'Very special' - Andy Murray reflects on emotional Roger Federer send-off and tips Carlos Alcaraz for great career

Andy Murray has described Roger Federer’s Laver Cup send-off as a special and emotional moment, while the Scot tipped current world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz to challenge at the top of the sport for years to come.

Murray is competing at the Gijon Open this week, his first outing since playing for Team Europe alongside Federer in London, and he began his campaign with a win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Tuesday. Ad Federer’s glittering tennis career came to an end at the Laver Cup, when he paired up with old rival Rafael Nadal in the doubles in his final professional appearance.

ATP Gijón'The best role model' — Thiem inspired by Nadal to return to the top of tennis4 HOURS AGO Reflecting on the event, Murray told Cadena Ser: “It was strange, even the few days before Roger and Rafa played together. “I was feeling quite emotional because we were doing a lot of interviews and being asked a lot about the last 15 years of our careers.

“Although it wasn’t me who was stopping, I never thought that much about this period in my life, the matches I played and things like that. It was bringing back a lot of memories.

'It's difficult to keep up' — Murray beats Davidovich but admits facing younger players 'not easy' Raducanu splits with Tursunov, working with Murray's ex-trainer Green — reports 'Too soon' — Federer will not have retirement ceremony at Basel hometown event «When Roger finished, seeing him there with his family, the feeling of all the players, the crowd, it was very special and a nice way for his career to finish, playing alongside his biggest rival and friend Rafa.” Murray, 35, has battled back from two hip operations to reach No.48 in the world rankings this year. But it has been an even better 2022 for Spaniard