Laver Cup preview: All eyes turn to Federer's tennis swan song
The 20-time Grand Slam winner has struggled with recurrent injuries in the last few years, and has had three knee surgeries in an attempt to prolong his career. As one of the most graceful and elegant sportsmen we have ever seen, the legacy he leaves behind will be incomparable, bringing more viewers to the sport than anyone else.
Federer will be sorely missed, and in his swan song, he will be looking to put on a show for fans everywhere.
Alongside Federer in Team Europe, is one of his close friends but also his greatest rival, Rafael Nadal (36). Despite playing out some of the greatest matches in tennis history and creating a rivalry for the ages, most notably that famous Wimbledon final in 2008, they also forged a strong friendship.
The unabating, powerful Spanish bulldog opposite the majestic, regal Swiss wizard, they extracted the absolute best out of each other, and their stylistic contrast made every contest a must-watch occasion.
It has been revealed by Federer that he will be unable to play a singles match during the Laver Cup, and will instead play one doubles match on Friday, before being replaced by Italian Matteo Berrettini for the rest of the competition.
It would be a major shock if his final appearance isn't alongside the 22-time Grand Slam champion. The pair previously played together in 2017 in the Laver Cup, and it would be exceptionally fitting if they graced the court together for Federer's last ever match, with the Swiss confirming he would like to play alongside him.
“I am trying to prepare for one last doubles, and we’ll see with who it is,” Federer said in a press conference days before the competition. “I’m nervous going in because I haven’t played in so long. I hope I can be somewhat competitive.”
"For as long as we (Nadal) battled together to having always this respect for one another, the families, our coaching teams, we always got along really well.
“For us as well to go through a career that we both have had and to come out on the other side and being able to have a nice relationship I think is maybe a great message as well to not just tennis but sports and maybe even beyond.
“For that reason I think it would be great. I don’t know if it’s going to happen, but I think it could be obviously a special moment.”
One thing is for sure, it promises to be an emotional occasion.
It is also perhaps appropriate, that the Laver Cup will take place in London, the city in which Federer had so much success. With eight Wimbledon titles, and two ATP Finals victories on this very court, the city means a lot to him.
"This city has been very special to me, maybe the most special place with Wimbledon down the road and here at the O2, having played here and qualified for so many years," Federer said.
"It's been a great journey and for that, I'm really grateful".
Another legendary rival, Novak Djokovic (35) is also set to play. The Serb is hot on the tail of Nadal in the Grand Slam race (21), but has had an on-off season due to being unvaccinated and being barred from playing in two of the four Grand Slams - the Australian Open and US Open.
As a result, he should be fresh, fit and raring to go.
The rest of Team Europe is composed of: world No.2 Casper Ruud, three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray, world No.7 Stefanos Tsitsipas, and world No.15 Berrettini.
11-time Grand Slam winner Björn Borg is set to be team captain, and they will be heavy favourites to retain their crown.
Founded in 2017 by Federer himself, the format is very simple. Three singles matches and one doubles match are played per day for three days. On day one, a win is worth one point, two points are available on day two and three points on day three. The first to 13 points wins.
Should it end 12-12, they will play one final doubles match to decide a winner.
Team Europe have had the firmest of grips on this trophy, winning it on every single occasion.
Last year was particularly one-sided, with Team Europe utterly dispatching Team World 14-1. Captain John McEnroe will be desperate to reverse the results of the last few years.
Team World consists of world No.12 Taylor Fritz, Canada's Davis Cup hero Felix Auger-Aliassime, diminutive Argentine Diego Schwartzman, US Open semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe, the freakishly quick Australian Alex de Minaur and the exuberant Jack Sock.
Auger-Aliassime (22) will be pivotal to their side's chances this week. The talented youngster has struggled for consistency in his career, but managed to lift his game in team competitions. Canada claimed the ATP Cup at the beginning of the year with him in the side, and he was a massive factor in their qualification for the Davis Cup knockout rounds in November when he beat US Open Champion and new world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz last week.
They were rocked by the withdrawal of in-form man Nick Kyrgios (27) though, who would have provided a lot of entertainment and X-factor to their side. After reaching the Wimbledon final earlier this year, he has gone on a run of playing his best ever tennis. However, after a jam-packed schedule, he is looking to take a break.
They will be the underdogs going into Friday, but with a number of Team Europe's players deep into their 30s, it may give the younger guns of Team World some hope.
At the end of the day, although both sides will want to win, the main attraction will be Federer. He is guaranteed to get the best reception and send-off, something that the great man fully deserves. He merits one final high in a career glistening with golden moments.
The Laver Cup was founded by him, but there's absolutely no doubt that 2022 is well and truly, Roger Federer's Laver Cup.
