Fed eyes farewell alongside Rafa I won’t be a ghost – you’ll see me again!

Roger Federer says he has “fallen in love with too many things” to walk away from tennis with the 41-year-old vowing to stay involved in some capacity and not become a “ghost”.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion announced last week he would bring his professional tennis career to a close after the Laver Cup starting at London’s O2 on Friday.

Federer, whose most recent competitive match was a loss to Hubert Hurkacz in last year’s Wimbledon quarter-finals, has been struggling with a knee problem.

“It was about time that I retired. I think a moment like this doesn’t come overnight. It was a process – an emotional one – which at the end I thought we managed well, with the family, the team, my closest friends,” said Federer.

“It all worked out and here we are now at the Laver Cup. But it was definitely more a highly unusual last few weeks for me.”