Tributes have flooded Twitter as legendary professional tennis player, Roger Federer, played his last game at the Laval Cup in London. He paired with colleague Rafael Nadal for his last game which is being held in the O2 Arena.
About a week ago, Roger Federer announced in a statement that the 2022 Laval Cup will be the last game of his career which spans some 24 years.
“As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries. I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form. But I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been dear…,” a part of Roger’s statement reads.
An emotional final farewell.#LaverCup | @rogerfederer pic.twitter.com/lSZb9KfvbN
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 23, 2022
Roger further indicated in the statement that “The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in Grand Slams or on the tour.”
However, as the tournament started, many fans and followers of the tennis player could not hold back their emotions as they would be seeing Roger played before them for the last time.
Some have taken to social media platform, Twitter, to pay their tributes to a legend who won a total of 20 Grand Slam titles as single.
“Rafael Nadal is every Tennis fan right now watching Roger Federer retiring from Tennis! Thank you for changing tennis forever, Federer! The World will miss…,” a fan, Vishal Verma, tweeted.
Another fan, Nikhila, is of the view that the tennis community will not have a man like Roger any time soon.
“What an extraordinary and unique way to go into retirement, just like Roger Federer’s career and talent. Truly one of its kind. We’ll probably never see anything like this again,” she tweeted.
Check below some tributes
Watching Novak Djokovic cry during Roger Federer's retirement shows that despite the rivalry they are still human at the end of the day and have enormous respect for one another.
This is what tennis is all about. 👏 pic.twitter.com/PFSCwLSidD
— Danny 🐊 (@DjokovicFan_) September 23, 2022
Roger Federer , Roger's Wife Mirka and Rafa are crying 😭😭😭
Welcome to the retirement club, Roger Federer!
Enjoy your retirement 👏Thank you for everything Roger#ThankYouRoger pic.twitter.com/wgnsKPcuah
— Mehedi Shawon (@VamosRafa___) September 23, 2022
One of the greatest athletes of all time retired today.
Thank you Roger Federer. 👏🐐pic.twitter.com/CpRdeyR95B
— The CR7 Timeline. (@TimelineCR7) September 23, 2022
THANKYOU ROGER FEDERER💔
WE WILL MISS YOU😭— Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (@alexdavidovich1) September 23, 2022
It’s tough seeing Roger Federer’s career end.
He’s an incredible tennis player, good at business, and a genuinely great person, but it’s a brutal reminder that the best era of tennis we’ve ever seen is slowly coming to an end.
Cheers to retirement, @rogerfederer!
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) September 23, 2022
I personally think that every tennis match at every tournament from now on should just randomly cut away to show us what Roger Federer is having for lunch.
— Scott Barclay (@BarclayCard18) September 23, 2022
thank you for everything roger federer, in moments like this words can seem so futile but you’re an artist who has transformed the landscape of tennis and for that we will remain eternally grateful. long live your legacy! 💙 pic.twitter.com/KwOKNBxkH8
— ⋆·˚ ༘ * (@taylorintupelo) September 23, 2022
Roger Federer just makes people care. He makes people cry. He makes people laugh. He makes people stressed. He makes people nervous. He makes people feel a part of something bigger than a single match. One giant celebration of tennis. He’s been a true living calendar for many!
— Vansh (@vanshv2k) September 24, 2022
You can use this link to follow the tributes.
Source: NBA Republic