About a month ago, Roger Federer said goodbye to tennis. The King played his last Laver Cup match with his longtime rival, Rafael Nadal, before receiving a lavish tribute on the evocative stage of London’s O2 Arena.
The Swiss hoped to take one last ride in 2023, but the precarious condition of his right knee convinced him to say enough. In July, the 41-year-old Basel underwent an MRI that confirmed his fears. The 20-time Grand Slam champion made a timid comeback last year, playing just 13 official matches and stopping again after Wimbledon.
The third knee operation was not enough to further prolong his legendary career, which ended with a bang in the exhibition he founded. In the letter published on Instagram on September 15, the Master assured that he will not walk away from the sport that gave everything.
In a long interview with ‘RMC’, the legendary Yannick Noah wanted to greet Federer in his own way.
Noah opens up about Federer
Yannick Noah, guest of RMC on Monday, does not «believe in the greatest of all time»
For him, Roger Federer is not necessarily so, especially when the winner of Roland-Garros 1983 remembers Rod Laver, who won the Grand Slam twice -something that none of the modern players has done-, or Björn Borg with who crossed swords: «He won it all and stopped at 26, so he could have played fourteen more years…
He shot everyone, he put on real idiots, he won five times in a row at Wimbledon playing from the baseline, when the grass was going 100 an hour». This does not stop the former player from admiring ‘Roger’, particularly for his farewell to the Laver Cup: «Before the lights went out, I liked his humanity, I loved his emotion, his speech for his love…
Because you don’t make that run alone.» It’s no secret that Canadian tennis player Eugenie Bouchard looks up to Roger Federer and considers him a role model. «Well, I mean, the way I see Roger, I don’t know if it can be replicated. for someone.
If there are kids who look up to me, I’ve always said this throughout my career: It’s just an honor,» he said. “I remember being that little girl, looking up to the players, wanting their autographs, seeing them on TV.
Being that person for someone else is just an honor. I appreciate the support. I hope I can inspire people to, yes, go out, play tennis, play sports,” she added.
