Tennis sensation Roger Federer asked a friend to document his final tournament, the 2022 Laver Cup, and now that footage is being turned in to a documentary by Amazon Prime Video. Federer intended for the video to be a home movie for he and his family to enjoy, but when it was finished, those around him said the footage was special and needed to be shared with the public.
“It’s a snapshot of my life over those 12 days, which is pretty hardcore and interesting,” Federer told Bloomberg who was first to report the news of the documentary.
“It’s looking deep into another layer of the tennis tour–how the camaraderie is a good one on the tour,” Federer added. “Yes, here are rivalries, but off the court there are friendships and respect.”
Federer gave access to his hotel room, his home and his wife even spoke on camera, something she had not done in a long time. “I never let anyone come into my house,” Federer said.
The documentary not only captures the final moments of his illustrious tennis career that saw him win 20 Grand Slam championships, it also looks at his memorable rivalries with other tennis greats such as Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
The film is directed by Asif Kapadia, the Oscar winner for the Amy Winehouse documentary, Amy in 2015, amongst other films.
“During my career, I tended to shy away from having cameras around me and my family, especially during important moments,” Roger Federer said. “But I didn’t see the harm in shooting this as it was never intended for the public. However, we captured so many powerful moments, and it transformed into a deeply personal journey. I am happy to be partnering with Prime Video because of their vast global reach and significant presence in the film industry. This ensures that the story of my final days in tennis will resonate with both tennis enthusiasts and broader audiences worldwide.”
The documentary is likely to be released in July, around the 2024 Wimbledon tournament.
