The last match of Roger Federer’s career in London yesterday was preluded by a protester who rushed into the court and set his arm on fire in the O2 Arena.
The incident occurred during the opening session match between Diego Schwartzman and Stefanos Tsitsipas on the first day of the Laver Cup 2022.
The man, who was clad in an ‘End UK Private Jets’ shirt, was quickly dragged off the court after the fire was put out.
The Metropolitan Police said the man was arrested on suspicion of ‘aggravated trespassing’ and was taken to hospital. It added that his injuries were not considered to be life-threatening or life-changing.
The match, which was the second one of the day, was resumed after a brief delay.
Yesterday was the 41-year-old Swiss star’s Federer final time in an official match before his retirement from tennis. He had teamed up with his famous rival/friend Rafael Nadal to take on Frances Tiafoe and Jack from Team World.
The veteran players showed glimpses of their prowess in a closely contested 3-set match but lost, thus concluding Federer’s illustrious career.
A tearful Federer received a standing ovation from the 17,500 fans in attendance at the O2 and shared an emotional embrace with Nadal.
The legendary tennis player had captivated fans for 24 years, winning 20 Grand Slams and playing more than 1,500 matches in his career.
Tennis fans will definitely miss one of the all-time greats of the game.
What do you think about Federer and Nadal’s final game at the Laver Cup? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
