We knew this day was coming. We just weren’t ready for it. I mean, how could we be, really?
September 15, 2022
I woke up just like any other day, by asking my dear friend Alexa the time while simultaneously checking the time on my phone. It was 6:42 A.M so conceivably I could have gone back to sleep, but once I’m up, I’m up. I unlocked my phone and noticed I had a lot more texts than usual (Life hack: Move to LA, you’ll always wake up to texts and feel cool). I wasn’t ready for any of them.
“Wes is going to wake up very sad.”
“Federer wow. Sure you saw.”
The fateful day had come. Roger Federer, in a heartfelt social media message, announced his retirement after 24 decorated years on the ATP tour. The Laver Cup in London would be his last professional tournament.
I’ve struggled to finds the right words to say about Federer in the few weeks since his announcement. To say that he leaves a mark wouldn’t be doing him justice. He impacted the sport of tennis in a way we’ll never see again. He also impacted me in a way I didn’t realize was possible.
Tennis has been a constant theme in my life for as long as I can remember. It’s my release. It’s my therapy. Even seeing the word tennis gives me joy and comfort. I remember when I got my first racquet or when I got dropped off for my first day of tennis camp. I remember the first time of many times I went full John McEnroe (Side bar: Tennis is a lot more fun when you’re not screaming at yourself and heaving racquets. Wow, have I matured as a person?).
I also remember the first time I watched Roger Federer step foot on a tennis court. There was something so elegant about him, so perfect if you will. He didn’t run across the court, he glided. His strokes were so effortless, his demeanor so stoic. He made his opponents look silly, but in a humble way. It didn’t even look like he was sweating. 20 plus years later, all the way up to his final match, this sentiment still holds true. No sweat, just tears.
His matches became appointment television for me. It was a religion and a drug. I needed more. And he delivered, time and time again. His victories gave me so much joy, his losses that much sorrow.
I mean, what a shirt
I met Roger Federer once, in 2016. Let’s call it August 15. I was a fresh college graduate and jobless, gallivanting down the streets of East Hampton. What a time to be alive. I was walking past Starbucks when I brushed shoulders with a guy who resembled Roger Federer. I did a double take. It was like seeing God. I did what any logical person would do, stopped him mid walk and asked him for a photo. He was rehabbing his knee at the time, so don’t worry, I wished his knee a great recovery. He thanked me like a gentleman should do. Six months later, he won the Australian Open. Coincidence?
Flash forward to January 29, 2017. I famously tweeted “I’ve never been happier” after Federer outlasted Nadal in five sets to capture his fifth Australian Open title. This tweet, that garnered a total of two likes, captured the attention of my Dad, who called me to tell me how proud he was that I was so happy in life. And they say the internet is a toxic place!
But, really, this match was special for a number of reasons. Not only was it Federer’s first Grand Slam title since 2012, but his first time playing Nadal in a Grand Slam Final since 2011. It was a return to glory of sorts, and jumpstarted a stretch of two more Grand Slams (2017 Wimbledon, 2018 Australian). I’d be lying if I didn’t say I watch the last five games of that match at least once a month. You know, just to feel something.
On the flip side, two years later, in 2019, I famously tweeted (3 likes) “I’m going to die” in the midst of Federer’s 4 hour, 57 Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic. I didn’t get a call from my Dad after this one. Make of that what you will.
40-15.
That was the score in which Federer held two match points up 8-7 in the fifth set. I vividly remember dropping to my knees, tears possibly making their way down my face. In the blink of an eye, 40-15 quickly became deuce. And then Djokovic broke. And then Djokovic won in a tiebreaker at 12-12. To this day, when I’m serving at 40-15 I think of this match. I have a problem.
What’s all this to say? It’s to say I’m thankful for all of it, both the good and the bad. Everyone has their greatest of all time, or G.O.A.T if you will. Maybe you’re a Nadal or Federer guy. Maybe you’re a Djokovic guy (I’ll give you three guesses who mine is). Regardless, that’s not the point. No player will ever leave a legacy and inspire a generation the way Federer did. You saw it in London during his final act.
I didn’t really care what it was, but I just wanted the chance to see Federer play one more tournament. In a perfect world it would have been Wimbledon next summer and in a more perfect world, I would have been in attendance. However, the Laver Cup sufficed just fine.
Soon after announcing it would be his last tournament, it was announced he would be playing doubles with Rafael Nadal. As it turned in, this was the perfect ending. The Laver Cup reunited the Big Four — Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. That’s 66 Grand Slams between the four of them (63, if you take out Murray. Beginning to think Andy Murray, not Roger Federer was actually the winner of the weekend). For his last act, Federer would be competing with his rivals, not against them.
The pictures and coverage all week were a tennis fans dream. You had Federer playing ping pong, the big four practicing together and a Gala that I don’t know, looked like a fairly decent time. How does one get the job of Laver Cup social media person? Asking for a friend.
And then, Saturday happened. Roger Federer took to the court one final time alongside his greatest rival, Rafael Nadal to represent Team Europe. Despite falling just short to Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe, it was the perfect ending. The aftermath of the match was like a scene out of a movie. An emotional Federer returned to the court to address the crowd. There wasn’t a dry eye in O2 Arena. Including Rafael Nadal.
It was the closing of a chapter. They’d met 40 times since 2004, with Nadal winning 24 of them. If we’re getting into details, Federer did win six out of their last seven matches. OK, that’s not the point. They pushed one another to the brink with their clashing styles and became a constant in our lives and television sets. Federer vs. Nadal. They made each other better. They were each other’s greatest rivals.
Is this the perfect photo?
Yet here was Nadal, as overcome with emotion as his partner, rival and friend. As Ellie Goulding performed, Federer and Nadal sat together, literally holding hands while tears streamed down each of their faces. As the saying goes, “Father time is undefeated” unless you’re Tom Brady. Maybe Nadal saw this and started wondering if his time was coming next. Regardless, it was a beautiful and poetic moment and wrapped a bow on the greatest rivalry in tennis history.
You can’t tell the story of Roger Federer without Rafael Nadal. And you can’t tell the story of Rafael Nadal without Roger Federer.
I’ll miss watching Roger Federer play tennis. I look forward to his next act, whatever it may be. He turned tennis into an art form, from his one-handed backhand to shots like this. For any Federer fan, his matches weren’t just matches. They were a religious experience.
Now that it’s over, does that mean I have to start going to Synagogue again?