Stefanos Tsitsipas asked Federer if he could have one of his racquets from the Laver Cup and the Swiss ace agreed to it.
Tsitsipas is one of many players that idolized Federer growing up and his retirement match was something special for him. He would not have missed it for the world but being able to watch it from so close was even more special for him.
Recalling the night, Tsitsipas revealed what he told Federer:
“It would mean the world to me if I could have one of your racquets. I’ve been following you since I was three years old. If I could have a racquet to frame and put in my house, to share that with you is extremely special to me. I hope you don’t mind giving me that piece of your identity.”
A gentleman as always, Federer swifly agreed gifting him a racquet he used during the Laver Cup:
“Obviously, he agreed. Look, Roger was an idol of mine growing up. It would have been wrong
not to get something from his last match. He was very nice, and I sleep
with it from time to time.”
His last match in Astana was a win over Hurkacz and he will take on Andrey Rublev for a place in the final on Sunday.