‘Roger Federer’s body just wasn’t up to it’, says expert

Sportem
Sportem
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Novak Djokovic is the Master of Masters for the sixth time in his career. The Serbian tennis player needed two sets to eliminate Casper Ruud in the final of the ATP Finals: 7-5 and 6-3 is the result that makes him go back into the history of the sport and allows him to maintain his unbeaten streak in Turin.

Thus, the Slam champion managed to snag another record, which until now was in the hands of Roger Federer: the maximum number of Finals titles won. In addition to the trophy and the four million and more of his unbeaten record in the tournament, Djokovic also takes home another Turin record: at 35 years and 5 months, he is the oldest player to have won the tournament of the Finals.

Again, the record holder was Roger Federer, who had won the title in 2011 at the age of 30 years and 3 months, beating France’s Tsonga in the final. Thus, once again Novak Djokovic leaves a tournament with a victory and a record won, but not all are within his reach.

Although the 21-time Slam champion is the oldest player to lift the Finals trophy, he is not the oldest player to have played in a final in this competition. In this case, the record still belongs to Arthur Ashe: six days behind the Serb, at 35 years and 6 months, he is the oldest player to have participated in the final of a Masters tournament.

The record dates back to 1978, when Ashe lost the final, as well as the Stars and Stripes derby, of the Finals to John McEnroe: the former United States number one, winner of both the singles and doubles at the tournament, He beat his compatriot in three sets on the covered concrete of Madison Square Garden in New York.

McCarvel opens up on Federer

Nick McCarvel, a well-known tennis reporter, analyst, and host, recently discussed Roger Federer’s farewell at the 2022 Laver Cup. “It was amazing. I think Roger [Federer] pushed himself to get ready.

I think he was trying to come back. He came to Wimbledon for that centenary celebration to center court. I think there was the idea that he was gonna make the final push for one more Wimbledon 2023, but the body just wasn’t up to it,” McCarvel said.

“That week was so special, having Novak, Andy and Rafa there, having the next generation guys like Casper and Stef and even the team world guys. The scenes, Rafa [Nadal], Andy [Murray], Novak [Djokovic], all being very emotional in their own ways as Roger [Federer] was breaking down.

That was a really special moment for our sport and it’s hard sometimes I think for us to contextualize it,” he added.

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