Tennis legend Roger Federer has announced that he will retire from the sport at the age of 41.
Federer has confirmed that the final tournament of his illustrious career will be the Laver Cup in London, which will be held at the O2 Arena next weekend.
The Swiss master – who won a total of 20 Grand Slams, the third-highest number of men of all time – retires as one of the greatest ever to play the game.
Federer’s last appearance was at Wimbledon last year, where he reached the quarterfinals. His last Grand Slam triumph was at the 2018 Australian Open when, at 36, he became the second-oldest man to win a major singles title in the era of Open.
He won 103 singles titles on the ATP Tour and was world number one for 237 consecutive weeks between February 2004 and August 2008, which remains a record.
Federer’s decision follows a turbulent period for the Swiss star, who has undergone three knee operations in a desperate bid to return to his former glory.
Injuries have limited his appearances on the tour and he has played in just three of the 11 Grand Slams held since the start of 2020.
Roger Federer has announced his retirement from competitive tennis at the age of 41
Federer was a household name both on and off the court during a very successful career
The Swiss star will retire from the sport when he plays in the Laver Cup next week
Federer will appear in exhibition matches, but the Laver Cup, where he will represent the European team, will be his last competition on the ATP tour.
“To my tennis family and beyond, of all the gifts that tennis has given me over the years, the best, without a doubt, have been the people I’ve met along the way: my friends, the my competitors and especially the fans who bring the sport to life,” said Federer.
“Today I want to share some news with you all. As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries.
The 41-year-old Swiss star claimed the last of her eight Wimbledon titles in 2017
The last few years of his career have been dogged by injuries, while he has had three knee surgeries.
“I’ve worked hard to get back into full competitive shape. But I also know my body’s capacity and limits, and his message lately has been clear.
‘I am 41 years old. I have played over 1,500 games over 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I could have ever dreamed, and now I have to recognize when it is time to end my competitive career.
“The Laver Cup in London next week will be my last ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but not the Grand Slams or the tour.
“This is a bittersweet decision, because I will miss everything the tour has given me.
“But at the same time, there is a lot to celebrate. I consider myself one of the luckiest people on Earth. I was given a special talent to play tennis, and I did it at a level I never imagined, for much longer than I ever thought possible.”
Federer was always popular and was a fan favorite at every tournament he played, especially at Wimbledon.
Federer thanked his wife, Mirka, his coaches, his supporters and everyone who has played a part in his stellar career.
He also paid tribute to fellow competitors, including Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who lead the all-time Grand Slam rankings with 22 and 21, respectively.
“I was lucky enough to play so many epic matches that I will never forget,” Federer added in a video statement.
“We fought fairly, with passion and intensity, and I’ve always done my best to respect the history of the game. I feel very grateful.
Federer shared some incredible matches with Rafael Nadal during his career
roger,
Where do we start?
It has been a privilege to witness your journey and see you become a champion in every sense of the word.
We will greatly miss seeing you in our courts, but all we can say for now is thank you, for the memories and joy you have brought to so many. pic.twitter.com/VDWylKvW86
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) September 15, 2022
“We pushed each other and together we took tennis to new levels. Above all I have to give special thanks to my amazing fans.
FEDERER’S CAREER
Individual titles: 103
Grand Slam titles: 20
Highest ranking: 1 (for a total of 310 weeks)
Davis Cup: 1 (2004)
Hopman Cups: 3 (2001, 2018, 2019)
Olympic medals: 2 (gold doubles 2008, silver singles 2012)
‘You will never know how much strength and belief you have given me. The inspiring feeling of walking through packed stadiums and arenas has been one of the greatest thrills of my life. Without you, these achievements would have felt lonely, instead of filled with joy and energy.
‘The last 24 years of touring have been an incredible adventure. While sometimes it seems like it’s happened in 24 hours, it’s also been so deep and magical that it feels like you’ve already lived a lifetime.
“I’ve had the immense fortune of playing in front of you in more than 40 different countries. I’ve laughed and cried, felt joy and pain, and most of all felt incredibly alive.”
Federer ended his statement with a message to his fans and to the sport. “At the game of tennis: I love you and I will never leave you.”
The Swiss was a household name on and off the court. He is believed to have amassed more than £812 million through tournament prize money and endorsement deals with companies such as Nike and Rolex.
Federer released a statement on Instagram confirming that he will retire after the Laver Cup
Federer has also appeared in the top 10 every year on Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes since 2012.
She made her tour debut at the age of 16 in 1998 and won her first Grand Slam title on the hallowed courts of the All-England Club in 2003.
This achievement was the first of eight triumphs at Wimbledon, the place where he was perhaps most revered.
Federer also won six Australian Open titles and five US Open crowns, while his lone French Open triumph came in 2009.
He was part of a golden era for tennis, regularly competing for top honors alongside Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray.
The quartet produced some of the biggest matches in the history of the sport, including the famous Wimbledon final with Nadal in 2008.
Federer’s final top-level appearance will come at the Laver Cup, which runs from September 23-25, where he will join Murray, Nadal, Djokovic, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas and Norway’s Casper Ruud in Team Europe that will face the rest of the world.
FULL STATEMENT OF ROGER FEDERER
To my tennis family and beyond, of all the gifts that tennis has given me over the years, the greatest has undoubtedly been the people I’ve met along the way: my friends, the my competitors and especially fans who bring the sport to life.
Today I want to share some news with you all. As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries.
I have worked hard to get back into full competitive shape. But I also know my body’s capacity and limits, and his message lately has been clear.
I am 41 years old. I have played over 1,500 games over 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I could have ever dreamed, and now I have to recognize when it is time to end my competitive career.
The Laver Cup in London next week will be my last ATP date. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but not in the Grand Slams or on the tour.
This is a bittersweet decision, because I will miss everything the tour has given me. But at the same time, there is much to celebrate. I consider myself one of the luckiest people on Earth. I was given a special talent to play tennis and I played it at a level I never imagined, for much longer than I ever thought possible.
I would especially like to thank my amazing wife Mirka, who has lived every minute with me. He’s warmed me up before finals, watched countless games even while over 8 months pregnant and put up with my goofy side on the road with my team for over 20 years.
I also want to thank my four wonderful children for supporting me, always eager to explore new places and create wonderful memories along the way.
Seeing my family cheering me on from the stands is a feeling I will cherish forever.
I would also like to thank and acknowledge my beloved parents and my beloved sister, without whom nothing would be possible. Many thanks to all my former coaches who have always guided me in the right direction. you have been wonderful And to Swiss tennis, who believed in me as a young player and gave me an ideal start.
I really want to thank and acknowledge my fantastic team, Ivan, Dani, Roland and especially Seve and Pierre, who have given me the best advice and have always been there for me. Also Tony, for creatively managing my business for over 17 years.
You are all amazing and I have loved every minute with you.
I want to thank my loyal sponsors, who are really like partners for me; and the hard-working teams and tournaments on the ATP Tour, who have consistently welcomed you with kindness and hospitality.
I would also like to thank my competitors on the track. I was lucky enough to play so many epic matches that I will never forget. We fought fairly, with passion and intensity, and I always did my best to respect the history of the match. I feel very grateful.
We pushed each other and together we took tennis to new levels. Most of all I have to give special thanks to my amazing fans. You will never know how much strength and belief you have given me. The inspiring feeling of walking through packed stadiums and arenas has been one of the greatest thrills of my life. Without you, these achievements would have felt lonely, instead of filled with joy and energy.
The last 24 years of touring have been an incredible adventure. While it sometimes feels like it has happened in 24 hours, it has also been so deep and…