Roger Federer may have stepped back from competitive tennis, but his influence is everywhere, especially at the Laver Cup.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion famously enjoyed an emotional farewell at the 2022 Laver Cup, when the team event was staged in London's O2 Arena. Federer co-created the Laver Cup and is back as a spectator in Berlin this year. He also raised eyebrows when he took to the iconic black court for a hit earlier in the week.

The importance of having Roger Federer close by: "It’s a huge advantage we have. Roger is definitely on our team. He himself does not want to reveal it, but we all know that he is there whenever we need him for important moments, and this is a small advantage that we take with us. They may have Rod, but we have Roger".

Roger Federer retired two years ago but his connection to tennis remains stronger than ever. The return of the Laver Cup is another reminder that he never left the stage.

Roger Federer says he is happy that he "does not feel like an alien" in his return to tournaments as he acknowledged that certain questions can irk a retired player and make him never come back.