Roger Federer looking ahead to seeing Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray ‘from the couch’

Roger Federer admits he is hunting ahead to looking at his ‘Big Four’ rivals from the sofa or bed as he prepares to say farewell to aggressive tennis at the 2022 Laver Cup.

Federer sat down with Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray soon prior to the match received underway, revealing he was “happy to go first” out of the quartet.

“I am delighted they are likely to have additional battles,” Federer told Eurosport. “I’m heading to be watching from the sofa or the mattress, anywhere, so it is going to sense very good.

“I’m delighted to go initially because I am the oldest of the bunch. I tried extensive and hard to arrive again for the previous couple of decades and this is the proper instant to go out.”

Federer and his co-stars have been snapped enjoying themselves all around London and the 41-12 months-aged suggests their time with each other has been “incredibly special”.

“Tennis has intended and will however suggest the planet to me,” Federer included.

“Tennis is in very good arms, the boys are nevertheless right here, a large amount of new players are coming up.

“Tennis is usually greater than any of us and it is been an absolute enjoyment to share the court [with ‘Big Four’ rivals] that a lot of situations and have so several neat battles.

“Some matches we might have overlooked or we ignore them, but there is a ton of them that have related us endlessly and it is incredibly distinctive for us.”

With Federer out the photograph, the race to retire with the most Grand Slams switches to a two-horse race involving Nadal and Djokovic.

Nadal gained the Australian Open and French Open up this calendar year to shift onto 22 important titles, with Djokovic clinching his 21st at Wimbledon in July.

On the other hand the pair have place apart their rivalry to join forces for Workforce Europe at London’s O2 Arena, with Djokovic making his 1st look at the Laver Cup.

“Sharing some truly fantastic top quality time off the court docket, training with these men.

“Being in a position to share the court docket with 3 of them yesterday in the exercise doubles session was a lifelong expertise that will definitely keep in my recollections endlessly. It’s an honour to be here and I’m savoring each individual instant of it.”

Nadal will glimpse to help Federer indication off his profession with a win when the pair get to the courtroom in opposition to Team Globe and all-American duo Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe on Friday night time.

“To be element of a team is often particular. And you can consider in this special event even more, to share moments with Andy, Novak, Roger and the rest of the staff also,” claimed Nadal.

“It’s these types of a exclusive levels of competition. We have been participating in and competing with just about every other for this kind of a lengthy time. Becoming workforce-mates is one thing that variations anything.

“I’ll appreciate this minute, it’s so specific for me and I’m really psyched.”

It is testament to Murray’s standing in the match that, regardless of boasting ‘only’ a few big titles and expending the previous several several years combating for form and health and fitness, he has been paraded as part of the ‘Big Four’ instead than being shelved for a ‘Big Three’.

“For me, the past number of times have been extraordinary,” explained Murray.

“Just receiving to be on court docket with these men, go out for supper with them, hold out. Specifically this night, to be portion of that situation is going to be definitely distinctive.

“I sense very lucky and privileged to be here and be component of this and I’m wanting ahead to it.”

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