‘Federer: Twelve Final Days’ Review: An emotional yet bland revisit of an icon's swansong

What makes for a good memoir? A good documentary on an icon’s life? The barest of requirements would be for the film to provide an insiders account that even the most avid experts won’t know. A behind-the-scenes account of what goes on inside the subject matter’s head? Maybe another is to dispel notions that exist around complex subjects.

There’s The Two Escobars, Senna, Diego Maradona, The Last Dance, Lance and Muhammad Ali. Two of these documentaries - Senna and Diego Maradona - made by Asif Kapadia - stand out for its usage of archival footage to probe the brains (and the genius) behind two of the greatest sporting icons of all time.

With his latest offering, ‘Federer: Twelve Final Days’, Kapadia and video content producer Joe Sabia, look to showcase and unravel the last 12 days of Roger Federer - yet another sporting icon but a much different personality than his previous subjects. The near 90 minute long hagiograhic documentary feels like an officially approved promo for brand Federer while providing multiple tear-jerker moments.

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Maradona, Senna and Kapadia’s another, “Amy” on musician Amy Winehouse, all dealt with subjects that were not black-and-white in their temperament and yet geniuses at their trade. Federer, on the other, has been graceful, gentlemanly and in control on and off the court throughout his career. For better or for worse, ‘Federer: Twelve Final Days’ follows the same path.

The documentary captures the last 12 days in Federer’s journey from announcing his retirement in secret with only a few close friends and family in the know before the shocking announcement is made on social media. It then travels, mostly, around his last appearance at the 2022 Laver Cup surrounded by his peers, legends he looked up to and while sharing the court with his foe-turned-friend Rafael Nadal.

Much like the Senna and Maradona documentaries, the makers venture into the path of using archival footage of Federer’s early years in Basel, playing football, as a ball boy, as a junior in Switzerland and at Wimbledon. But its usage to tell a story looks flat with focus more on protecting the personal nature of Federer.

The archival footage works beautifully when used to highlight the longevity of the former World No. 1’s career where him tying the bandana as a teenager is shown side-by-side with his last competitive match at 41 years old.

There’s another missed opportunity, maybe by design, to highlight Federer’s not-so-good side. Moments when he would throw his racket, yell at chair umpires, snap at opponents, at officials as an attempt at being an alpha-male when speaking about Novak Djokovic.

“Roger Federer fans didn’t like Novak in the beginning because Roger’s like easy and Novak came in with his strong personality, grit and win at all costs (approach). I know it is something I’ve criticised a lot. Why won’t I fight more when I’m losing. I didn’t quite understand - do I have to grunt more, sweat more, shout more, be more aggressive towards my opponent. What is it? I tried and it was all an act. I’m not like that and it’s not my personality,” says Federer on camera. This was the moment to press and ask: when did it all start? when did it end? How did it end? What was the conversation towards it? Alas, we don’t find out.

Unlike some of the other sports documentaries, this one, due to its subject, doesn’t necessarily descend into hyperboles. But the discussion over how athletes feel retirement is a test-run for confronting death and reflections on injuries hurting him and his family feel remarkably honest.

“Alps are shedding a tear,” says Federer’s long-time agent Tony Godsick on a call with Anna Wintour, a tennis fan and editor-in-chief of Vogue, moments before the retirement was due to become official. “An athlete dies twice,” says Federer’s coach Severin Luthi moments before he is due to take court in London for the Laver Cup.

“I’m happy sad. We had the best time together. He would like to play forever. I would be there to support Roger,” says wife Mirka, a former player herself, who has been through it all.

The chronologically presented documentary proceeds from the retirement announcement, the PR machinery involved, the nervousness of it being leaked to the eventually preparation for D-Day: playing at Laver Cup, a tournament Federer created to honour the former Australian champion.

At the 2022 Laver Cup, there is little emphasis on Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe and Laver and more on Federer’s long-time rivals Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray.

heading to dinner with some friends @RafaelNadal @andy_murray @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/2oYR3hnGaZ

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 22, 2022

While Federer admits to holding a competitive rivalry with Britain’s Murray and Djokovic earning his respect through his attitude, it is his relationship with Nadal that stands out for its most touching moments.

From his emergence on the tour as Federer’s young opponent, eventually his greatest rival, before forming a friendship that has built a legacy for the current tennis tour as it stands. A friendship so strong that the Spaniard was aware of the retirement 10 days before it became official.

“Individuals are easier to improve when you have positive examples in front and I had this in Roger. I missed him the last couple of years on the tour. For the rest of my time on the tour, I will miss him,” says Nadal of Federer.

The rivalry on the court and friendship off it is something that both legends acknowledge is hard to grasp for many. Murray, in the Laver Cup press conference, summed up the setting perfectly as the duo were named to compete in the doubles.

“You think about when should you stop, when is the right moment, how would you like it to be.. to me, I think it feels right. Seeing him and Rafa on the same side of the net together and finishing their careers. There’s no better ways than going out like this,” said the now 37-year-old.

Highlights from the match between Nadal/Federer and Jack Sock/Frances Tiafoe are staged well with the directors using up-close footage of Federer and Nadal with the aging greats in action. The match, and its outcome, itself is of little consequence - as a tennis fan or as a watcher of the documentary itself.

It is the moments off the court that bring a tear to the eye (again!) as Nadal and Federer, two of the greatest athletes of all time, break down with the latter heading into the sunset after four surgeries - going against his long-held principle of not going under the knife.

Then there are novel moments that make things interesting: shop talk between Nadal and Matteo Berrettini over Lorenzo Sonego’s extended grunt as Federer pokes fun at Borg; small talk over formal shirts between Djokovic and Federer; the shuttling between hotel, promos and numerous press conferences to name a few.

As the curtain is drawn, on Federer’s career and the documentary, you leave with emotional words by Nadal and Mirka - two of the biggest constants in the Swiss player’s 24-year professional career which saw him play over 1500 matches.

Nadal says, “The feeling before a Grand Slam final with Roger is different. Different atmosphere, different kind of pressure, to know that I will not have this feeling again for the rest of my life is something that’s painful. Even if we had a great rivalry on the court, we were able to have a great friendship off the court. And that is something that is very difficult to find in this competitive world.”

As Federer returns to the hotel after a draining last day, he is met with his daughter and Mirka. “I will miss seeing him play tennis. I’m just happy to live with him, be with him. I’m always going to be there for him and so excited to have him in my life,” says the 46-year-old.

Yet, for all the film’s access to his last few days, including the decision to approve this film, which goes unanswered, plenty remains untapped. If you’re a Federer fan, stay, watch and weep (again). If not, there is not enough depth or drama to cater to a wider audience.

‘Federer: Twelve Final Days’ is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.