THE O2 UNVEILS NEW ROOM HONORING ROGER FEDERER FOUR YEARS ON FROM HIS FINAL COMPETITIVE MATCH

The O2, the world’s most popular live entertainment, leisure and retail destination, has opened a new backstage room in honor of Roger Federer, exactly four years to the day since the tennis legend played the final competitive match of his career at the London venue.

The RF Room celebrates Federer’s long association with The O2, owned and operated by AEG International, where he made a record 45 sporting appearances between 2009 and 2022, culminating in his emotional career farewell at the Laver Cup on September 23, 2022.

The unveiling comes ahead of the Laver Cup’s ninth edition this weekend, as the tournament returns to London. Federer was in attendance to see the new space for the first time, with Alex Hill, President & CEO of AEG International, presenting him with his very own key to the room and a unique table tennis paddle made from The O2’s iconic tent fabric.

Inspired by Federer’s career, the room offers a new backstage space for visiting artists and their teams. A bespoke table tennis table features artwork he selected, alongside his personally curated playlist and 45 paddles marking his appearances at the venue, with the 45th bearing his signature. A photograph of him waving farewell to the crowd after his final match also holds a prominent place in the room.

The O2 has a rich history of hosting some of the biggest moments in sport, across tennis, basketball, boxing, darts and more. Alongside its sporting heritage, the venue has a tradition of recognising major milestones in live entertainment, including Prince’s landmark 21-night residency, which inspired the venue’s 21 Club. The RF Room builds on that heritage as the first space at The O2 created to honor a sporting figure, celebrating Federer’s contribution to the venue’s history and creating a lasting tribute to one of its most memorable sporting moments.

“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 honor. 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 honors 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 competed at The O2 throughout its years as the home of the season-ending ATP Finals before choosing Laver Cup London 2022 for the final match of his professional career. He partnered with Rafael Nadal in doubles for Team Europe on an emotional night that brought together “The Big Four” – Federer, Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, on the same team.

As a co-founder of the Laver Cup, he returns this week to The O2 for the event’s ninth edition, taking place from 25–27 September.