Roger Federer, 20-time grand slam champion, will retire from tennis after the Laver Cup later this month.
Key points:
- Roger Federer said his body’s “message to me lately has been clear”
- Federer’s last match will be at the Laver Cup in London
- Federer won six of his 20 grand slam singles titles at the Australian Open
The 41-year-old released a statement on his social media pages with the news.
“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,” he wrote.
“I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in grand slams or on the tour.”
Federer is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players to play the game.
A world number one for a record 237 consecutive weeks, Federer’s cultured excellence won him millions of fans all over the world.
One of a trio of stars, along with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, Federer helped dominate men’s tennis for well over a decade.
Between 2003, when he won his first Wimbledon title aged just 21, Federer would play in 21 out of the next 28 grand slam finals.
He was the first man to win 20 grand slam singles titles, including an unprecedented eight championships on the grass of SW19 — and a stunning five in a row between 2003 and 2007.
Federer matched that feat at Flushing Meadows with five US Open wins between 2004 and 2008, by which time he had also claimed four Australian Open crowns.
After completing a career Grand Slam by finally winning the French Open in 2009, having been beaten in three consecutive finals by Nadal, Federer continued to dominate with another Wimbledon title and the 2010 Australian Open.
Federer won four grand slams from 2011 onwards, making nine finals as his younger rivals gradually surpassed him — Nadal now has 22 grand slam singles titles and Djokovic 21.
There was a late career resurgence after knee surgery though, winning the Australian Open twice in 2017 and 2018, and Wimbledon for the final time in 2017.
Injuries continued to take their toll, with Federer missing eight of the last ten grand slam tournaments played.
“The past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries,” Federer wrote in his goodbye message.
“I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form.
“But I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and it’s message to me lately has been clear.”
Away from slams, the Swiss won 82 per cent of the 1,526 ATP Tour singles matches he played, winning 103 titles, second only to Jimmy Connors.
He also won an Olympic gold in doubles with Stan Wawrinka in 2008 and a silver in singles at London 2012.
Federer also delivered Switzerland its first Davis Cup title in 2014.
Billie Jean King hailed Federer as “a champions champion” as stars flocked to celebrate his “historic career”.
“He has the most complete game of his generation and captured the hearts of sports fans around the world with an amazing quickness on the court and a powerful tennis mind,” she wrote.
Petra Kvitova wrote “tennis won’t be the same without you,” on her twitter tribute.
“Thank you for doing more for tennis than any single individual,” Canadian star Milos Raonic wrote.
“A role model for me and so many others,” Denis Shapovalov wrote.
“Thanks for everything Roger It’s been a privilege to share the court with you!”
Federer described the decision as “bittersweet”, but added there was plenty to celebrate.
“The last 24 years on tour have been an incredible adventure,” he wrote.
“While it sometimes feels like it went by in 24 hours, it has also been so deep and magical that it seems as if I’ve already lived a full lifetime.
“I have laughed and cried, felt joy and pain, and most of all I have felt incredibly alive.
“I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart, to everyone around the world who has help make the dreams of a young Swiss ball kid come true.”
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