Laver Cup history: Roger Federer link and name explained

The story of the 2022 season on the ATP circuit was deemed to be a 19-year-old lifting a Grand Slam title to become the youngest Major winner in 17 years. Rather, 2022 will be noted as the year in which a 41-year-old closed the book on arguably the most extraordinary tennis career in history.

It may sound absurd, but Roger Federer stole Carlos Alcaraz‘s thunder by announcing his retirement just three days after the young Spaniard’s historic US Open victory.

Also read: Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray: Tennis’ Big Four assemble at Laver Cup 2022

And now the retirement have come to pass, after Federer was beaten in his last match, at 2022 Laver Cup men’s doubles final on September 24. 

The Swiss master shocked the sports world on Thursday when he announced on social media that the 2022 Laver Cup will be his final tournament, capping off a trophy-laden 24-year career.

Federer’s impactful journey, which started on the grass courts of the All England Club with the junior Wimbledon title in 1998, will come to a close on September 25 on the indoor hard courts of London’s The O2 Arena.

While it was assumed that Federer was holding out on the decision despite an injury-prone bad knee for the last few seasons for one last hurrah on his preferred hunting court in Wimbledon, he chose the Laver Cup to end his incredible career. After all, it’s only suitable that he hangs up his racquet at the tournament he developed.

Also read: History repeats at Laver Cup: What happened when Roger-Rafael played doubles in 2017

The Laver Cup has a short history. The first installment was held in Prague five years ago in 2017. The Laver Cup was envisioned by Federer’s management company TEAM8, his agent, Tony Godsick, in collaboration with Brazilian businessman and former Davis Cup winner Jorge Paulo Lemann and Tennis Australia to establish the annual men’s team event.

Federer is said to have been inspired to develop a tennis tournament modelled after the biennial Ryder Cup, which challenges the best golfers from the United States and Europe against one another.

Also read: Laver Cup 2022: Teams, schedule, and fixtures

It is named after Australian tennis legend Rod Laver and is typically held two weeks after the year’s final Grand Slam, the US Open. Laver is regarded as one of the sport’s most iconic figures. 

Laver is the only player in history to have won two Grand Slams — the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open — in the same calendar year, first as an amateur in 1962 and then again in 1969. Don Budge, Maureen Connolly Brinker, Margaret Smith Court, and Steffi Graf have all done it once. 

Also read: Laver Cup 2022: Prize money, format, and past winners

Laver is the only player and the last male player to win a calendar Grand Slam.

Roger Federer emphasised on naming the tournament he and his management team established after Laver.

“It’s an amazing accomplishment, no doubt about it,” Federer, who has modelled his game and on-court demeanour after Laver, said. “It’s also not just what he achieved, but also the way he carries himself. He’s humble, and he never takes himself too seriously .”

When asked in 2019 who among the modern generation he would most like to play with, Laver did not need to think twice.

Also read: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal pair up for doubles: When and where to watch Laver Cup match

“I’d like to play Federer,” he admitted. “But I’d like him to use my wooden racket, and I’ll use his modern one.”

Federer’s final professional ATP match will be the doubles with Rafael Nadal on Friday evening when they will encounter Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock of the United States.