Federer and Djokovic Together: This Unprecedented Duo at the 2018 Laver Cup That Shocked Fans
They were supposed to be eternal rivals. But in 2018, in Chicago, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic disrupted the norms by teaming up for a doubles match. An unexpected and moving scene that left a lasting impression.
It was a moment no one saw coming. On September 22, 2018, during the second edition of the Laver Cup, a team exhibition tournament pitting Europe against the Rest of the World, tennis witnessed a scene akin to a fan dream: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic playing together... in doubles.
Until then, their rivalry had often made headlines: electrifying Grand Slam finals, perfectly placed exchanges, intense gazes across the net. But that evening in Chicago, tension gave way to camaraderie and shared winning shots.
"We'd been talking about it for a long time... but I never thought it would actually happen," said Roger Federer at a press conference, smiling.
Paired against Kevin Anderson and Jack Sock, Federer and Djokovic did not achieve the hoped-for success: a loss in two sets (6-7, 6-3, 10-6). But the essence was elsewhere.
"Tonight, the love of the game won. And seeing Federer and Djokovic play together... it's simply historic," declared Björn Borg, the captain of Team Europe.
They only played one match together. But the moment remained etched in memory. So much so that some hoped for a new team-up at the 2022 Laver Cup... a year that will also mark Federer's farewell, where Djokovic will once again be at his side, this time not to hit the ball, but to say goodbye.
