引退のフェデラー、ファンに「違う」テニスコートでの再会誓う

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】輝かしいキャリアに幕を下ろした男子テニスのロジャー・フェデラー（スイス）は、自分の姿を見られるのはこれが最後ではなく、今後は「違う種類のテニスコート」で再会できるはずだとファンに誓った。（写真はレーバー・カップで盟友ラファエル・ナダルとペアを組んだロジャー・フェデラー＜左＞）
　四大大会（グランドスラム）通算２０勝を誇るフェデラーは２３日、欧州チームとワールドチームの対抗戦、レーバー・カップで盟友ラファエル・ナダル（スペイン）とペアを組み、ダブルスに出場。試合はワールドチームのジャック・ソック（米国）／フランシス・ティアフォー（米国）組に６－４、６－７（２－７）、９－１１で敗れた。
　キャリアを通じてトレードマークとなっていた持ち前の冷静さを取り戻したフェデラーは、２４日未明に行われた試合後の記者会見で、「これが最後の最後ではない。人生は続いていく」とし、「自分は健康でハッピーだし、全てが最高だ」と語った。
　「自分からのメッセージは、とにかくこの競技への自分の情熱をファンに伝えていくということだ。そして、世界のどこかのこれまでと違う種類のテニスコートで、皆さんと再会することを願っていると知らせておきたい」
　「いつ、どこで、どのようにとか、何かしらの計画は全くない。分かっているのは、ぜひとも今まで行ったことがない場所へ赴いてプレーするとか、これから何年もかけて、ずっと自分をサポートしてくれた全ての人々に感謝しに行くということだ」
　膝の故障で２０２１年のウィンブルドン選手権を最後にツアーから遠ざかっていたフェデラーは、２３日夜に開幕したレーバー・カップに向けて調整を続けていた中で、「かなり神経質」になるときもあったと明かした。
　「最後の２日間は、控えめに言ってもタフだった」としつつ、「ありがたいことに、そのことをすっかり忘れた瞬間に、ぐっすり眠ることができた。全てが素晴らしく、楽しむことができたと感じている」と語った。
　「そのおかげで、どうだったかよく思い出すことができるのではないかと考えている。ずっとストレスを感じてばかりでただ完璧を追い求めているときは、半分くらいしか思い出せないものだからね」
　一方、ナダルも「超感動的」な最後を迎えるタフな一日だったと認め、「テニス史上に残るこのような素晴らしい瞬間に加わることができ、それと同時に何年にもわたって多くの物事を共有できたのは、とてつもなく光栄だった」と述べた。
　「ロジャーがツアーからいなくなると、自分の人生の大切な一部も去ってしまう」【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/09/26-14:35）

Roger Federer promised his fans they had not seen the last of him after bringing the curtain down on his glittering career, saying he would see them on a different type of tennis court in future.
The Swiss 20-time Grand Slam champion and Rafael Nadal lost their Laver Cup doubles match 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 11-9 to Team World's Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock.
The defeat for Europe left the two teams locked at two points apiece after the first day of the Ryder Cup-style event at London's O2 arena.
But the match itself was ultimately a sideshow on an emotional occasion for the 41-year-old, who made a lengthy and tearful address to the crowd, his rivals and family afterwards.
This is not the end-end, you know, life goes on, he told a post-match press conference in the early hours of Saturday, having recovered the poise that was the hallmark of his career.
I'm healthy, I'm happy, everything's great.
The message from me was just making sure I relay my passion for the sport to the fans, and I let them know that hopefully we'll see each other again on a different type of tennis court somewhere around the world, he added.
I have no plans whatsoever, where, how, when. All I know, I would love to go and play places I have never played before or go say thank yous for years to come to all the people that have been so supportive of me.
Federer, who had not played tennis competitively since Wimbledon in 2021 due to a knee injury, said at times during the build-up to the match, which started late on Friday, he had been horribly nervous.
The last two days have been tough, you know, to say the least, he said. Thankfully in moments I totally forgot about it, slept great, everything was wonderful, I could enjoy it, I feel.
And because of that I think I will be able to have a better recollection of how it went, because if it's all just stress throughout and I want it to be only perfect, I know I will remember half of it.
- 'Super-emotional' -
Nadal also admitted it had been a tough day, with a super-emotional ending.
For me it has been a huge honour to be a part of this amazing moment of the history of our sport, and at the same time a lot of years sharing a lot of things together, he said.
When Roger leaves the tour, an important part of my life is leaving too.
Federer and Nadal, who have won 42 Grand Slam singles titles between them, spoke warmly of their friendship even though they have been fierce rivals for nearly two decades.
It's been great, said the Swiss. I think we enjoy each other's company, and we have so much to look back on, but also just enjoy spending time together.
We have a million topics to cover. I always feel like any evening we ever spend together we never have enough time.
Nadal, 36, said his relationship with Federer had been a super-long and positive journey.
For me was always the guy to beat, said the Spaniard. So at some point we were probably the biggest rivals -- I think always in a very good way.
We respect a lot each other, families, teams. I mean, we never had big issues... I mean, when we were getting older, I think every year the personal relationship gets better and better.
Very proud to be part of his career in some way, he added. But even for me happier to finish our career like friends after everything we shared on court like rivals.