via Getty
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer of Team Europe has an emotional farewell after the doubles match between Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe of Team World and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe during Day One of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
via Getty
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer of Team Europe has an emotional farewell after the doubles match between Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe of Team World and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe during Day One of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
Apart from Serena Williams’ ‘evolution’ away from the sport, the tennis legend Roger Federer’s retirement was the biggest highlight of the year 2022. And recently, one of his biggest fans, the Italian tennis star, Matteo Berrettini, talked about the flow of emotions he felt when he saw his idol retire from professional tennis in front of him.
Berrettini was there to witness the Swiss star’s farewell, but it was not easy for him as his retirement journey was quite emotional. The 20-time Grand Slam champion played his last match alongside his archrival Rafael Nadal, at the Laver Cup, where he made everybody go teary eyed.
Matteo Berrettini on Roger Federer’s retirement
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The 26-year-old tennis player recently opened up about how he felt about the 20-time Grand Slam champion bowing out of the sport. The 2021 Wimbledon finalist even talked about the aura the former world number one carries around him while revealing his admiration regarding the same.
He said, “I am a fan of Federer. I was there when he retired, it was crazy. Everyone cried. I faced him twice: the first time I didn’t understand sh**, I asked myself ‘what am I doing here?’, I was supporting him. The second time I fought harder, but I lost”.
Berrettini about Roger 👇
🗣️"I am a fan of Federer. I was there when he retired, it was crazy. Everyone cried. I faced him twice: the first time I didn't understand sh**. I asked myself 'what am I doing here?', I was supporting him. The second time I fought harder, but I lost". pic.twitter.com/51OKEH0g1d
— Relevant Tennis (@RelevantTennis) February 20, 2023
It was always clear that the 26-year-old tennis player is a huge Federer fan. He has expressed frequently that he used to cheer him when he was a little kid. Moreover, even when he got the first chance to play against the Swiss maestro, Berrettini was awestruck.
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READ MORE – Ticket-Less Matteo Berrettini Once Tried to Sneak Into Rome’s Center Court to Watch His Idol Roger Federer
Berrettini once defined Federer as ‘tennis’
For the 26-year-old tennis player, the Swiss Maestro is the one who inspired him to become a professional tennis player. A few years back, the world number 24 emphasized how he can talk about the former world number one for two days without stopping and still go on. Notably, he also clearly mentioned that the Swiss legend is the epitome of tennis.
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However, with time, he also got to know how big the other players are. But his admiration for the 41-year-old retired tennis player remains the same even today. Do you agree with Berrettini? Is Federer the most iconic name in the sport, despite both Nadal and Djokovic winning more Major titles?
