Another of the greatest players in tennis history, Roger Federer, announced that he would be hanging up his racket for good after the Laver Cup in London this month.
The top tennis star had not returned to competition since he was injured and had a third knee operation after Wimbledon 2021 when he lost to Hubert Hurkacs in the quarter-finals.
“My body’s message to me lately has been clear. I have played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years. Now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career,” said the 41-year-old Swiss.
However, the 20-time Grand Slam champion said he loved the game of tennis and “will never” leave it.
Of the 11 Grand Slams organized since early 2020, Federer has only competed in three due to his three-year struggle with knee problems.
Following his loss to Hurkacz at Wimbledon last summer, the tennis star said he needed another knee surgery after undergoing similar procedures in 2020.
After announcing he was retiring from professional tennis, Federer said the decision had been “bittersweet,” as he would miss everything the tour had given him.
“But, at the same time, there is so much to celebrate. I consider myself one of the most fortunate people on Earth. I was given a special talent to play tennis and I did it at a level that I never imagined for much longer than I ever thought possible,” he added.
The athlete also thanked his family, fans, support team and opponents for their support during the golden era of the men’s game.
Federer won his first out of 20 Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon in 2003, five years after making his professional debut as a 16-year-old in 1998. His last victory came at the Australian Open in 2018.
There are only two tennis players with more men’s Grand Slam singles titles than Federer: Spaniard Rafael Nadal with 22 majors and Serbian Novak Djokovic with 21.
The Swiss tennis player rose to the world’s number one for the first time in 2004 before spending 310 weeks leading the ATP Tour. He ends his professional career after amassing eight men’s singles wins at the All England Club.
Federer’s retirement announcement comes just over a week after 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams played what appeared to be her last match.
