Roger will never forget Nadal's 'incredible effort'

NEW YORK - Roger Federer, newly retired, was back in Switzerland on Monday night after flying home from London, where he wrapped up a whirlwind farewell to his competitive 24-year career with one last match at the Laver Cup.

He partnered with his friendly rival Rafael Nadal in doubles for Team Europe, losing a close match to Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock of eventual winners Team World.

But the defeat was secondary to the occasion - an intense, emotional goodbye for Federer, 41, and those surrounding him, including his wife, Mirka, and their four children, plus Nadal and another friendly rival, Novak Djokovic.

The departure of the 20-time Grand Slam champion marks the beginning of the end of a golden age in the men's game in which the Big Three of Nadal, Djokovic and Federer have developed rich and long-running rivalries, lifting each other and their sport.

I first interviewed Federer in February 2001, in his home city of Basel, when he was still a teenager and had yet to win his first Slam. On Monday night, we spoke by telephone about the 21 years since.

A I think I feel complete. I lost my last singles match. I lost my last doubles match. I lost my voice from screaming and supporting the team. I lost the last time as a team. I lost my job, but I'm very happy. I'm good. I'm really good.

A I called him after the US Open - I waited for him to finish that tournament - just to let him know about my retirement.

And I just wanted to let him know before he started making some plans without the Laver Cup at all. I told him on the phone that I was probably 50-50 or 60-40 on making the doubles. I told him, "Look, I'll keep you posted. You let me know how things are at home. And we'll reconnect."

But it very quickly got clear on the phone, and Rafa told me, "I will try everything I possibly can to be there with you."

And that felt obviously incredible for me. And it showed again how much we mean to one another and how much respect we have. And I just thought it would be just a beautiful, amazing story for us, for sports, for tennis, and maybe beyond that as well, where we can coexist in a tough rivalry and come out on top and show that, hey, again it's just tennis.

Yes, it's hard, and it's brutal sometimes, but it's always fair. And you can come out on the other side and still have this great, friendly rivalry. I just thought it ended up even better than I ever thought it would. So, an incredible effort by Rafa and I'll obviously never forget what he did for me in London.

A I think I have always had a hard time keeping my emotions in check, winning and losing. In the beginning, it was more about being angry and sad and crying. And then, I was happy-crying about my wins. I think on Friday, this was another animal, to be honest, because I think all of the guys - Andy (Murray), Novak and also Rafa - saw their careers flashing in front of their eyes, knowing that we all in a way have been on borrowed time for long enough already. As you get into your 30s, you start knowing what you really appreciate in life but also from the sport.

A Well, it was a short moment. I think at one point, I was sobbing so hard, and everything was going through my mind about how happy I am to experience this moment right there with everybody.

And I think that's what was so beautiful about just sitting there, taking it all in while the music was playing... So, you almost forget that you're still being taken pictures of.

I guess at one point, just because obviously I couldn't speak and the music was there, I guess I just touched him, and I guess it's maybe a secret thank you.

A That's part of it. It's also the age, let's be honest. And going to the very end of it, I don't see the point. I tried so long the last few years that it's fine. You know, it's all good. And you get to a point where, you know, when I did the surgery last year I knew it was going be a long road back. And it was going to take me probably a year.

So, of course, in my dream, I saw myself playing again, but I was very realistic about the comeback. No. 1, I did it for my personal life. I knew it was the right thing to do, let's get this leg fixed and all that.

And I keep the options open to hopefully maybe return... As time went by, I could feel less and less chance as the knee was creating problems for me. And that's when I ultimately said, look, it's OK, I accept it. Because I left it all out there. Nothing more to prove.

NYTIMES