Roger Federer knows how to put on a show even when he’s not in the line-up. The Laver Cup returns for its seventh edition in Berlin on Friday.
What's happening at the Laver Cup?
The tournament will feature the Next Gen of Carlos Alcaraz and company, bringing stardust to the event.
Why is Roger Federer still relevant?
It’s just over two years since Federer announced his retirement from tennis at the age of 41. His transition to part-designer, part tennis tourist and general entrepreneur of eternal youth has been pretty seamless.
What does the future hold for Federer?
Federer is someone who can’t ever truly leave the sport. His presence at any event is pulled off with the same panache. He is now touchable but floating in a different zone.
The Swiss retired with mellifluous tributes, obituaries and a wave of adulation. Andy Murray, who finally quit at the Paris Olympics, telegraphed his exit from miles out.
Federer is still tennis royalty and brings as much expectation and eyeballs without the racket. In an interview with British GQ, the 43-year-old insisted he was at peace with leaving the game.
A few months later, the eight-time Wimbledon champion was more emotional. “I’m missing tennis, of course I am. Not on a centre court, but I follow it a lot, I miss it, that’s why I sometimes come back to the games, see my friends and my extended tennis family,”
Federer’s Flushing Meadows appearance this month was like the return of the gentleman of the realm. There’s a certainty in his presence that can even override the negative headlines of the no-shows in the event he co-founded.
Two years ago, when Federer partnered Rafa Nadal in his last official match, ticket prices were going through the roof. The salivation over his every move is there in technicolor.
Tennis doesn’t revolve around the Big Three anymore but Federer bestrides the circuit without interfering with it. “I was watching Roland Garros last week and I was like: 'Wow, they're so good - I used to do that too!' I feel so distant to my career.
What's next for the Laver Cup?
The Laver Cup will continue to feature top tennis players, with Federer’s presence still felt throughout the tournament. On Friday, the seventh edition of the Laver Cup will begin in Berlin, with the Next Gen of tennis players taking center stage.
The event will bring together some of the best tennis players in the world, with Federer’s legacy continuing to inspire and influence the sport. As the tournament gets underway, all eyes will be on the players, with Federer’s presence still felt throughout the event.
Federer’s impact on the sport of tennis is still being felt, even after his retirement. His legacy continues to inspire and influence the next generation of tennis players, with the Laver Cup being a prime example of this.
The Laver Cup will be a great opportunity for tennis fans to see some of the best players in the world compete, with Federer’s presence still felt throughout the tournament. As the event gets underway, fans will be eagerly watching to see how the players perform, with Federer’s legacy continuing to inspire and influence the sport.