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The big focus of this year's Laver Cup has been the impending retirement of all-time great Roger Federer. But that has not has been the only noteworthy happening in London.

It has also been a reunion for the 'Big Four' of Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. The four superstars have become one of the most iconic quartets in any sport, and they took to the court for a practice session on Thursday at The O2.

Photo Credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images for Laver Cup
Federer will play his final ATP Tour match on Friday evening alongside friend and rival Nadal, with whom he also played at the Laver Cup in 2017. That year they defeated Team World's Sam Querrey and Jack Sock. This edition, they will play Sock and Frances Tiafoe.

Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images
There were smiles all around as the Big Four enjoyed each other's company the night before the action begins. Besides catching up, they posed for photos on the River Thames. Entering the Laver Cup, the stars have combined for 4,043 tour-level wins.

Photo Credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images
Not only have the Big Four done a lot of winning, they have done so on the biggest stages in tennis. Nadal (22), Djokovic (21), Federer (20) and Murray (3) have lifted 66 Grand Slam trophies and 329 tour-level crowns. Although they will not add to that tally this weekend, the friends and rivals will try to send Federer out on a high with a Laver Cup triumph.

One of the things that sets Carlos Alcaraz apart is the fact that he has always been an open book when discussing his hopes and dreams in the world of tennis, even though they are loftier than most. The Spaniard, who used to shout from the rooftops that his desire was to be the No. 1 player in the world, achieved his goal on 12 September when he won the US Open.

But being the youngest No. 1 in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings is not enough. Now that he has reached the top of the mountain, Alcaraz intends to stay there.

However, that is not his only goal for this season; he also has his sights set on the Nitto ATP Finals, the tournament that brings together the best players of 2022 in Turin, from 13 to 20 November.

“One of my goals is to finish [the year] as No. 1,” said Alcaraz, who has equalled Carlos Moyà’s two-week stint at the top of the pile. “Now that I’ve got there, my goal is to stay as many days, weeks and months as possible. We’re going to work for that.”

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On a day of upsets at the San Diego Open, second seed Jenson Brooksby bucked the trend to advance to the quarter-finals in his debut at the ATP 250. Opening his campaign on Thursday, Brooksby downed Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in a battle of California natives.

After a single break decided each of the opening two sets, Brooksby broke serve three times in the decider to win the afternoon match. The World No. 50 opened up a 3-0 lead in the final set before McDonald broke back for 2-3, but Brooksby snapped back with eight straight points to move ahead 5-2 then broke again to seal the victory.

"I thought it was definitely a solid match. First match, it's always good to get through," Brooksby said after the win. "I was feeling really confident with my training since the US Open, back home in Sacramento. We headed here, it's a short flight and it's always nice to play in your home state."

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Brooksby finished four-of-eight on break-point chances, while saving six of the eight break points against him. He won 78 per cent (40/51) of his first-serve points in the victory.

As Roger Federer steps into retirement at the Laver Cup following 25 years on the ATP Tour, it’s time to prove how much you know about his legendary tennis career.

He faced his two biggest rivals, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, a total of 90 times – whom did he play more? Of his 20 Grand Slam titles, how many did Federer win at Wimbledon? Did the Swiss ever face his idol, Pete Sampras, before the American finished his Hall of Fame career with triumph at the 2002 US Open?

Take the Federer quiz, share your results and challenge your tennis friends to see who does best!

Roger Federer may be best remembered for his epic rivalries with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, against whom he played a combined 90 matches. But throughout his career, the Swiss developed long-standing and respectful rivalries with many other legends of the ATP Tour.

Federer soared to winning records against the likes of Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Juan Martin del Potro, Lleyton Hewitt, Stan Wawrinka, David Nalbandian and Tommy Haas.

ATPTour.com looks back at his rich history against those men.

Federer vs. Murray (14-11)

Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Andy Murray Live

Federer and Murray last squared off in 2015 when they met twice, with Federer winning semi-final showdowns at Wimbledon and the Western & Southern Open. The Swiss won their last five meetings in a row, including the last 10 sets, to turn around a 9-11 record in their ATP Head2Head history.

Lists are typically a highly subjective business, but when the subject is Roger Federer, it’s hard to go wrong. The Swiss champion’s extraordinary body of work extends beyond 1,500 matches, 103 titles and 20 major championships.

Three of these feature Federer’s greatest rival, Rafael Nadal, with three more opposite Novak Djokovic. David Nalbandian, Andy Roddick, Juan Martin del Potro and Stan Wawrinka also make dashing appearances. Four of these matches came on Wimbledon’s Centre Court, Federer’s favourite working space.

And memorable doesn’t mean simply victory; Federer lost some spectacular matches – those heartbreaking defeats were, in some ways, as indelibly moving as his huge wins. That vulnerability is one of the many reasons he’s been so endearing, so enduring to fans, who over the years shared those highs and lows.

Vaunted Victories

2009 Wimbledon final
Roger Federer def. Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 3-6, 16-14

Photo Credit: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images

Stan Wawrinka showed why he earned the nickname ‘Stan The Man’ on Thursday evening in Metz.

Despite letting slip a match point in the second set, the former World No. 3 stunned top seed Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the Moselle Open. It was the 37-year-old’s first Top 10 win since the 2020 Rolex Paris Masters against Andrey Rublev.

It all seemed to be going wrong when the Swiss star missed his opportunity to close out the match in the second-set tie-break. At 6/5, both players remained neutral in the rally, striking the ball with margin down the middle of the court. Wawrinka broke that pattern by trying to rip a backhand, which he slightly mishit and pulled wide.

When Medvedev clawed through the tie-break to force a decider, momentum was fully on the former World No. 1’s side. But Wawrinka turned it back in his favour by surging ahead 3-0 in the final set.

“At the end of the tie-break I was a little bit frustrated because I started to hesitate a little bit on my shots," Wawrinka said in his on-court interview. "He is one of the best defensive players, so when you don’t go completely through the ball without thinking too much and it is difficult. I made a few mistakes but I think in general it was a super good level from me. I am super happy with the win.”

Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe spent a combined 279 weeks at No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and they lifted 143 tour-level titles between them.

On Thursday, they paid tribute to fellow legend Roger Federer, who will retire after the Laver Cup this week. The three-day event will provide the setting for the Swiss star’s last dance, with the former World No. 1 competing for the final time when he takes to court with Rafael Nadal in doubles on Friday night.

Speaking at Team Europe’s pre-tournament press conference, captain Borg reflected on Federer’s 25-year career.

“What Roger did for tennis, he did so much PR for the sport, in general,” Borg said. “One of the greats, all these guys here, but to promote the sport itself -- no one is bigger than the sport itself -- but what he did for the sport all around the world, it's amazing. We should all be proud.”

Team World captain McEnroe was also quick to share his thoughts on Federer, praising the 103-time tour-level titlist’s longevity and influence on the sport.

For more than 20 years, Roger Federer lit up the ATP Tour. The Swiss star spent 310 weeks at No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and won 20 Grand Slam titles as he rewrote the record books with his precise and seemingly effortless style.

On Friday, the 41-year-old will strike his final shots when he takes to court in a doubles match at the Laver Cup in London. With the world set to watch, no one will have a better view than longtime rival and friend Rafael Nadal, who will partner Federer in the clash for Team Europe.

“Tomorrow [is] going [to] be a special thing,” Nadal said during Thursday’s pre-tournament press conference. “I think a very difficult, difficult one. [It is] going to be difficult to handle everything, especially for Roger, without a doubt. For me too. In the end, [he is] one of the most important players, if not the most important player in my tennis career and [he is] leaving. This moment will be difficult. Of course I am super excited and grateful to play with him.”

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Nadal soared onto the scene in 2005 at a time when Federer had already won four Grand Slam titles. Despite the Swiss being a dominant force at the time, Nadal immediately troubled Federer, winning six of their first seven meetings. They would go on to play 40 times, pushing each other to their limits in titanic battles. For the Spaniard, his relationship with Federer is very special.

Pop quiz: Which member of the ‘Big Three’ played the fewest ATP Challenger Tour matches?

If you answered Roger Federer, you’d be correct. The Swiss played 23 Challenger-level matches, claiming one title. Rafael Nadal competed in 44 Challenger-level matches, collecting two titles. Novak Djokovic claimed three titles in his 36 Challenger-level matches.

Even the game’s greatest have used the Challenger Tour as a stepping stone towards the ATP Tour. There are no free handouts as every player looks to construct a professional career, working hard from week-to-week at Challengers across the world.

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At the beginning of his illustrious career, Federer entered the Brest Challenger in 1999 as the World No. 66. He was a teenager trying to pave his path towards the highest level of professional tennis. It didn’t take him long.

Roger Federer will team with longtime rival and friend Rafael Nadal on Friday at the Laver Cup in what the former World No. 1 confirmed on Twitter would be his final tour-level match.

The Swiss and Spaniard will take to court against Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe at The 02 in London following the conclusion of Andy Murray’s match against Alex de Minaur, which will start at 7 p.m. local time.

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“I am not sure if I will be able to handle it all but I will try,” Federer said during Team Europe’s post-tournament press conference. “I’ve had some tough moments in the past, being horribly nervous. All these years. This match feels a whole lot different. Playing with Rafa feels really different.”

Third seed Marcos Giron and seventh seed James Duckworth booked the first two quarter-final places on offer at the San Diego Open with a pair of Wednesday wins. The Wimbledon doubles partners are now set to square off on Friday in what will be their first ATP Head2Head meeting.

Dressed in an all-black kit with a sleeveless shirt, Giron earned a 6-4, 6-3 victory against Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry to close the day's play on the Barnes Tennis Center's stadium court. Australia's Duckworth secured a 6-3, 7-6(4) result against American Mitchell Krueger earlier in the Grandstand.

"Tomas is a great player. He's Top 100 for a reason," said Giron, who's lived in San Diego for five years. "It's tough, slow conditions and it's physical. I'm really happy to get the win and I'm pumped to keep going forward."

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Playing in his native California, Giron will seek his second tour-level quarter-final of 2022 (Dallas), and the third of his career, against Duckworth. The American broke into the Top 50 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in May, achieving a career-high of No. 49 after reaching the Rome third round as a lucky loser.

Long bound for the history books, Roger Federer's epic rivalries with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal can now be viewed in their totality as the Swiss pens the final pages of his storied ATP Tour career.

A triumvirate internationally known as the Big Three, the sporting legends have dominated tennis' biggest stages, taking the game to an unprecedented level. The three most decorated players of all time have forged their careers in parallel, with 63 Grand Slam titles between them to date.

On his road to greatness, Federer lifted his game in the presence of his two greatest rivals. He faced Nadal, five years his junior, 40 times. He met Djokovic, six years younger, on 50 occasions.

ATPTour.com takes a look back at some key moments in Federer’s two biggest rivalries on tour.

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Roger Federer's tremendous influence on the game of tennis will last long after he plays his final match, his legacy forever linked with the sport. But to some, the Swiss' greatest impact has stemmed from his charity work.

Federer has dedicated his time and resources to many charitable causes throughout his career. He formalised his efforts in 2003 with the creation of the Roger Federer Foundation, with a focus on supporting educational projects in his native Switzerland and southern Africa, the latter near to his heart due to his South African mother.

Nearly 2 million children have benefitted from the foundation's programmes, with $70.5 million spent towards initiatives at 9,300 primary schools and preschools. By providing physical and financial assistance, the organisation aims to provide a strong educational foundation for underprivileged children and their families — a foundation which can serve as a springboard to a better life.

“I think once we intervene and we help the people, it’s that once we leave, they are sustainable by themselves,” Federer said in 2017, as the foundation approached 1 million children reached. “It could be in any field. It’s just that we have empowered them, we have made them stronger. We gave them advice, tips, helped them financially. But mostly, they helped themselves. And because of our help, now it is sustainable.”

Looking back on one particular trip during which he cooked maize with children and their families at a school, Federer recalled the excitement in the air as the participants learned such a practical skill. 

The stars of the 2022 Laver Cup dressed up on Wednesday evening to take part in the events official group photo, gathering by the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London before play begins Friday at The O2.

Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray were among the players who boarded a boat on the River Thames before posing by the UK landmarks ahead of the tournament.

Federer and Murray shared a joke before travelling to the Tower of London.

The event, which sees Team Europe face Team World in a combination of singles and doubles matches, was founded by Federer in 2017 and named after Rod Laver. The Australian, who won 11 major titles joined the teams for the shoot, pictured below on the boat as it passed The O2.

Casper Ruud, Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Djokovic, Murray, Federer and alternate Matteo Berrettini will represent Team Europe at The O2, with captain Bjorn Borg leading the side.

Dominic Thiem is showing signs of a resurgence as he continues his comeback from a right wrist injury. The Austrian won a battle of former Top 10 players against Richard Gasquet on Wednesday at the Moselle Open.

Former World No. 3 Thiem clawed past the former World No. 7 6-3, 7-6(3) to reach the second round in Metz. After advancing to the final of an ATP Challenger Tour event last week in Rennes, the 29-year-old has now won five of his past six matches at all levels.

“It was a very difficult challenge as always when you play against Richard. Also lately [he’s] played well,” Thiem said in his on-court interview. “He came here in good shape, so it’s a very good sign for me, I’m very happy about it.

“After five tough matches in Rennes, to pick it up here with slightly different conditions [has been good], so I’m very happy with my first match back here.”

The No. 182 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings converted four of the eight break points he earned. He also rallied from a break down in the second set to triumph after one hour and 47 minutes and set a second-round showdown against second seed Hubert Hurkacz.

After a season of hard knocks, Stan Wawrinka is building momentum at the Moselle Open in Metz.

The former World No. 3 prevailed 7-6(1), 6-2 against Joao Sousa on Wednesday in the first round at the indoor hard-court event, backing up his two qualifying wins that earned him a main-draw spot in north-eastern France. Wawrinka has struggled to find his best level since returning to Tour in April after missing 13 months due to a foot injury, but the 16-time tour-level titlist gave frequent reminders of his ability with a series of trademark clean backhand winners to overpower World No. 55 Sousa.

“It’s always difficult to play against him. We played a few times in the past, always a tough match, but I’m really, really happy,” said Wawrinka after securing his fourth tour-level main-draw win of 2022. “It’s the first time I won three matches in the same tournament for more than two years, so it’s great.

“I’m getting confidence from winning a few matches, so I’m feeling a bit more relaxed, the way I’m moving. I think the level was good from me and I’m happy with the win.”

Wawrinka also produced a high-class serving performance against Sousa, saving all three break points he faced in the 95-minute encounter and winning 83 per cent (29/35) of points behind his first serve. He will hope to find that rhythm again in his fourth ATP Head2Head meeting against top seed Medvedev. Wawrinka has won only one of the pair’s previous meetings but it was the most recent, at the 2020 Australian Open.

Roger Federer revealed that he was proud and grateful for his legendary career on Wednesday at the Laver Cup in London, where he reflected on his record-breaking accomplishments ahead of his final tour-level event.

The 41-year-old announced his retirement last week after 25 years on Tour, a decision that left him feeling bittersweet.

“You always want to play forever. I love being out on court, I love playing against the guys and I love travelling. I never really felt like it was that hard for me to do, of winning, learn from losing, it was all perfect,” Federer said in his press conference. “I love my career from every angle. That's the bitter part [of retiring]. The sweet part was that I know everybody has to do it at one point. Everybody has to leave the game. It's been a great, great journey. For that, I'm really grateful.”

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In a historic career, the Swiss star spent a record 237 consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings from 2 February 2004 to 17 August 2008, while he lifted 103 tour-level titles, including 20 Grand Slam crowns.

Playing at the San Diego Open the second time, hometown favourite Brandon Nakashima won an all-American #NextGenATP battle on Tuesday night at the Barnes Tennis Center.

Nakashima earned a 7-5, 7-6(5) win against 19-year-old wild card Zachary Svajda, his good friend who hails from the nearby town of La Jolla. Nakashima saved three set points at 4-5 in the second set and failed to serve out the match at 6-5, but battled back from 3/5 in the tie-break to escape in straight sets.

"It was a very tough match, right from the beginning," said the 21-year-old American, who surrendered a break advantage three times in the one-hour, 54-minute contest. "Zach is so talented out there, striking the ball really well. We're good friends off the court. We practise a lot together here in San Diego, so I knew it was going to be a tough match here today."

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The World No. 69 was victorious in his first competitive match since a US Open third-round loss to Jannik Sinner, in which he won the opening set before bowing out in four. After breaking into the Top 50 of the Pepperstone ATP Rakings in July, Nakashima could rise as high as No. 44 by claiming his first ATP Tour title this week.

For certain names, hype precedes their early forays onto the biggest stages. It can stem from their artistry, a ruthless competitiveness, their nationality, standout junior results or a combination of any.

For former junior World No. 1 and Wimbledon boys’ singles champion, Roger Federer, it came even before he stepped foot on Court Suzanne-Lenglen for his Grand Slam debut in 1999. Cap backwards, dressed in the colours of the Swiss flag, the 17-year-old fell to Australia’s Pat Rafter at the first hurdle.

Few could have envisioned the remarkable Grand Slam resume he was about to fill. Twenty major titles later, ATPTour.com looks back at Federer’s defining moments from each of the four majors.

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AUSTRALIAN OPEN – Champion 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018; 103-15 win-loss