It wasn’t the way Roger Federer wanted to end his 20-time Grand Slam singles title career, but it was still an emotional night on Friday as Federer played his final professional match.
After winning the first set, Federer and doubles partner Rafael Nadal — who spent most of their careers as rivals — fell in a tiebreaker to Team World’s Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock in Federer’s lone match at the Laver Cup in London.
Federer ranks second all-time in ATP wins, and his retirement certainly marks the end of an era for the sport of tennis. After the match, Federer was honored on the court by both the fellow members of Team Europe and the opposing team.
The one, the only @rogerfederer. #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/DIudykDUNn
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 23, 2022
Here were the best photos from the emotional evening.
Tennis: Laver Cup
Sep 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Roger Federer (SUI) and Rafael Nadal (ESP) change ends while…
Sep 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Roger Federer (SUI) and Rafael Nadal (ESP) change ends while playing against Jack Sock (USA) and Frances Tiafoe in a Laver Cup tennis match. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
Tennis: Laver Cup
Sep 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Roger Federer (SUI) and doubles partner Rafael Nadal (ESP) react…
Sep 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Roger Federer (SUI) and doubles partner Rafael Nadal (ESP) react while playing against Jack Sock (USA) and Frances Tiafoe in a Laver Cup tennis match. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
Tennis: Laver Cup
Sep 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Roger Federer fans hold up a flag during the Laver…
Sep 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Roger Federer fans hold up a flag during the Laver Cup. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
Tennis: Laver Cup
Sep 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Team Europe players, Roger Federer (SUI), Rafael Nadal (ESP) and…
Sep 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Team Europe players, Roger Federer (SUI), Rafael Nadal (ESP) and Novak Djokovic (SRB), show their support in the Laver Cup tennis match between Andy Murray (GBR) and Alex De Minaur (AUS) as Team World captain John McEnroe looks on. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
Tennis: Laver Cup
Sep 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Roger Federer (SUI) arrives on court for the evening session…
Sep 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Roger Federer (SUI) arrives on court for the evening session of the Laver Cup tennis matches. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
Tennis: Laver Cup
Sep 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Roger Federer fans in attendance during the Laver Cup. Mandatory…
Sep 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Roger Federer fans in attendance during the Laver Cup. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
TENNIS-ATP-LAVER-GBR
Switzerland's Roger Federer (L) gestures to Spain's Rafael Nadal (R) of Team Europe playing against USA's…
Switzerland's Roger Federer (L) gestures to Spain's Rafael Nadal (R) of Team Europe playing against USA's Jack Sock and USA's Frances Tiafoe of Team World during their 2022 Laver Cup men's doubles tennis match at the O2 Arena in London on September 23, 2022. - Roger Federer brings the curtain down on his spectacular career in a "super special" match alongside long-time rival Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in London on Friday. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Laver Cup 2022 - Day One
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe talk during the…
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe talk during the doubles match between Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe of Team World and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe during Day One of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
Tennis: Laver Cup
Sep 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Roger Federer (SUI) and doubles partner Rafael Nadal (ESP) react…
Sep 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Roger Federer (SUI) and doubles partner Rafael Nadal (ESP) react while playing against Jack Sock (USA) and Frances Tiafoe in a Laver Cup tennis match. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
Laver Cup 2022 - Day One
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer of Team Europe plays a backhand shot during the…
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer of Team Europe plays a backhand shot during the doubles match between Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe of Team World and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe during Day One of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
Laver Cup 2022 - Day One
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer of Team Europe react during the…
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer of Team Europe react during the doubles match between Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe of Team World and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe during Day One of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
Laver Cup 2022 - Day One
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer of Team Europe looks on during the doubles match…
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer of Team Europe looks on during the doubles match between Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe of Team World and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe during Day One of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
Laver Cup 2022 - Day One
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer of Team Europe plays a backhand shot during the…
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer of Team Europe plays a backhand shot during the doubles match between Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe of Team World and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe during Day One of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
TENNIS-ATP-LAVER-GBR
Switzerland's Roger Federer (L) embraces Spain's Rafael Nadal of Team Europe after their doubles match in…
Switzerland's Roger Federer (L) embraces Spain's Rafael Nadal of Team Europe after their doubles match in the 2022 Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in London, early on September 24, 2022. - Roger Federer brings the curtain down on his spectacular career in a "super special" match alongside long-time rival Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in London on Friday. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Britain Tennis Laver Cup
Team Europe's Roger Federer playing with Rafael Nadal reacts after winning a point during their Laver…
Team Europe's Roger Federer playing with Rafael Nadal reacts after winning a point during their Laver Cup doubles match against Team World's Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe at the O2 arena in London, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Laver Cup 2022 - Day One
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer of Team Europe acknowledge the crowd…
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer of Team Europe acknowledge the crowd as they walk onto the court during Day One of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
TENNIS-ATP-LAVER-GBR
Switzerland's Roger Federer (2nd R) speaks with Serbia's Novak Djokovic (2nd L) after playing his final…
Switzerland's Roger Federer (2nd R) speaks with Serbia's Novak Djokovic (2nd L) after playing his final game, a doubles with Spain's Rafael Nadal of Team Europe in the 2022 Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in London, early on September 24, 2022. - Roger Federer brings the curtain down on his spectacular career in a "super special" match alongside long-time rival Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in London on Friday. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
TENNIS-ATP-LAVER-GBR
Switzerland's Roger Federer sheds a tear during an interview after playing his final match, a doubles…
Switzerland's Roger Federer sheds a tear during an interview after playing his final match, a doubles with Spain's Rafael Nadal of Team Europe against USA's Jack Sock and USA's Frances Tiafoe of Team World in the 2022 Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in London, early on September 24, 2022. - Roger Federer brings the curtain down on his spectacular career in a "super special" match alongside long-time rival Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in London on Friday. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
TENNIS-ATP-LAVER-GBR
Switzerland's Roger Federer reacts after playing his final game a doubles with Spain's Rafael Nadal of…
Switzerland's Roger Federer reacts after playing his final game a doubles with Spain's Rafael Nadal of Team Europe in the 2022 Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in London, early on September 24, 2022. - Roger Federer brings the curtain down on his spectacular career in a "super special" match alongside long-time rival Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in London on Friday. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
TENNIS-ATP-LAVER-GBR
Switzerland's Roger Federer (C) is applauded by teammates after playing his final game a doubles with…
Switzerland's Roger Federer (C) is applauded by teammates after playing his final game a doubles with Spain's Rafael Nadal of Team Europe in the 2022 Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in London, early on September 24, 2022. - Roger Federer brings the curtain down on his spectacular career in a "super special" match alongside long-time rival Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in London on Friday. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
TENNIS-ATP-LAVER-GBR
Switzerland's Roger Federer (4th R) joins teammates after playing his final game a doubles with Spain's…
Switzerland's Roger Federer (4th R) joins teammates after playing his final game a doubles with Spain's Rafael Nadal of Team Europe in the 2022 Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in London, early on September 24, 2022. - Roger Federer brings the curtain down on his spectacular career in a "super special" match alongside long-time rival Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in London on Friday. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
