Último partido para Federer, el crepúsculo de un ídolo del tenis / Roger Federer’s last match, the twilight of a tennis idol

El tenista suizo, de 41 años de edad, le pondrá fin este viernes a una carrera excepcional en un partido contra Rafael Nadal en la Laver Cup en Londres

Adorado por algunos, respetado por todos, Roger Federer pondrá este viernes punto final a casi 25 años de una carrera tenística excepcional, con un partido final junto a su gran rival y amigo Rafael Nadal, en la Laver Cup en Londres.

«No sé si podré gestionar todo esto», admitió el suizo de 41 años el jueves en conferencia de prensa, cuando fue preguntado si temía que la emoción le embargue en diferentes momentos clave de esta jornada única.

«En el pasado tuve momentos muy duros, a veces estuve horriblemente nervioso, antes de partidos en el transcurso de todos estos años», añadió.

Con 157 finales en su carrera, 31 de ellas en Grand Slam (20 títulos), se podría pensar que Federer tiene suficiente experiencia para no ponerse tenso.

Pero el hecho de que ese miedo escénico no haya desaparecido nunca explique también la longevidad y el éxito de su carrera.

«Realmente podía llegar cada vez y decir ‘espero ganar este torneo’ durante, no sé, 15 años o más. Eso ha sido un privilegio», reconoció,

Fin a las «jornadas interminables»

A la espera de este último encuentro, Federer revivirá por última vez todas esas rutinas pre-partido que amaba y odiaba a la vez.

«Adoro atarme las zapatillas, prepararme, ponerme la cinta (alrededor de la cabeza), mirarme al espejo (preguntándose) ‘¿Está todo ok? ¿Estoy listo para esto? Ok, vamos’. Pero aunque realmente lo adore, estoy contento de no tener que volver a hacerlo más», explicó el suizo.

También recordó «las mariposas en el estómago, la espera durante toda una jornada, tomar el desayuno diciéndome que tenía otro gran partido por la noche y, oh, quedaban 15 horas de espera. Está bien, pero es estresante y las jornadas son interminables».

Una de ellas será seguramente la de este viernes. Entrará en liza en la sesión nocturna que comenzará a las 6:00 pm por un partido entre el ídolo local Andy Murray y el australiano Álex de Miñaur.

Pero su último partido promete ser memorable, en dobles, al lado de su «mejor amigo», Rafael Nadal.

«Mañana (hoy) será muy especial», admitió también el español.

«Uno de los jugadores, sino en jugador más importante de mi carrera se marcha. Al final vivir ese momento será difícil, pero está claro que es muy excitante y le estoy muy agradecido», añadió.

«Todo ha sido perfecto»

Sus rivales, los estadouniodenses Jack Sock y Frances Tiafoe, que representarán al equipo Mundo, pese a ser conscientes del honor que supone jugar este partido único, no han perdido tampoco su espíritu de competición.

«Pase lo que pase, estos chicos no serán los malos de la película», les defendió su capitán John McEnroe.

«Lo que cuenta es celebrar todo lo que Roger ha hecho en su carrera. Quien gane o quien pierda es totalmente secundario», añadió.

Después de la pelota de partido, el resultado se borrará rápidamente con algo más fuerte en lo que se mezclará lo humano, deporte e historia y la tristeza no lo eliminará todo.

«Querríamos jugar para siempre. Adoro estar en la pista, adoro jugar contra estos chicos, adoro viajar. Nunca ha supuesto algo difícil para mí, que gane o que aprenda de las derrotas, todo ha sido perfecto, me ha encantado mi carrera», resumió el helvético.

«Todo el mundo debe dejar la competición en algún momento. Ha sido realmente una aventura, formidable. Y por ello, estoy extremadamente agradecido», concluyó. AFP

Roger Federer’s last match, the twilight of a tennis idol

Adored by some, respected by all, Roger Federer put an end to almost 25 years of an exceptional tennis career, with a final match alongside his great rival and friend Rafael Nadal, at the Laver Cup in London… which they ended up losing.

“Playing with Rafa and having all these great (players) here, all these legends… thank you!” Federer said after the match in a speech interrupted several times by tears of emotion.

He had already admitted on Thursday, at a press conference, that “I don’t know if I will be able to manage all this”, when asked if he feared that emotion would overwhelm him at different key moments of this unique day.

“It has been a wonderful day. I have told the boys that I am happy, not sad, ”added the 41-year-old Swiss in his speech, with the presence of his parents, his wife Mirka and his four children.

With 157 career finals, 31 of them at Grand Slams (20 titles), you might have thought that Federer had enough experience not to tense up.

But the fact that that stage fright never went away also explains the longevity and success of her career.

“I could really come in every time and say ‘I hope to win this tournament’ for, I don’t know, 15 years or more. That has been a privilege,” she acknowledged.

End to the “endless days”

In this latest meeting with Nadal, who ended up losing to Americans Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 11-9, Federer relived for the last time all those pre-match routines he loved and hated at the same time.

“I love tying my shoes, getting ready, putting the tape (around my head), looking in the mirror (asking) ‘Is everything ok? Am I ready for this? OK let’s go’. But as much as I really love it, I’m glad I don’t have to do it anymore,” explained the Swiss before the match.

He had also remembered “butterflies in my stomach, waiting for a whole day, eating breakfast telling myself I had another big game tonight and oh, there were 15 hours to wait. It’s fine, but it’s stressful and the days are endless”.

The last of them was surely this Friday, since the match that preceded the doubles and pitted the Australian Alex de Miñaur against the British Andy Murray lasted for two and a half endless hours.

The victory of the ocean team by 5-7, 6-3 and 10-7 placed the score 2-1 in favor of Europe against the team from the Rest of the World, which with the doubles point closed the first day of the Laver Cup with a draw 2-2.

In the day session, Europe, which won the four previous editions of this tournament, was placed 2-0 after the triumphs of the Norwegian Casper Ruud (N.2 in the world) against the American Jack Sock (N.128) by 6-4 , 5-7 and 10-7, and the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (N.6) against the Argentine Diego Schwartzman (N.17) by 6-2 and 6-1.

However, despite the performance of the tennis players, the momentary champion on Friday afternoon was undoubtedly Federer, the most applauded by the London public during the presentation of the teams.

In his match with Nadal, Federer even had a service in the ‘super tie break’ to have said goodbye with a victory, although the result was the least of it.

“Tomorrow will be very special”, the Spaniard had admitted the day before, who also ended up crying for his friend.

“One of the most important players, if not the player, of my career is leaving. In the end, living that moment will be difficult, but it is clear that it is very exciting and I am very grateful to him, ”he added.

“Everything has been perfect”

His last rivals, Americans Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe, were aware of the honor of playing this unique match, but without losing their competitive spirit either.

“Whatever happens, these guys will not be the bad guys in the movie,” their captain John McEnroe defended them before the match.

“What counts is celebrating everything Roger has done in his career. Who wins or who loses is totally secondary,” he added.

Once the racket is hung up, the last defeat will be quickly erased with a stronger feeling in which the human, sport and history are mixed and the sadness of goodbye will not erase everything.

“We would like to play forever. I love being on the track, I love playing against these guys, I love traveling. It has never been difficult for me, whether I win or learn from defeats, everything has been perfect, I have loved my career”, summed up the Swiss in the previous one.

“Everyone has to leave the competition at some point. It has really been an adventure, formidable. And for that, I am extremely grateful,” he concluded.