Laver Cup 2022: Roger Federer heads into retirement by losing doubles alongside Rafael Nadal

In images: Federer’s peers lift him up in celebration

But possibly one of the most iconic image from the night will be Federer and Nadal sitting on the same bench and reduced to tears

In images: Federer gets an emotional goodbye

Roger Federer on court: 

“I told the guys, I’m happy, I’m sad. I enjoyed tying my shoes one more time. Funny enough, having everyone here, didn’t feel stress as much. Nothing went wrong. Playing with Rafa in the same team, having legends all around.. Rocket, Edberg.. thank you.”

“It is amazing, really is. I didn’t want to feel lonely tonight. I always felt like a team player. Thanks to all in my team who travelled with me. To my current team. I wanted it to be celebration and that’s what I got and hoped for”

“Never supposed to be a long journey. It’s been a perfect journey. I would do this all over again. It was always about playing with friends. It’s been great, so much fun. I’ve had so many people cheer me on, you guys tonight. Thank you!”

“Everyone from my family is here tonight. So much over the last 13 years. The girls, the boys, my wife’s been so supportive. She could have stopped me long time ago, she allowed me to go on. To my parents, thanks for everything.”

“It’s been an amazing journey, thank you everybody”

Team World level the Laver Cup

MATCH TEAM WORLD! Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe beat Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal 4-6, 7-6, 11-9

Team Europe 2-2 Team World after first day’s play

Laver Tiebreak

Federer’s serve is met with fierce accuracy from Tiafoe. He slaps it straight down and almost takes Nadal away with it. On the match point, Sock sees a huge gap down the line and he takes it. A winner down the line for Team World and they win this!

Laver Tiebreak

Match point #1: Federer’s forehand is into the net. Tough low ball to deal with and it doesn’t go up and over. 9-9

Laver Tiebreak

Tiafoe looks to go cross on the forehand but doesn’t get the pace right. It hits the net and Team Europe have match point on Federer serve.

Laver Tiebreak

Tiafoe pings Federer at the net and the crowd is not happy. Jeers for the American and Federer asks the crowd to not boo him. On the next, Federer with a thumping forehand return that doesn’t come back. 8-8!

Laver Tiebreak

ROGER MAGIC! Federer produces something out of nothing. The ball is dipping at Federer’s feet, he moves across, gets the angle right and places the ball into the corner for a volley winner. 7-7!

Laver Tiebreak

Sock’s serve is into the Federer backhand and the return goes long. 6-6 at the change of ends

Laver Tiebreak

Federer and Nadal bring the tiebreak to 4-4 with some convincing volleys of their own. Federer with good hands at the net and forces an error. Sock with lovely reflex volley to force an error and now Nadal with gorgeous touch to find the gap between the Americans. 5-5 and Federer serves an ace. He’s been very good with the serve tonight.

WHAT A SHOT FROM SOCK!

Nadal and Federer look to have the point won but Sock with an absolute ripper to get it back. Federer with a punch volley low and hard but Sock gets his racket to it and the ball beats Nadal at the net. What a shot!

Laver Tiebreak

Federer and Nadal take a 3-0 lead before Sock and Tiafoe claw back to win two straight points on their serve. 3-2 now. At the change of ends, it is 3-3. Nadal’s serve is returned high by Tiafoe and Federer’s volley goes long. HawkEye suggests that would have gone long if it had been left alone

Second set goes to Team World

Poor tiebreak for Team World, based on the Twitter timeline considering we have been cut off. The world feed of the Laver Cup has been disrupted… What timing. Sock-Tiafoe win the second set 7-6 (2) and we’re on to Laver tiebreak (first to 10 points)

Federer-Nadal 6-4, 6-5 Sock-Tiafoe

Tiafoe and Sock get out of the cage to force a tiebreak. From 30-30, they hold serve. Need touch of luck with a volley going over with the slightest touch of the racket. TIEBREAK!

Federer-Nadal 6-4, 5-5 Sock-Tiafoe

Tiafoe holds after being pushed to 30-30 and now it is Nadal whose serve is under the pump. Superb attacking tennis from Sock and Tiafoe to peg Nadal back and the desperate attempt at keeping the point going doesn’t work out. Nadal’s forehand hits the tape, goes over but wide. Three break points. One save with serve down the T and return into the net. Now, Tiafoe’s return is just wide. Very narrowly wide. One break point remains. Third saved! Sock’s forehand is a mishit and the ball goes long. Tiafoe is upset with himself on missing another return. Game point for Team Europe. And it goes away courtesy sensational tennis from Sock. He delivers a gorgeous dipping forehand which Federer is unable to get to. That was very good hitting from Jack. Back to deuce. Uh-oh double fault! Fourth break point of the game. Smashed! Federer with a difficult overhead to save the break point. Not easy with indoor courts, the lighting and the conditions. On deuce, Tiafoe gets the return into the corner and Team World have a fifth break point. Tiafoe looks to attack but Nadal’s forehand is far too difficult to pick up at the net. Fantastic rally! Nadal and Tiafoe go cross from the baseline before Sock and Federer trade some volleys before Jack gets the angle right to force another break point. The sixth. And this is saved too! Sock finds the net on the forehand and it is deuce once again. Nadal’s dipping and topspin heavy forehand gets the frame of Tiafoe’s racket and it is point to hold. Sock smacks the net on the return and what a hold this was! 6-5 to Team Europe

Federer-Nadal 6-4, 5-4 Sock-Tiafoe

Has Federer served for the last time in his career? He serves out wide on the ad side and Sock’s return goes long. 5-4 to Team Europe. Tiafoe serving to keep this match going

Federer/Nadal 6-4, 3-3 Sock/Tiafoe

BREAK! Team Europe have broken back and the second set is back on serve. A tricky call from the chair umpire to stop the play and hand Team Europe the break. TIafoe got a low ball up and over the net but the chair umpire is quick to stop play. It appears Tiafoe hit the ball twice which carried the ball over. The ball didn’t hit the ground twice as one would have assumed

Highlight: Nadal nearly pulls off a highlight-shot of the match

Great tennis from all four players with Nadal displaying great hands at the net

what a thrill, even for a missed shot. pic.twitter.com/b6TSZe1EB7

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) September 23, 2022

Rafa almost got the ball back from around the net post. Tiafoe runs across to the other side and gives the Spaniard a high 5 for brilliant attempt

Tiafoe is running over and clowning, but boy if that had gone in....... pic.twitter.com/uGpVdq0Zls

— Del🇪🇺 (@Stroppa_Del) September 23, 2022

Federer-Nadal 6-4, 1-2 Sock-Tiafoe

Federer and Nadal have the chance to break right back. One goes as the ball lands long. On the second, touch of confusion on both sides of the net. Tiafoe lets the ball go and Sock is late to react but gets it up and over. On the short ball, Federer jumps in for a winner but it is wide. Would have been better for Nadal. On third break point chance, Federer sends the serve return long and wide. Possibly the court, possibly rust of not playing for so long, possibly the age. In the end, Sock holds. Touch of luck with the volley from Jack but they’ll take it. 3-1 to Team World

Federer-Nadal 6-4, 1-2 Sock-Tiafoe

Error prone game from Team Europe and Team World get the break in the second set.

Highlight: Might not be a major tournament but it means plenty to Nadal, Federer to get a win

Might not be a major tournament but it means plenty to Nadal, Federer to get a win#Federer #ThankYouRoger

Laver Cup Live: https://t.co/pM7rlAMmT3 pic.twitter.com/uxRKvowC0I

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) September 23, 2022

Highlight: Hilarious moment in the Team Europe camp

Nadal: I need to go to the toilet

Federer: I’ll come with you! 

Rest of Team Europe follows ????

i can’t believe they all just collectively went to the toilet 🤣 pic.twitter.com/ab2hATZd9O

— isidora (@inspiredbyrafa) September 23, 2022

Last first set win for Roger Federer…

Beautiful to watch until the very last match. What a way to finish a career. Thank you @rogerfederer ❤️

— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) September 23, 2022

GAME, FIRST SET FEDERER-NADAL!

FIRST SET TO FEDERER-NADAL! Federer with a fierce forehand straight at Jack Sock and his volley is into the net.

Team Europe take the opening set 6-4

Team Europe 4-4 Team World

Nadal serving at 4-4 with the first set remaining on serve and the court not helping any of the players much. It has been slow and low which makes things tricky. 

Rafa: 'Its unbelievable when you don't play doubles... how slow you are at the net.'
ND: 'Why don't you have two hands on it?'
Rafa: 'Well, bc I don't have time! I don't see anything!' pic.twitter.com/QmvQrYxEZt

— Del🇪🇺 (@Stroppa_Del) September 23, 2022

Earlier, Stan Wawrinka beat Mikael Ymer in Metz, France and made his first ATP semi-final since 2020. Hes’s now tuned in to watch his former Davis Cup teammate play his last

Who’s watching ? 🍿😭@rogerfederer @RafaelNadal @LaverCup pic.twitter.com/4oEqQWTSrV

— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) September 23, 2022

At the changeover as Team Europe lead 3-2 and keep the first set on serve:

Djokovic: “The precision is there, buddy. You’re like a Swiss wall!”

Federer: “It wasn’t meant to be!”

Highlight: Federer finds a gap no one can see!

Only @rogerfederer 😂 pic.twitter.com/S5kc8lJOo0

— 🎾 (@justtennis_) September 23, 2022

Federer/Nadal 1-1 Sock/Tiafoe

Hah! Even in his final match, Federer can find angles that some can’t even see! There’s a small gap between the top of the tape and the flush part of the net and Roger finds it. Confusion over who gets the point. Replay confirms it did go through the net so point to Team World. In the end, Federer holds to make it 2-1 to Team Europe

Highlight moment: Federer and Nadal step up to the court amid loud reception

Please welcome to the black court, Team Europe's @rogerfederer and @RafaelNadal. #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/lnX3hOTMQc

— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 23, 2022

For one last time, Ivan Ljubicic and Severin Luthi are courtside

One last with Seve…. pic.twitter.com/hsHut48fuZ

— Ivan Ljubicic (@theljubicic) September 23, 2022