Federer’s retirement leaves a void, says Mcenroe

Roger Federer’s retirement from competitive tennis will leave a void that can never be filled, according to former world No. 1 and seven- time Grand Slam singles champion John Mcenroe. The 41- year- old Swiss bowed out on Friday after partnering great rival Rafa Nadal in a doubles encounter at the Laver Cup.

Federer, who owns 20 Grand Slam singles titles including a record eight at Wimbledon, announced last week he would be calling time on his career because of a persistent knee injury.

Mcenroe is captaining a Rest of the World team for the three- day Laver Cup at London’s O2 Arena where a sellout crowd watched Federer and Nadal in action.

“Obviously there is a void that will never be filled,” Mcenroe said.

The American said Federer’s four Grand Slam titles after turning 30 was an incredible achievement. His last came at the Australian Open in 2018.

Asked if he could offer Federer and retirement advice, Mcenroe said: “He doesn’t need my advice. He loves the sport. ... I’m hopeful that he, and I believe he will, be around it in some way, shape, or form.”

An English soccer club has

brought forward the kickoff time of one of its league games as a trial run amid efforts to save money as energy costs escalate.

Mansfield’s fourth- tier League Two game against Walsall on Oct. 15 had a scheduled kickoff at 3 p. m. local time but it will now start at 1 p. m. to avoid using floodlights. Energy price increases have skyrocketed because of the global economic recovery from the pandemic, which sent fuel demand soaring, and then by aftershocks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Millions of people will be paying about 80 per cent more a year on their household energy bills starting in October, amid a cost- of- living crisis in Britain.