These are Roger shots with which Twelve last days begins. Shots that only Roger Federer could execute under such extreme pressure. Elegant, light-footed, balanced. Apparently never sweating. Filmed in slow motion, of course, with a focus on the feet as they take off, stand in the air and seem to float for an endless moment. Roger Federer, perhaps the most talented tennis player of all time, the only one who managed to challenge the laws of physics with the beauty of his game, has finally fallen victim to the physical laws of old age. Even he, the divine, has to stop playing tennis at some point. Twelve last daysa documentary just released on Prime Video by Asif Kapadia (best known for documentaries about Ayrton Senna and Amy Winehouse) and Joe Sabia, covers the last twelve days of Roger Federer’s unique career. From that day in September 2022 when he let the world know in an emotional message that it was over, to his final match in London at the Laver Cup in doubles alongside his biggest rival Rafael Nadal.
We see Roger Federer in a very white home, taking the news of his departure for the world: white tables, white chairs, a white couch (only the protective cover for his smartphone is Wimbledon green). We see him surrounded by his family, and unfortunately we don’t see him struggle with the farewell enough – despite all the tears he shed. Now and then we hear how difficult it must have been for him, for example in a conversation with Andy Murray, another rival, on the sidelines of the Laver Cup. There are obligatory pictures after the knee operations – Federer unshaven, Federer on crutches, Federer in his underwear – to underline that it was not a completely voluntary departure, that at the age of 41 his body simply couldn’t cope anymore. But we hear nothing about the inner struggles, the questions and doubts about what would happen after, the fear for the future. Roger Federer doesn’t have to worry about money, of course not, but having half a life ahead of you to fill when you discovered your purpose so early on is a lot of time.
Even if reflection on this is lacking, Twelve last days There is a lot to see for tennis and Federer fans. The insights into family life are so full of harmony and love that you can’t help but admire how someone who has achieved absolute excellence in his craft, which requires hours upon hours of hard work, also seems to do so much right in his private life that his wife and four children give him nothing but unconditional love. Even the family dog is perfect. Equally heartwarming are the shots from the dressing room at the Laver Cup, which show Roger Federer in friendly banter with his former opponents. All of this underlines what we have all known for ages: Roger Federer is not only one of the greatest athletes of all time, he is also perhaps the most likeable person in the world.
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Twelve last days However, he is wasting an immense opportunity. It is usually almost impossible to extract useful insights from a successful athlete such as Federer. Not because great athletes are stupid, not at all. It is more that the ability that makes them great often seems to switch off the very region of the brain that could explain this ability. This is not the case with Roger Federer. He can say exactly what is going on in the moment of the greatest sporting pressure. He finds exactly the right words to describe Novak Đoković’s tennis and character and captures the essence of Rafael Nadal with a few pointed sentences.
Unfortunately, we see too little of it in Twelve last days. One could have asked Federer what it was like to have to make the decision, whether he had perhaps lied to himself that it was still possible, whether he minded seeing his records fall. All of this remains unanswered by perhaps the most eloquent sportsman we have. The footage is nevertheless strong. It shows a young Roger Federer alternating with the sports icon Roger Federer and gives an idea that it was not just talent that made Roger Roger. You can clearly see that the technique was honed, that he had to work his way up to the seemingly suspended moments and that he too had a way, a journeyas we would say today, lived through.
Warming up one more time: Roger Federer in the days before his last match at the Laver Cup in London. © Prime Video
The strongest moments of the documentary are those shared with his companions on this journeyrivals Nadal and Đoković. The mutual respect, the tender bonds of friendship that have sprung up between Nadal and Federer underline that in the end, when it is all over, when the noise and smoke have settled, the supposedly greatest opponents of your life were just allies. Without Roger Federer there is no Rafael Nadal. Without Rafael Nadal there is no Novak Đoković. And the story goes on and on. One of the last recordings belongs to Federer’s wife Mirka, who was always at his side like a rock. Her voice breaks and she says: “I will miss watching him play, seeing his incredible talent and grace.” At this moment she speaks for the entire tennis world.
© ZEIT ONLINE
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“Federer: Twelve Last Days” is available on Prime Video.
These are Roger shots with which Twelve last days begins. Shots that only Roger Federer could execute under such extreme pressure. Elegant, light-footed, balanced. Apparently never sweating. Filmed in slow motion, of course, with a focus on the feet as they take off, stand in the air and seem to float for an endless moment. Roger Federer, perhaps the most talented tennis player of all time, the only one who managed to challenge the laws of physics with the beauty of his game, has finally fallen victim to the physical laws of old age. Even he, the divine, has to stop playing tennis at some point. Twelve last daysa documentary just released on Prime Video by Asif Kapadia (best known for documentaries about Ayrton Senna and Amy Winehouse) and Joe Sabia, covers the last twelve days of Roger Federer’s unique career. From that day in September 2022 when he let the world know in an emotional message that it was over, to his final match in London at the Laver Cup in doubles alongside his biggest rival Rafael Nadal.
2024-06-26 10:31:16
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