LONDON—This day, this match, had to come, of course, for Roger Federer, and for tennis, just as it inevitably must for every athlete in every sport.
Federer was bidding farewell Friday night with one last contest before he heads into retirement at age 41 after an illustrious career that included 20 Grand Slam titles and a role as a statesman for tennis. He was playing a doubles match alongside his rival Rafael Nadal for Team Europe in the Laver Cup against Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock of Team World.
Team Europe’s Roger Federer (R) of Switzerland and Rafael Nadal of Spain gesture before a match Team Europe’s Andy Murray against Team World’s Alex de Minaur on day one of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 in London on Sept. 23, 2022. (Kin Cheung/AP Photo)
“For me, just personally, [it was] sad in the first moment, when I came to the conclusion it’s the best decision,” Federer said in an interview with The Associated Press this week about his emotions when realizing it was time to go. “I kind of held it in at first, then fought it off. But I could feel the pain.”…