet decision." he brought to tennis on the
LONDON (AP) — Roger during the news confer- derer explained. He was asked Wednesday court and off."
Federer leaned back on ence ahead of the team "At some point, you sit at the news conference Those sentiments were
a couch, the picture of echoed by other Laver
relaxation in a navy blue Cup players, such as 2021
pullover, black jogger French Open runner-up
pants and white sneakers. Stefanos Tsitsipas ("My big-
He had just showered and gest memory of him is
changed after a practice watching him lift trophies at
session Wednesday at the almost every Grand Slam
arena that will be used for he played when I was a
the final match of his ca- kid") or U.S. Open semifinal-
reer, grinning as he talked ist Frances Tiafoe ("I don't
about getting into the flow think we'll see another guy
with a racket in hand. like Roger — the way he
"It was funny, hitting on the played, and the grace he
court — nice lighting, nice did it with, and who he is as
everything — how your an individual").
level starts going up, you As for Federer's doubles
know?" he said in an inter- partner for the last hurrah?
view with The Associated Federer would not say de-
Press, following a farewell finitively — he said that's up
news conference. "Where- to Borg — but the not-so-
as if you play at home, hidden secret is that it is ex-
in like just a normal ten- pected to be Nadal, who
nis hall, things are fast, the holds the men's record of
lights aren't great, advertis- 22 major championships.
ing is all around you, you While other contempo-
can never find this kind of raries of Federer and stars
rhythm." of the sport are on Team Eu-
So is it time to cancel his re- rope, such as 21-time Slam
tirement? champ Novak Djokovic
"No," he said with a laugh. and three-time major win-
"No. No. No." ner Andy Murray, the Fe-
Federer is known for his el- derer vs. Nadal matchup
egant style of play, for his Switzerland's Roger Federer waves during a media conference ahead of the Laver Cup tennis will go down in history as
longevity, for his 20 Grand tournament at the O2 in London, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. among the greatest rival-
Slam titles — and for oc- Associated Press ries in tennis or any other
casional tears in his most sport.
emotional post-match mo- competition founded by his down and go, 'OK, we are what aspect was most bit- They played each other
ments, whether after vic- management company. at an intersection here, at ter and what was most 40 times in all (Nadal won
tory or defeat. "I'm nervous going in, be- a crossroad, and you have sweet. 26), with 14 Grand Slam
There was none of that sort cause I haven't played in to take a turn. Which way "The bitterness: You always matchups (Nadal won 10).
of sadness Wednesday, just so long," he said. "I hope I is it?' I was not willing to go want to play forever," he Nadal came out on top in
some chuckles at his own can be somewhat com- into the direction of: 'Let's said. "I love being out on their classic 2008 Wimble-
jokes, as Federer discussed petitive." risk it all.' I'm not ready for court. I love playing against don final, considered by
his retirement from profes- Federer, who announced that. I always said that was the guys. I love traveling. ... some the greatest match
sional tennis at age 41 after last week via social media never my goal." It was all perfect. I love my in history; Federer won their
a series of knee operations. that he would be retiring And the hardest part came career from every angle." last showdown, in the 2019
He will close his playing after the Laver Cup, said it when he knew he needed And then he added: "The semifinals at the All England
days with a doubles match took him a bit to get used to stop. sweet part was that I know Club.
at the Laver Cup on Friday to the idea of stepping "You're sad," Federer said, everybody has to do it at "It could be quite, I don't
— perhaps alongside long- away from competition. "in the very moment when one point; everybody has know, a unique situation, if
time rival Rafael Nadal. But it was something he un- you realize, 'OK, this is the to leave the game. It's been it were to happen," Feder-
Federer said he is at peace derstood he needed to do end.'" a great, great journey. For er said about the doubles
with the decision to walk after running into setbacks The last procedure on his that, I'm really grateful." pairing.
away, which comes a few in July during his rehabilita- knee came shortly after a He will play doubles for As for his future?
weeks after Serena Williams tion from what was his third quarterfinal loss to Hubert Team Europe against Team The father of two sets of
played what is expected surgery on his right knee in Hurkacz at Wimbledon in World on Day 1 of the twins — girls who are 13;
to be her last match at the about 1 1/2 years. July 2021, which will go event, and then give way boys who are 8 — wouldn't
U.S. Open, and he wants "You try to go to the next into the books as the last to 2021 Wimbledon runner- say exactly what he has
this farewell to be a cel- level in training, and I could singles match of a superla- up Matteo Berrettini for planned, other than a va-
ebration. feel it was getting difficult. tive career that began in singles over the weekend. cation, but he did say he
"I really don't want it to be ... Then, I guess, I was also the 1990s and included 103 That plan was run by the would remain connected
a funeral," Federer said. "I getting more tired, be- tournament titles, a Davis ATP and both team cap- to tennis in some capacity.
want it to be really happy cause you have to put Cup championship for Swit- tains, John McEnroe and Recalling the way Borg
and powerful and party more effort into it to be zerland, Olympic medals Bjorn Borg, Federer said. stayed away from the sport
mode." able to sort of believe that and hundreds of weeks at "I grew up watching him, for years after retiring, Fe-
Wearing a blue blazer with it was going to turn around. No. 1 in the ATP rankings. rooting for him, trying to derer sought to reassure his
the sleeves rolled up to his You start getting too pes- In his online farewell mes- learn from him," Berrettini own fans by saying: "I won't
elbows and a white polo simistic. Then I also got a sage last week, Federer said. "His charisma, his class be a ghost."q