Roger Federer has admitted he did not want to take the mic following his final match as a professional player. The 41-year-old broke down in tears after losing a doubles match alongside old rival Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Federer announced earlier this month he would be hanging up his racquet following the tournament in London. His participation at the event was in doubt following the knee injuries he has struggled with in recent years.
He was only fit to play a doubles match and got his wish of doing so on the same side of the net as Nadal. Team Europe lost to the Team World pair of Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe but that did not prevent Federer from bidding an emotional farewell to the crowd afterwards.
Four-time Grand Slam singles champion Jim Courier called the former world No 1 over for the on-court interview post match. Federer broke down in tears on several occasions during the chat, and Nadal was also clearly emotional while dealing with the situation.
Speaking in his press conference afterwards, Federer admitted he knew taking the mic was always going to end one way. He said: “Well, this is the part I was extremely worried about, taking the microphone.
“All I told Tony [Godsick, Federer’s agent] was I want to be able to have an evening where I do not have to take the mic. Maybe you think it’s logical that I have to take the mic.
“In my mind I don’t, just because I know how impossible I am on the mic when I am emotional, because I had it many times before. But I was able to remind myself always on the court again how wonderful this is.”
Federer admitted he has been “scared” of the moment his career would come to an end for several weeks. However, he pointed out the many positives he has following the conclusion of a glittering spell in the sport.
He added: “This is not the end-end, you know, life goes on. I’m healthy, I’m happy, everything’s great, and this is just a moment in time, you know. This is obviously supposed to be like this.
“So it’s okay, and this is how I was able to always get a second wind, and like really able to at least say everything I have wanted, I believe. I was able to get to all those places. Jim helped me.
“He was very nice. It was wonderful. Weeks ago, for a fact, I was so scared of this moment that it really worried me.”
