The O2 – the world’s most popular live entertainment, leisure and retail destination – has unveiled a new backstage room dedicated to Roger Federer, marking exactly four years since the tennis legend played the final competitive match of his career at the London venue.
The RF Room pays tribute to Federer’s long-standing relationship with The O2, which is owned and operated by AEG International. From 2009 to 2022, Federer made a record 45 sporting appearances at the venue, concluding with his emotional farewell at the Laver Cup on September 23, 2022 in front of fellow legends Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
The room has been revealed ahead of the ninth edition of the Laver Cup, as the tournament returns to London. Alex Hill, President & CEO of AEG International, presented Federer with a personal key to the room and a unique table-tennis paddle crafted from The O2’s iconic tent fabric.
Drawing inspiration from Federer’s career, the room offers a new backstage space for visiting artists and their teams. It includes a bespoke table tennis table featuring artwork chosen by Federer, his personally curated playlist and 45 paddles commemorating his appearances at the venue, with the 45th signed by him. There is also a special photograph of Federer waving goodbye to the crowd following his iconic final match.
The O2 has a distinguished history of hosting major sporting occasions across tennis, basketball, boxing, darts as well as prestigious musical concerts and events. The venue has a tradition of celebrating significant moments in live entertainment, including Prince’s landmark 21-night residency, which inspired The O2’s 21 Club. The RF Room continues this tradition as the first space at The O2 created to honour a sporting figure. It recognises Federer’s contribution to the venue’s history and provides a lasting tribute to one of its most memorable sporting occasions.
“The O2 will always be a very special place for me,” said Federer. “I have so many great memories of playing here over the years, and of course it’s where I played the final match of my career in 2022. To come back four years later and have a room here is a very special honour. I love the personal touches and the thought that has gone into creating it. I’m very grateful to everyone at AEG and look forward to using it whenever I’m back – and hopefully getting a few games of table tennis in too.”
Alex Hill, President & CEO of AEG International, added: “We’ve had the privilege of hosting some incredible sporting moments over the years, and we felt that Roger’s contribution deserved something particularly special. The RF Room honours his longstanding connection with The O2, and it’s been a pleasure working with him to bring the space to life. We’re delighted to welcome him back for this year’s Laver Cup and to celebrate a special piece of The O2’s history.”
Federer played at The O2 throughout its tenure as the home of the season-ending ATP Finals before choosing Laver Cup London 2022 as the venue for the final match of his professional career. He teamed up with Nadal in doubles for Team Europe during an emotional evening that saw “The Big Four” – Federer, Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, compete on the same team – a truly rare event in tennis history.
