Relive Federer’s last match before the documentary was released

There is only one day left until fans can relive the last 12 days of Roger Federer’s career. On Thursday, FEDERER: The Last Twelve will be released on Prime Video.

Academy Award-winning director Asif Kapadia and co-director Joe Sabia provide unprecedented access to the end of Federer’s career, from the former PIF ATP Rankings No. 1’s decision to retire to his final moments on court.

In anticipation of the documentary’s release, ATPTour.com looks back at Federer’s final match at the 2022 Laver Cup.

The Swiss entered the court for the last time alongside his main rival Rafael Nadal.

The two have met 40 times in their famous Lexus ATP Head2Head series and an additional three times in tour-level doubles matches. But it was the first time they shared the same side of the field in an official match.

“Sometimes I was terribly nervous, like before the grand final, and I completely forgot because I was with the boys and we were joking. The old beauty comes out, and you forget about everything and have a good conversation. You forget that actually, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m going to play in 15 minutes’. That’s the way I’ve always been,” said Federer after the match. “Thank you for the times when I completely forgot about it, I slept well, everything was good, I could enjoy it, I feel it. And because of that I think I’ll be able to remember better how it happened, because if it’s all just stress and I just want it to be perfect, I know I’ll remember part of it. “

Team Europe’s Federer and Nadal lost the match — World Team Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock beat them 4-6, 7-6(2), 11-9. But fans will remember the emotion of the weekend more than the points played.

These all-time greats shared a touching moment together on their team’s bench.

“The performance, yes, in itself, is special, but everything that happened after that I didn’t know who was going to sing, what was going to happen, where I had to go, what was expected. me, no matter how long it takes,” said Federer. “Then I thought I looked around and saw how everyone felt, obviously it was better, or worse, I’m not sure what to say.

“That’s what I’ll remember – the face I saw that touched my heart, yes. Rafa was one of them (smiling). I’m sorry.”

It was Federer’s retirement, not Nadal’s. But the Spaniard made it clear how important this moment was to him.

“For me, it was a great honor to be a part of this amazing time in the history of our sport, and at the same time for many years we shared many things together,” said Nadal. “When Roger leaves the Tour, yes, an important part of my life goes because he was always near or in front of me in important moments of my life.”