Tadhg Coakley: The enduring beauty of Roger Federer is a joy forever

In a way he wasn’t even Swiss, he transcended nationality. And in another way he transcended sport, he was grace incarnate

A light that'll never go out: Team Europe's Roger Federer applauded ahead of day one of the Laver Cup at the O2 Arena, London. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire.

And so, the extraordinary and beautiful career of Roger Federer fades into memory this weekend. But what memories we have to console us.

I was in France when the news broke last week and when the sports newspaper L’Équipe came up with the perfect front page headline (in English): ‘God Save the King’. And devoted more than half the newspaper to the great man. It didn’t matter that Federer wasn’t French, in a way he wasn’t even Swiss, he transcended nationality.