Tennis legend Federer announces retirement
Swiss icon Roger Federer has announced his retirement from tennis, confirming the news to fans in a statement published on social media on Thursday.
The 41-year-old has been out of action since Wimbledon last year after nursing lingering injury problems.
Previously preparing a possible autumn comeback after undergoing a third knee surgery in 18 months, those plans have now been dropped with the modern-day great following in the footsteps of fellow legend Serena Williams, who indicated she was retiring after the US Open earlier this month.
Federer said he will play next week’s Laver Cup in London, but that it will be his final ATP event.
Boasting an impressive 20 Grand Slam wins, Federer is the first of the 'Big Three' to bow out with generational rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic continuing to compete.
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 15, 2022
Announcing the end of an illustrious 24-year career where he has taken part in more than 1,500 matches, Federer said that he knew his "body’s capacities and limits" and must now "recognize when it is time" to call it a day.
"This is a bittersweet decision, because I will miss everything the tour has given me," Federer admitted.
"But at the same time, there is so much to celebrate. I consider myself one of the most fortunate people on Earth."
Federer signed off by addressing the game of tennis and vowed: "I love you and will never leave you."
Cementing a legacy that has seen him compared to the likes of boxing icon Muhammad Ali and basketball behemoth Michael Jordan, Federer exits his sport while holding the record for the most consecutive weeks at number one and as the oldest player ever to occupy the top spot at 36 years of age in 2018.
Before Nadal (22 Grand Slams) and Djokovic (21) overtook him, Federer was also tennis' leading men's Major winner with his haul consisting of six Australian Open titles, one French Open crown, five US Open triumphs, and a record eight Wimbledon titles.
In addition, Federer scooped a silver medal in the singles at the London Olympics in 2012, having claimed gold four years earlier in Beijing in the men's doubles event.
The Laver Cup event which will be Federer's swansong next week will see him compete for Team Europe against a set of Team World rivals, across three days of action from September 23 to 25 at The O2 in the UK capital.
