Federer Admits To Last Night Never After Emotional Farewell

LONDON - Roger Federer may have been one of the sporting world's great communicators over the last two decades but the Swiss confessed he had been dreading being handed a microphone after his glorious career came to a close at the Laver Cup on Friday.

The 41 - year - old polyglot, who had given countless on-court interviews in his 24 years at the top of the game, feared that his emotions would render him inarticulate after his final doubles match at London's O2 Arena.

'This is the part I was extremely worried about, taking the microphone. I (wanted) to be able to have an evening where I do not have to take the mic', he told reporters.

'Weeks ago, for a fact, I was so scared on this moment that it really worried me'.

In the event, even though the tears did flow, the 20-time Grand Slam champion was able to find the words to express his feelings to fans, his rivals, and his family.

'I was able to remind myself...how wonderful this is', he said.

'This is not the end-end, you know, life goes on. I'm healthy, I'm happy, everything's great, and this is just a moment in time.

'This is how I was able to at least say everything I have wanted, I believe. I was able to get to all those places. It was wonderful'.

That Federer and his great Spanish rival Rafa Nadal lost their doubles match to Americans Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe barely mattered as the night became a celebration of one of the greatest players to have graced the game.

Although he was happy with his farewell address on Friday, Federer said he felt there were a few more words of thanks he needed to dole out to fans in other parts of the world.

'I was just making sure I relayed my passion for the sport to the fans, and let them know that hopefully, we'll see each other again on a different type of tennis court somewhere around the world', he said.

'I have no plans whatsoever for where, how then. All I know is I would love to get and play places I have never played before or go say thank you for years to come to all people that have been so supportive for me'.

'The hard part about the Laver Cup was the tickets were already sold out. People who maybe would have also loved to be here couldn't make it. Makybe there is another way down the stretch we can party all together'.