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Andy Murray said it would be “really special” to get one last chance to share a tennis court with Roger Federer after the Swiss star announced his retirement.
The upcoming Laver Cup in London will be Federer’s farewell event after he admitted defeat in his battle to overcome a knee problem.
Even Murray is unsure how much of an active part Federer will be able to play in London next week, but he would love to form a doubles alliance with the 20-time grand slam winner.
For many years, Murray was considered a part of a ‘Big Four’ in men’s tennis alongside Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. They were the quartet who dominated the latter stages of the grand slams and the most prestigious regular tour events.
It latterly became known as a ‘Big Three’ as Murray fell away due to injury, also proving unable to keep pace with the extraordinary major-winning standards set by Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.
Federer led the head-to-head 14-11 against Murray, with the Scot getting his biggest win over the Swiss in the 2012 Olympic Games final at Wimbledon.
Three-time slam champion Murray said of Federer: “Obviously he was an amazing player. I was lucky to get to compete against him in some of the bigger matches, in the biggest tournaments, on the biggest stages in our sport.
“At the time I probably didn’t appreciate it as much but looking back it’s pretty amazing. It’s incredible what he achieved and also what Rafa and Novak have done as well.”
Federer announced his retirement on Thursday, and while Murray said that marked “a sad, sad day for the sport”, he was keen to celebrate “an unbelievable career”.
There is an irony about Murray wishing Federer well in retirement, given Federer did likewise with Murray in January 2019, when it seemed the former Wimbledon and US Open champion was destined to hang up his racket. A new hip has allowed Murray to unexpectedly continue on tour.
Murray said of Federer: “The longevity he’s had and what he did, the way that he played the game, conducted himself, all of those things. All of the players respected him for that.
“I don’t know how much he’ll be able to play [at the Laver Cup], I haven’t spoken to him about that, but maybe I get to share a court with him in doubles or something like that, and that would be really special.”
