Roger Federer trains for final tournament of career in London - in pictures

Swiss great hopes to play alongside Nadal in Laver Cup doubles clash at O2 Arena

Swiss great Roger Federer at a training session ahead of the Laver Cup tournament at the O2 in London on Wednesday, September 21, 2022. Federer announced he will retire from tennis this week. AP

Roger Federer train for the Laver Cup - the final tournament of his career - in London on Wednesday. AP

Roger Federer chats with Cameron Norris of Great Britain during a training session in London. AP

Roger Federer trains for the Laver Cup in London, which will be his last tournament before retiring from professional tennis. EPA

Roger Federer during training ahead of the Laver Cup in London. EPA

Rod Laver and Roger Federer of Team Europe ahead of the Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in London. Getty

Roger Federer during practice session at the 02 Arena, London. The 20-time grand slam champion announced last week that he would bring his professional tennis career to a close after the Laver Cup that starts in London on Friday. Picture date: Wednesday September 21, 2022.

Roger Federer trains in London. AP

Roger Federer is hoping to bring the curtain down on his glittering career by teaming up with long-time rival Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in London.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner announced last week he intended to retire after the three-day tournament which starts on Friday at the O2 arena.

Federer has been struggling with a knee problem that has required multiple surgeries. The Swiss great has been out of action since a quarter-final loss at Wimbledon to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in 2021. He subsequently announced he needed more surgery on his knee having previously undergone two operations in 2020 that kept him out for more than a year.

The Swiss confirmed on Wednesday that the final match of his illustrious career will be in the doubles on Friday evening. Italian Matteo Berrettini, the first alternate for the tournament that pits Team Europe against Team World, will then take Federer's place over the weekend.

Federer does not yet know whether he will be able to link up with Nadal but said it would be the dream scenario.

"Of course, no doubt," Federer. "I mean, I think it could be quite a unique situation, you know, that if it were to happen."

Federer said he and Nadal, 36, had always maintained a respect for each other. "For us as well to go through a career that we both have had and to come out on the other side and being able to have a nice relationship I think is maybe a great message as well to not just tennis but sports and maybe even beyond," he said.

"For that reason I think it would be great. I don't know if it's going to happen, but I think it could be obviously a special moment."

Federer said he is now at peace with the decision to walk away, which comes a few weeks after Serena Williams played what is expected to be her last match at the US Open, and he wants this farewell to be a celebration.

“I really don’t want it to be a funeral,” Federer said. “I want it to be really happy and powerful and party mode.”

Federer added he was fortunate to have played against legendary opponents like Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

"I never really wanted those rivalries you know. I wish I would have just went off and won everything forever," Federer said.

"But now, looking back I couldn't be happier that we had these incredible matches with Andy. They were tough, we had some brutal matches, heated moments as well, and then we are today really cool with one another.

"Same with Novak, great matches, a lot happened but again we're on the same team super happy to think to be together here. Rafa of course the same thing. I'm very fortunate to be part of that group and then there was also Stan Wawrinka, you know and [Juan Martin Del Potro] Del Po and others in the beginning."

Federer's 20 Grand slam titles has been surpassed by Nadal (22) and Novak Djokovic (21) in an unprecedented golden era for men's tennis. But many still regard him as the greatest player ever to wield a racket.

He claimed 103 career titles, second only to Jimmy Connors, and spent a record 237 consecutive weeks as world number one from 2004 to 2008.