Roger Federer: How to watch tennis star at the Laver Cup before he retires

On Sep 15, 2022

Roger Federer has announced he will retire from tennis following the conclusion of the Laver Cup next week.

The 41-year-old has struggled with a series of injuries in recent years, with his last appearance at a major tournament coming at Wimbledon last year, where the Swiss great reached the quarter-finals.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion – who sits third in the men’s all-time tally – bows out as one of the greatest to ever take to the court, claiming a stunning total of 103 singles titles on the ATP Tour.

Roger Federer has announced his retirement from competitive tennis at the age of 41

The great bows out with 20 Grand Slam titles to his name, retiring after next week’s Laver Cup

He will join a number of the world’s leading stars for the fifth edition of the Laver Cup next weekend, however, in what he announced on Thursday will be his final professional outing.

The competition, which Federer helped to establish in 2017, sees Team Europe go up against Team USA in tennis’ version of golf’s Ryder Cup, with nine singles and three doubles matches taking place at London’s O2 Arena.

Sportsmail outlines exactly how you can watch Federer bring an end to his stunning career below.

When does the Laver Cup get underway?

The tournament gets underway on Friday, September 23, lasting just three days and drawing to a conclusion on Sunday, September 25.

Four matches will be on show each day, with two taking place in the afternoon and two at night.

There will be three singles matches and one doubles match each day, all of which being a best-of-three-set format. A deciding set, if needed, will take the form of a 10-point tiebreak.

The Laver Cup – to be played at London’s O2 Arena – will get underway on Friday, September 23

A single point will be awarded to the winner of each match on Day 1, while two will be awarded on Day 2 and three on Day 3.

The action will get underway at 1pm and end at 7pm UK time on Friday and Saturday, with Sunday’s finale starting at 12pm and ending when there is a winner, being when a team reaches 13 points.

When exactly Federer will take to court has not yet been announced.

Who is joining Federer in Team Europe?

Team Europe – which is being captained by another tennis legend in Bjorn Borg – will for the first time include the ‘Big Four’ men’s players who have largely dominated the sport for a generation.

Federer will be joined by long-term rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who will continue to battle at the top of the sport in his absence.

Federer will be joined by Rafael Nadal (right), Andy Murray (centre) and Novak Djokovic (left)

Britain’s Andy Murray will also join Federer as he makes his first appearance at the Laver Cup.

Alongside the quartet will be Casper Ruud, who last week lost in the final of the US Open to Carlos Alcaraz, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Federer will look to bow out with a bang by winning with Team Europe, as has been the case every year since the tournament was established in 2017.

Who will Federer come up against in Team World?

Team Europe will be heavily expected to win the Laver Cup once again, despite the efforts of Team World captain John McEnroe.

Perhaps the most notable face is John Isner, who memorably defeated Nicolas Mahut in the longest Grand Slam match of all time at Wimbledon 2010, lasting 11 hours and five minutes.

Isner will be joined by Felix Auger-Aliassime, Diego Schwartzman, Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz and Jack Sock.

Team World will be captained by another legendary tennis figure in American John McEnroe

How to watch the Laver Cup

This year’s Laver Cup will be available to watch on both Eurosport and Discovery+.

Discovery+ is available for a price of £6.99 per month or £59.99 per year, and you can sign up HERE.

You can also stream the action on Eurosport’s website and app, as well as on-demand on Discovery+.

FULL ROGER FEDERER STATEMENT

To my tennis family and beyond, of all the gifts that tennis has given me over the years, the greatest, without a doubt, has been the people I’ve met along the way: my friends, my competitors, and most of all the fans who give the sport its life.

Today, I want to share some news with all of you. As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries.

I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form. But I also know my body’s capacity and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear.

I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognise when it is time to end my competitive career.

The Laver Cup in London next week will be my final ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in Grand Slams or on the tour.

This is a bittersweet decision, because I will miss everything the tour has given me. But at the same time, there is so much to celebrate. I consider myself one of the most fortunate people on Earth. I was given a special talent to play tennis, and I did it at a level that I never imagined, for much longer than I ever thought possible.

I would like to especially thank my amazing wife Mirka, who has lived through every minute with me. She has warmed me up before finals, watched countless matches even while over 8-months pregnant, and has endured my goofy side on the road with my team for over 20 years.

I also want to thank my four wonderful children for supporting me, always eager to explore new places and creating wonderful memories along the way.

Seeing my family cheering me on from the stands is a feeling I will cherish forever.

I would also like to thank and recognize my loving parents and my dear sister, without whom nothing would be possible. A big thank you to all my former coaches who always guided me in the right direction. you have been wonderful. And to Swiss Tennis, who believed in me as a young player and gave me an ideal start.

I really want to thank and acknowledge my amazing team, Ivan, Dani, Roland, and particularly Seve and Pierre, who have given me the best advice and have always been there for me. Also Tony, for creatively managing my business for over 17 years.

You are all incredible and I have loved every minute with you.

I want to thank my loyal sponsors, who are really like partners to me; and the hard-working teams and tournaments on the ATP Tour, who consistently welcomed all of you with kindness and hospitality.

I would also like to thank my competitors on the court. I was lucky enough to play so many epic matches that I will never forget. We battled fairly, with passion and intensity, and I always tried my best to respect the history of the game. I feel extremely grateful.

We pushed each other, and together we took tennis to new levels. Above all I must offer a special thank you to my unbelievable fans. You will never know how much strength and belief you have given me. The inspiring feeling of walking into full stadiums and arenas has been one of the huge thrills in my life. Without you, those successes would have felt lonely, rather than filled with joy and energy.

The last 24 years on tour have been an incredible adventure. While it sometimes feels like it went by in 24 hours, it has also been so deep and magical that it seems as if I’ve already lived a full lifetime.

I have had the immense fortune to play in front of you in over 40 different countries. I have laughed and cried, felt joy and pain, and most of all I have felt incredibly alive.

Through my travels, I have met many wonderful people who will remain friends for life, who consistently took time out of their busy schedules to come watch me play and cheer me on around the globe. Thank you.

When my love of tennis started, I was a bull kid in my hometown of Basel. I used to watch the players with a sense of wonder. They were like giants to me and I began to dream. My dreams led me to work harder and I started to believe in myself. Some success brought me confidence and I was on my way to the most amazing journey that has led to this day.

So, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart, to everyone around the world who has helped make the dreams of a young Swiss ball kid come true.

Finally, to the game of tennis: I love you and will never leave you.