Roger Federer

The image of Federer's greatest rival in tears throughout his Laver Cup retirement ceremony resonated far beyond the tennis world.

Some of the greatest matches of all time will live on in those pages, like the epic 2008 Wimbledon final, that went Nadal’s way after five sets, or the 2017 Australian Open final, when Federer recovered from a break deficit in the fifth set to achieve another historic Grand Slam record. Nadal arrived in London on Thursday, just in time to get a few practice sessions in and attend the Opening Gala, before joining Federer on the court for one last match. “But at one point, I came to terms that even if I didn't play at all, still I was going to be around, and it was going to be great” Federer himself admitted that his Laver Cup participation had a “50-50” chance, given the injury setbacks he faced getting his surgically repaired right knee in shape. “But in the family life, personal life, probably we approach life not in a very different way. “For me, [he] was always the guy to beat…”