Roger Federer has revealed that he is eager to come out of retirement to play doubles alongside Rafael Nadal at this year’s Laver Cup.
The Swiss icon stated that he does not expect to join Nadal in doubles at the team tournament, but swore to participate if the Spaniard asked him.
Federer played the final match of his extraordinary 24-year career at the 2022 Laver Cup in London, when he partnered with his great adversary and friend Rafael Nadal on the doubles court. Team World’s Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe defeated the legendary duo 4-6, 7-6(2), and 11-9.
The duo also teamed up in doubles for the inaugural 2017 edition of the event in Prague, defeating Sock and Sam Querrey 6-4, 1-6, 10-5.
Nadal is one of four players named to Team Europe’s six-man lineup for the 2024 Laver Cup, including Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev. This year’s team event will be place in Berlin from September 20 to 22.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Federer was asked if he will partner Nadal again in doubles at the Laver Cup.
“I doubt we’ll play doubles together at Laver. But if he asks me, I’ll be there,” the Swiss said.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion also addressed analogies between Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz’s growing rivalry and his rivalry with Rafael Nadal.
“I hadn’t considered it, but Sinner and Alcaraz are rivals, much as Nadal and I. “I believe that each tennis player has their own rivalries, and it is still too early to talk about them,” Federer remarked.
“But Sinner and Alcaraz are from the same generation; they are powerful and have a lot of respect for one another. They’ve both gotten off to a good start in tennis, and their match promises to be exciting. “It’s lovely to watch them play.”
Federer, who represented Team Europe in the Laver Cup in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022, played his final singles match in the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, losing to Hubert Hurkacz in the quarterfinals.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion had three surgeries on his right knee between 2020 and 2021, with the injury preventing him from competing after the 2020 Australian Open.