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Federer – Twelve Final Days: Moving portrait of the tennis ace not quite a grand slam

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6 months ago

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Federer – Twelve Final Days: Moving portrait of the tennis ace not quite a grand slam

Prime Video; Cert TBC

Roger Federer waves to the Wimbledon Centre Court crowd. Photo: PA

The goal, as ever, with films like Federer: Twelve Final Days should be to always remember the newcomers in the audience. Inform and educate the tennis newbies, make them interested in a sport they rarely ever consider, and you’re on to a winner. Asif Kapadia and Joe Sabia’s classy, well-intentioned Roger Federer tribute just about hits its target.

The year is 2022 and the beloved Swiss icon – a legend on and off the court since 1998 – has decided to call it quits. First, Federer writes a letter to his fans. Next, he flies to London for the Laver Cup where he’ll compete in a doubles match alongside his BFF/rival Rafael Nadal.

It will be his final game, and his entire family is along for the ride. Kapadia and Sabia’s film captures every moment, and Federer – funny, charismatic and refreshingly down to earth – makes for a lovely host.

True, it’s a little bland, a tad too glossy and controlled, and you’d perhaps expect more from ­Kapadia, a fine documentary maker (see Diego Maradona, ­Senna) who usually digs deeper than this.

Thank goodness for that tearful third act. If you’re not ­crying, you may need to check your pulse.

Three stars

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