Laver Cup Live Updates: Federer and Nadal Win First Set

Andrew DasIf Roger Federer thought he was going to stroll into retirement on Friday in London, he was sorely mistaken.

Federer, his friend and doubles partner Rafael Nadal and their opponents Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe gave one another no quarter in the first set of Federer’s farewell match. Taking turns trading rocketed first serves and whipsaw groundstrokes around the occasional deft volley, the four players slugged their way through a surprisingly tense and competitive first set of doubles. Federer and Nadal took it, 6-4.

Each player held his serve through the first nine games before a sharp angled volley and a Sock error at the net at break point under the 10th game, yielding the first…