Roger Federer brings down curtain on his career with a defeat, but still dazzles alongside longtime friend and rival Rafael Nadal
Roger Federer’s world tour has been marked by drama. And not just his own. Here’s a recap of what happened in the past 12 months.
April: Open his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. He wins his first title, the ATP Tour Finals, in Miami.
May: Plays his first Grand Slam final, losing in four sets to Rafael Nadal of Spain. Then announces that he is pregnant, but remains confident during the finals. “I’m going to give this baby a name,” Federer said after losing to Nadal, “but I’m not going to reveal it.”
May: Federer announces he will retire at the end of the season. His 20-month-old daughter Elodie arrives. He and his wife Mirka spend their 20th wedding anniversary together in May.
June: Federer defeats Novak Djokovic in the first men’s final of the Australian Open. Two other men reach the final. Federer, 34, beats Marin Cilic in the last men’s singles match of the season. It’s Federer’s fifth consecutive final, a record. He wins in three sets. Rafael Nadal, who is ranked number one, announces his retirement after winning the French Open. “I have to make peace with that,” Federer says after his loss to Nadal. “It doesn’t get any easier.” Nadal plays his last match in March.
July: Federer and Serena Williams, who has withdrawn from the Wimbledon tournament due to illness, resume their historic rivalry in the US Open, where they play to the final. Federer wins a hard-fought five-setter. Williams has already withdrawn because of injury.
August: Federer wins his second title, the Olympics, in Moscow. He defeats Novak Djokovic in the Tokyo final. The Australian Open starts. Federer plays Roger Federer. He defeats Novak in straight sets to advance to the finals. Nadal plays his final match in Brisbane. Federer defeats Stan Wawrinka in four sets. Federer becomes
