Roger Federer’s wife Mirka embraced him after his retirement match at the Laver Cup in London. Mirka, the couple’s four children and Federer’s parents joined the Swiss maestro on court after his final match – a doubles event.
By India Today Web Desk: Roger Federer brought the curtain down on his glittering career amid a sea of love and tears in front of an emotionally-packed O2 Arena in London.
The 41-year-old tennis great, who last week unveiled his retirement plan, played his final match – a doubles event – alongside his longstanding on-court rival Rafael Nadal. The ‘Fedal’ pair didn’t have a fairytale ending at the Laver Cup on Friday (September 23), but the tears streaming down the eyes of Federer’s family, including his wife Mirka, overshadowed the result.
Team Europe’s Federer and Nadal fell agonisingly short in front of Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe of Team World in a knife-edge doubles match 6-4, 6(2)-7, 9-11 which lasted 25 minutes past midnight in London.
Roger Federer’s family – wife, kids and parents – get emotional at his retirement match. (AP Photo)
Mirka, who supported Federer throughout his illustrious career, could not hold back and broke into tears with the couple’s four children – Leo, Lenny, Myla and Charlene, and Federer’s parents Lynette and Robert, while watching the Swiss maestro giving his final on-court interview after his last competitive match.
The Federer family then joined the 20-time Grand Slam singles champion on court and embraced an emotional, outgoing legend. Federer, who struggled through his on-court interview, acknowledged the contribution of Mirka in his career. Roger and Mirka, who had teamed up during the 2002 Hopman Cup, got married in April 2009. The couple were blessed with identical twin girls in 2009 and fraternal twin boys in 2014.
An emotional Roger Federer with wife Mirka after his final match. (AP Photo)
“She could have stopped me a long, long time ago but she didn’t. She kept me going and allowed me to play, so it’s amazing – thank you,” Federer said while paying tribute to his wife Mirka.
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Federer also acknowledged the crucial role his parents played in his career. “I find it always funny – we always blame my Mum for everything because, without her, I would not be here, of course. So, thanks to my parents, you have been amazing.”
The Swiss maestro, the latest entrant of the retirement club, was also serenaded by singer Ellie Goulding, who sang ‘Still Falling for You’ and ‘Fire and Ice’.
