It’s the end of an era as Roger Federer retires.
The Swiss legend will lay down his rachet after next week’s Laver Cup.
In a social media post he said: “The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event.”
Federer has won 20 Grand Slam titles but has been out of action since a quarter-final loss at Wimbledon in 2021. It was after this that he underwent third knee surgery.
In his statement, he spoke about this in his retirement announcement and said: “I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form..but I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear.”
“I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1500 matches over 24 years.
“Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognise when it is time to end my competitive career.”
To my tennis family and beyond,
With Love,
Roger pic.twitter.com/1UISwK1NIN— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 15, 2022
Fans will need no reminding, Federer has won more than 100 titles total and has the great record of having never retired from a match – singles or doubles.
Another notable statistic is that earlier in his career, Federer notched-up 41 match wins in a row — a sequence that started the year after he won 24 tournament finals straight, from 2003-2005.
Federer began playing tennis at 8 years old and recalled his early exposure to pro tennis as a ball kid in his hometown of Basel, watching players “with a sense of wonder.” It made him dream of his own future in the game, he said — and it drove him to work hard to achieve those dreams.
“The last 24 years on tour have been an incredible adventure,” Federer said, describing the highs and lows of playing his sport in more than 40 countries. Finally, to the game of tennis: I love you and will never leave you.”
