No farewell trophy for Roger Federer.
The Swiss champion who played his last match in London in the night between Friday and Saturday, paired with Rafael Nadal, was counting on team Europe to lift the 'Rod Laver Cup', yet another trophy of an inimitable career.
Instead, for the first time in five editions, the Rest of the World triumphed at the 02 Arena.
But keeping faith with his reputation for refinement, Federer attended the awards ceremony for his rivals, congratulating them on their success: "Congratulations to Team World, an incredible comeback - Federer said -. For me it was really exciting, but it also amused me. a lot. I'm looking forward to next year. I'll be there too, cheering both teams from a different position. "
The selection of European tennis players - a battleship formed by Federer and Nadal, who however both left after their match, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas, with Matteo Berrettini and Cameron Norrie reserve - were in the lead after the matches on Saturday and Sunday but suffered three decisive defeats on the third day in which, as per regulation, three points were awarded for each victory (against one point in the first and two in the second).
Sunday opened with the double success of Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jack Sock against Berrettini and Murray (2-6, 6-3, 10-8. Then the Canadian defeated a sore Djokovic 6-3, 7-6 to one arm and uselessly spurred on by the blue. The American Frances Tiafoe was the one who definitively sank the European battleship,
who beat the Greek Tsitsipas in comeback (1-6, 7-6, 10/8) and brought his team to a score of 13-8, an unbridgeable margin in the last match left to play.
Tiafoe had suffered heavy criticism on social media, together with compatriot Sock, for the 'nastiness' played in the doubles against Federer and Nadal, seen by many as a lack of respect by many fans, but the Swiss was among the warmest in applauding him for his beautiful victory.
To cheer, for the first time.
it was then the captain of the Rest of the World, John McEnroe, under the eyes of his ancient rival, Bjorn Borg, who drove the super big favorite of the eve.
together with fellow countryman Sock, for the 'nastiness' fielded in the doubles against Federer and Nadal, seen by many as a lack of respect by many fans, but the Swiss was among the warmest in applauding him for the beautiful victory.
To cheer, for the first time.
it was then the captain of the Rest of the World, John McEnroe, under the eyes of his ancient rival, Bjorn Borg, who drove the super big favorite of the eve.
together with fellow countryman Sock, for the 'nastiness' fielded in the doubles against Federer and Nadal, seen by many as a lack of respect by many fans, but the Swiss was among the warmest in applauding him for the beautiful victory.
To cheer, for the first time.
it was then the captain of the Rest of the World, John McEnroe, under the eyes of his ancient rival, Bjorn Borg, who drove the super big favorite of the eve.