Former world No. 17 Bernard Tomic has paid tribute to Roger Federer while describing the Swiss as one of the greatest tennis players in history. 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer retired from tennis after the 2022 Laver Cup.
29-year-old Tomic has faced Federer 4 times. In these four encounters, Tomic didn’t score any wins over Federer. Also, Tomic was only able to win one set in those 4 matches, and that was in a Davis Cup match in 2011.
“(He is) One of the best players in history. An honor to play with you. Nothing but love (for you),” Tomic wrote on his Instagram story. Tomic, who was previously in the top 20 players, is now ranked 659th in the world.
But in recent weeks, he managed to win 2 consecutive ITF titles in Cancun. “Thanks again for the support. Mourn the haters, I’ll prove them wrong,” Tomic wrote on Instagram after winning 2 trophies in Cancun.
The last few years have not been easy for the Australian player who has admitted to having made mistakes. He says he is now fully committed to tennis, and wants more success in his career before retiring.
“I’ve been subjected to a lot of hate in my life. But I can’t give up. Do you think I don’t see the hateful comments? It hurts me,” Tomic said in December.
“In the past, I used to let them get to me and react out of stupidity.”
Chela pays tribute to Roger Federer
Juan Igniaco Chela, the former Argentinian champion, winner of 6 ATP titles, participated in a long interview with our colleagues from La Nacion.
He mentioned a number of subjects such as his conversion to become a coach, not to mention the retirement of the Swiss Roger Federer. Former world No. 15 and current Argentine coach Diego Schwartzman said he couldn’t hold back his tears and emotion when he read Federer’s letter announcing his retirement.
“The truth is that I cried. It was difficult. I think it was the first time I cried for tennis. I was at home and when I saw the news it was like… Actually, it was like he was already retired, because he hadn’t played in a year, but we were all hoping we could see him one last time.
He said he was getting ready, he was fine. I thought, ‘He’s such a genius that maybe he’ll come back at some point to do something. The news was like a bomb (for me), and everything about the Laver Cup, the abandonment, with Rafa crying, it was impressive, it was very emotional,” the former Argentine tennis star continued. .
