Roger Federer reveals he could come out of retirement in Rafael Nadal Laver Cup vow
By Ewan West,
2024-06-19
Roger Federer has divulged he would be willing to come out of retirement to play doubles with Rafael Nadal at this year’s Laver Cup.
The Swiss icon admitted he does not expect to partner Nadal in doubles at the team competition, but vowed to play if the Spaniard were to ask him.
Federer played the final match of his incredible 24-year career at the 2022 Laver Cup in London, where he partnered his great rival and friend Nadal on the doubles court. The legendary duo were beaten 4-6, 7-6(2), 11-9 by Team World’s Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe.
The pair also joined forces in doubles at the inaugural 2017 edition of the event in Prague, where they defeated Sock and Sam Querrey 6-4, 1-6, 10-5.
Nadal is one of four players, along with Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev, who has been confirmed for Team Europe’s six-man squad for the 2024 Laver Cup. This year’s edition of the team event will be held in Berlin from September 20-22.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport , Federer was asked about the possibility of partnering Nadal again in doubles at the Laver Cup.
“I don’t think we’ll play doubles together at Laver. But if he asks me, I’ll be there,” declared the Swiss.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion also addressed comparisons between Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz ‘s developing rivalry to his rivalry with Nadal.
“I hadn’t thought about it, but yes, Sinner and Alcaraz have a rivalry like Nadal and I. I think that each tennis player has their own rivalries and in many ways it is still too early to talk about it,” Federer said.
“But Sinner and Alcaraz are from the same generation, they are very strong and respect each other a lot. They both started off on the right foot in tennis and theirs promises to be a great battle. It’s beautiful to see them play.”
Federer, who represented Team Europe at the Laver Cup in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022, played the last match of his singles career at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, where he lost to Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion underwent three surgeries on his right knee between 2020 and 2021, with the injury largely restricting him from competing after the 2020 Australian Open.
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