That's it, tennis legend Roger Federer hung up his racket tonight (between Friday and Saturday), when he left the court for the last time at the end of a doubles match in the Rod Labour Cup.
The 41-year-old Swiss teamed up with his great rival, but also an esteemed friend, Rafael Nadal, in an intriguing match in which the two succumbed to the pair of Jack Sock and Fernandes Tiafou, who won at the end of three sets 6:4, 6:7, 9:11.
It was a thrilling match, but in practice no one cared about the result, knowing that Federer would later say goodbye to the game in which he had starred for more than two decades.
Accompanied by the captain of the team, Bjorn Borg, a tennis legend from the 70s, he said goodbye to the crowd of spectators who cheered him throughout the match, at every point and at every possible moment.
When it was time to say goodbye, Federer - known as an emotional and sensitive man - burst into uncontrollable tears, which also infected the crowd of fans, who witnessed a historic moment in world tennis.
Federer.
He could not hold back the tears, photo: AP
Federer ends his career with 20 Grand Slam titles, 310 weeks as world number one, including a record number of 237 consecutive weeks as number 1.
The retirement comes nearly five years after he won his last Grand Slam title, which he did at the Australian Open in January 2018. It was one of 103 ATP titles he won throughout his career.
If this doesn't move you, nothing will.
One of the all time greats in any sport for so many reasons.
Everyone has their favorite sporting heroes.
Federer was mine.
Class to the last.
We'll miss him #Federer pic.twitter.com/vPmOmzOB4Y
— Kevin Palmer (@RealKevinPalmer) September 24, 2022
At the end of the match Federer said: For me it's a happy day.
I'm happy, not sad.
It feels great to be here.
I enjoyed playing one more time, knowing that every action I do on the field is done for the last time."
Federer continued: "I feel great playing here alongside friends and legends like Nadal, Novak (Djokovic) Bjorn Borg, Stefan Edberg. Thank you."
At this point, Federer burst into tears again, but he quickly came to his senses.
With that, the tennis world said goodbye to a giant legend, in tears, as Federer finished his words and said: "It was a celebration for me, and I want to thank each and every one of the participants. Thank you for the wonderful journey."
"No I am not crying, you are!"
That's his fiercest rival Rafael Nadal sitting beside him - A great rivalry but even greater Friendships!
Nadal is every Tennis fan sobbing right now after watching Roger Federer retire from the tennis, Fedal Forever! #Federer #RogerFederer𓃵 pic.twitter.com/U8ghWo56IL
— Vishal Verma (@VishalVerma_9) September 24, 2022 Were we wrong?
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