Laver Cup tickets to see Roger Federer play tennis for the final time before he retires are being sold for thousands of pounds on resale sites.
The Swiss tennis player announced yesterday (Thursday) that he would be retiring after the event. The 20-time Grand Slam winner confirmed that the Laver Cup, which is due to be held in London next weekend, will be his last tournament.
In a statement, Federer said: “The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in Grand Slams or on the tour.
“This is a bittersweet decision, because I will miss everything the tour has given me. But at the same time, there is so much to celebrate. I consider myself one of the most fortunate people on the Earth. I was given a special talent to play tennis, and I did it at a level that I never imagined, for much longer than I ever thought possible.”
Tennis fans rushed to purchase tickets for the event to see their hero play one last time competitively, but were placed into a very long queue.
Some fans even complained that the queue had ‘collapsed’ and were left disappointed.
Tickets were then placed on secondary platforms for extremely inflated prices, with some reaching multiple thousands. Tickets for the final day of the competition are more than £3,934 ($4,476/€4,489).
Federer said: “When my love of tennis started, I was a ball kid in my hometown of Basel. I used to watch the players with a sense of wonder. They were like giants to me and I began to dream. My dreams led me to work harder and I started to believe in myself.
“Some success brought me confidence and I was on my way to the most amazing journey that has led to this day. So, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart, to everyone around the world who has helped make the dreams of a young Swiss ball kid come true.”
He added: “Finally, to the game of tennis: I love you and will never leave you.”
The Laver Cup will kick off next Friday and finish on Sunday September 25 at the O2 in London.