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Roger Federer has explained wherefore helium decided the Laver Cup was the opportune infinitesimal to discontinue and debar a lonely and bittersweet goodbye to tennis.
The Swiss icon volition stock a tribunal astatine The O2 Arena successful London with a chap fable of the sport, Rafael Nadal, earlier calling clip connected an illustrious career.
Federer and Nadal volition signifier portion of the six-man Team Europe side, which besides features Novak Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud and Andy Murray.
Watch Roger Federer's farewell from tennis successful the star-studded Laver Cup betwixt Team Europe and Team World. Streaming ad-free, unrecorded and exclusive connected Stan Sport connected September 23-25
Speaking up of this weekend's three-day tournament, which gets underway connected Friday, Federer said helium didn't privation a bittersweet send-off connected his own.
"I thought London is precise fitting for maine being my past 1 because, similar you said, down the roadworthy astatine Wimbledon I've won truthful overmuch present astatine the World Tour finals," Federer told Sky Sports.
"I qualified truthful often times and I had the accidental to play The O2. I conscionable thought it would beryllium fantastic having [Björn] Borg connected the chair, having the top players connected the satellite close present alongside me, and I conscionable felt it wouldn't consciousness lonely.
"Because often erstwhile you retire, you're unsocial connected the court. You've astir apt conscionable mislaid your past lucifer and you're each affectional and talking however overmuch it meant to you being successful the game, and I thought I didn't privation that – I didn't privation that bittersweet moment, I wanted to beryllium blessed and much similar a party, enactment mode, and I anticipation we're going to get that astatine The O2 this weekend."
Federer's aboriginal successful the athletics was thrown successful uncertainty past twelvemonth erstwhile helium bowed retired of Wimbledon successful the quarter-finals.
Shortly thereafter, helium underwent country connected his close knee. It was the 3rd specified country crossed an 18-month span.
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Ultimately, the toll of tennis had go excessively strenuous and the 'Fed Express' decided to perceive to his body.
For his chap Team Europe stablemates, it'll beryllium an accidental to stock the signifier 1 past clip with the antheral who spent 237 consecutive weeks arsenic the satellite fig 1 – and 310 each told.
"The accidental to beryllium connected the squad with Rafa, Novak and Roger, 1 past time, is going to beryllium astonishing and I deliberation the send-off that he's going to get is going to beryllium truly special," said Andy Murray.
Novak Djokovic added: "I deliberation helium inspired each of america and galore different tennis players astir the satellite to imagination to go arsenic bully arsenic helium is.
"He was connected the circuit for truthful galore years. His elegance connected the court, the mode helium conscionable played tennis is astir apt unmatched successful past with truthful overmuch easiness and truthful overmuch efficacy arsenic good and the results talk for themselves.
"He's 1 of the top players ever successful the past and decidedly a subordinate that has changed the crippled successful galore ways. As Andy mentioned, 4 of america connected the team, a once-in-a-lifetime accidental and acquisition and we'll effort to marvel it arsenic overmuch arsenic we can."
WHAT IS THE LAVER CUP?
The Laver Cup is simply a team-based contention and created to honour 1 of the world's top tennis players, Rod Laver.
The lawsuit is made up of 5 events implicit 3 days. Singles and doubles matches are 3 sets.
The winning squad is who reaches 13 points. A lucifer triumph connected Friday earns 1 point, Saturday wins gain 2 points, and Sunday wins gain 3 points.
Each subordinate contests astatine slightest 1 singles lucifer but nary much than doubly crossed the 3 days.
Four of the six members indispensable play doubles, but nary operation is played much than erstwhile – notwithstanding a decider connected time 3 if the points are each quadrate astatine 12 apiece.
WHO ARE THE PREVIOUS WINNERS?
Team Europe has won each variation of the Laver Cup since it began successful 2017.
WHO IS PLAYING IN THE LAVER CUP?
Team Europe volition beryllium represented by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud.
Team World volition tract Felix Auger-Aliassime, Taylor Fritz, Diego Schwartzman, Frances Tiafoe, Jack Sock and Australia's ain Alex De Minaur.
WHO ARE THE TEAM CAPTAINS?
Björn Borg is the skipper of Team Europe portion John McEnroe is the skipper of Team World.
WHEN IS IT AND HOW CAN I WATCH THE ACTION?
The Laver Cup takes spot crossed September 23-25. Stan Sport volition transportation each 3 days of enactment from Friday done to Sunday.
STAN SPORT FRIDAY SCHEDULE
9:30pm – Day One – Day Session
STAN SPORT SATURDAY SCHEDULE
4am – Day One – Night Session
10pm – Day Two – Day Session
STAN SPORT SUNDAY SCHEDULE
9pm – Day Three – Day Session
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