Roger Federer bid adieu to tennis Friday night at the Laver Cup. Rafa Nadal and Federer lost to Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock in doubles play 4-6, 7-6 (2), 11-9, marking the last match of Federer's career.
They came ready to roar for him, some with Swiss flags, some with homemade signs , and they made themselves heard with a wall of sound when Federer delivered a forehand volley winner on the match’s second point. Similar reactions arrived merely at the chair umpire’s announcement before the third game of “Roger Federer to serve,” and again when he closed that game with a 117 mph service winner.
Doubles requires far less movement and court coverage, of course, so the stress on Federer’s knee was limited Friday. He showed touches of his old flair, to be sure, and of rust, as to be expected. Although this match amounted to, essentially, a glorified exhibition, all four doubles participants played as if they wanted to win. That was clear when Sock, a three-time major champion in doubles who is 29, leaped and screamed after one particularly terrific volley or when Tiafoe, 24, sent a couple of shots right at Federer and Nadal.Federer and Nadal were able to laugh after a bit of confusion over which should go for a ball on a point they lost.