Roger Federer and his wife Mirka have been together for over 20 years. The Slovak native ended her tennis career and became the most important person behind Roger’s success, taking care of everything and allowing him to focus on his game.
Roger and Mirka have four kids, and their marriage has been solid and respectful. Federer ended his incredible career on Friday night at the Laver Cup in London, starting a new chapter of his life with Mirka by his side. Unable to hide tears, the Swiss honored her wife with beautiful words, calling her supportive and thanking her for allowing him to compete for so long.
Roger has been dealing with a knee injury for almost three years, undergoing three surgeries and doing his best to return and extend his career. The Swiss has played only six tournaments since the start of 2020, making one last push last year but not playing since Wimbledon.
After a lot of thinking, the 20-time Major winner finished his tennis journey at the Laver Cup in London, backed by his greatest rivals Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. Roger stepped on the court on Friday night alongside Rafa, competing for the last time in the most emotional tennis match in history.
Federer and Nadal met Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe and fought until the last point. The Americans saved a match point and prevailed 4-6, 7-6, 11-9 in two hours and 13 minutes to level the overall score at 2-2. After eight commanding holds on both sides, Federer and Nadal fended off a break point in game nine and stole Tiafoe’s serve a few minutes later for 6-4.
Roger Federer praised his wife Mirka after his last career match.
Jack and Frances bounced back in the second set and broke Nadal in the third game to forge the lead. Team Europe broke back in game six to level the score at 3-3 before facing the ultimate challenge in game 11.
Nadal faced six break points, and he and Federer erased them to stay in contention. The set went into a tie break, and the Americans claimed it 7-2 to gain a boost. Nadal took care for the opening three points in the match tie break before Team World rattled off four straight points for 4-3.
They stayed neck and neck, and Rafa and Roger earned a match point at 8-8. Federer could not serve it out, and the Americans grabbed three straight points to prevail 11-9 and start a massive celebration. “My wife is so supportive.
She could have stopped me a long, long time ago, but she did not. She kept me going and allowed me to play. Thank you,” Roger Federer said.