Emotional Roger Federer bows out of tennis with Laver Cup defeat

An era in the world of sports came to a heartbreaking end in the early hours of Saturday as Roger Federer tied his boot lace to enthrall lovers of tennis for the one last time.

Roger ended his glittering career of 20-time Grand Slam wins as he returned to the court to play alongside Rafael Nadal with whom he shared one of tennis' greatest ever rivalries.

The stage at the sellout crowd at London’s O2 Arena, the final of the Laver Cup however did not serve him up the way he would have liked. The duo of Roger and Rafa went down to Team World's Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 11-9.

But the game and its result hardly mattered at all because of the emotion the entire world of tennis fraternity and lovers of other sports.

41-year-old Roger who seemed to have defied the odds of age in a high-fitness sport like tennis has been out of action since 2021 Wimbledon due to a knee injury.

And his time to hang up his boots was calling sooner than later when he announced that this Laver Cup outing would be his last match in his career. But the Swiss rolled back his years as he alongside Nadal presented a scintillating display of sportsmanship.

The Swiss is leaving the stage almost 19 years after winning his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2003. He bows out with a record eight Wimbledon crowns, and 103 titles overall.

Sports lovers flooded social media platforms sharing poignant moments of the Swiss alongside Nadal and other tennis greats. 

How are we getting over this? @rogerfederer | @RafaelNadal | #RForever pic.twitter.com/cpOfSznp4X

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 24, 2022

"... to be saying goodbye on a team, I always felt I was a team player at heart. Singles doesn't really do that but I've had a team that travelled with me around the world. It's been amazing with them, so thanks to everybody who made it work for so many years." #RForever pic.twitter.com/vfeIWkFOln

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 24, 2022