Run it back: As Roger Federer readies to retire from tennis, 'Fedal' will take the court together one more time.
The twist? They'll be on the same side: Federer and Rafael Nadal will team up for the Swiss' last comptitive match on Friday at Laver Cup. The two all-time greats will face Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock in the fourth and final match on the competition's opening day of play at London's O2 Arena.
Last week, Federer announced that the Laver Cup will be the final tournament of his career. The three-day event sees Team Europe, which also boasts Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray on its roster in a highly-anticipated reunion of the 'Big Four', face Team World in a series of singles and doubles matches.
Ahead of the official confirmation of the opening day's lineup, Federer was hoping to get one last chance to play alongside his longtime rival.
"I think it could be obviously a special moment,” he said Wednesday in his first press conference since announcing his impending retirement.
“For us to go through a career that we both have had and to come out on the other side and being able to have a nice relationship, I think is maybe a great message as well to not just tennis but sports and maybe even beyond. For that reason, I think it would be great.”
Friday's slate of play begins with Roland Garros and US Open runner-up Casper Ruud facing Sock, and the day session concludes with Stefanos Tsitsipas squaring off against Diego Schwartzman. Federer, Nadal, Tiafoe and Sock will take the court for doubles after Murray faces Alex de Minaur in the opening match of the night session, which will begin at 7 p.m. local time.
“After all the amazing things that we shared together on and off court, [to] be part of this historic moment is going to be something amazing [and] unforgettable for me,” Nadal said Thursday during Team Europe's pre-event press conference.
“One of the most important players, if not most important player in my tennis career, is leaving. ... This moment will be difficult. Of course. I am super excited and grateful to play with him.”
Captain Bjorn Borg's Team Europe roster for the fifth edition of Laver Cup is rounded out by Matteo Berrettini and alternate Cameron Norrie. Looking to lead Team World to its first-ever triumph in the competition, captain John McEnroe's side also includes Felix Auger-Aliassime, Taylor Fritz and alternate Tommy Paul. U.S. viewers can watch Laver Cup live on Tennis Channel beginning at 8 a.m. ET/5 a.m. PT on Friday.
