Djokovic with his unprecedented 24 Grand Slam wins?
Nadal with his astonishing 14 French Open victories?
Federer, the first man to win 20 Grand Slams?
Roger Federe at his final tournament, the Laver Cup at in London, September 23, 2022Julian Finney/Getty Images for Laver Cup
The GOAT debate in tennis will never be resolved.
The film, directed by Oscar winnerAsif KapadiaandJoe Sabia, premiered Monday night atTribeca Festival.
It debuts onPrime Videonext Thursday, June 20.
Roger Federer plays his final match at Wimbledon in 2021.Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
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I had interviewed Roger for this series I do forVoguecalled73 Questions.
Not blowing smoke he truly was probably one of the best interviews Ive had out of 90 interviews.
Sabia documented behind the scenes as Federer recorded a video sharing the news of his decision.
The message went out via Instagram on September 15, 2022.
Ive worked hard to return to full competitive form.
But I also know my bodys capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear.
But if youre going to play one set, wouldnt three be even more exciting?
Thats where Kapadia came in.
Joe had shot it.
Joe had cut something together.
So, I came in much later, Kapadia says.
But… Im really engaged, and Im really moved by it.
Amy was about a girl in her teens and twenties.
Rogers story was about someone retiring in their forties.
And when I met Maradona, he was in his fifties.
So somewhere theres this ages of man, ages of people [theme].
That approach has influenced many other documentary filmmakers.
And the main thing is the film has to be truthful to the character.
And I think this is truthful to Roger.
This is really what hes like.
Hes a really good guy and he comes across that way.
Hes very giving and sharing and emotional.
He chose to go out playing doubles with his on-court rival Rafael Nadal.
They became great friends.
Many tears are shed in the film as Federer says his farewell, a lot of them by Nadal.
Time waits for no one, which is part of what lends the documentary its poignancy.
It really does feel like a death.
Youre seeing that in the eyes of all the other rivals.
Theyre seeing their death eventually, Sabia adds.
The most anyone could hope for would be to have a legacy like Roger Federers to look back on.
