Roger Federer says he’s retiring from tennis after upcoming Laver Cup

Roger Federer is retiring from skilled tennis at age 41 after a sequence of knee operations, closing a profession by which he received 20 Grand Slam titles, completed 5 seasons ranked No. 1 and helped create a golden period of males’s tennis with rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Federer posted what he referred to as a “bittersweet choice” through social media on Thursday, lower than every week after 23-time main champion Serena Williams performed what is anticipated to the final match of her profession.

Mixed, the exits by two of the best athletes of their sport’s historical past symbolize a big turning of the web page.

“As lots of you realize, the previous three years have offered me with challenges within the type of accidents and surgical procedures. I’ve labored laborious to return to full aggressive type,” Federer wrote on Twitter. “However I additionally know my physique’s capacities and limits, and its message to me currently has been clear.”

Federer has not competed since Wimbledon in July 2021, and so, in that sense, his information isn’t all that stunning.

However he had appeared at an occasion marking the 100-year anniversary of Centre Courtroom on the All England Membership this July and mentioned he hoped to return again to play there “another time.”

He additionally had mentioned he would return to event motion in his house nation on the Swiss Indoors in October.

In Thursday’s announcement, Federer mentioned his farewell occasion would be the Laver Cup in London subsequent week. That may be a staff occasion run by his administration firm.

Federer is married and he and his spouse, Mirka — a tennis participant, too; they met as athletes at an Olympics — have two units of twins.

He leaves with a complete of 103 tour-level titles on his substantial resume and 1,251 wins in singles matches, each second solely to Jimmy Connors within the Open period, which started in 1968. Federer’s data embody being the oldest No. 1 in ATP rankings historical past — he returned to the highest spot at 36 in 2018 — and most consecutive weeks there (his whole weeks mark was eclipsed by Djokovic).

WATCH | Federer wins eighth Wimbledon title:

When Federer received his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003, the boys’s document for many was held by Pete Sampras, who had received his 14th on the U.S. Open the 12 months earlier than in what turned out to be the final match of the American’s profession.

Federer would go on to blow well beyond that, ending up with 20 by successful eight championships at Wimbledon, six on the Australian Open, 5 on the U.S. Open and one on the French Open. His 2009 trophy at Roland Garros allowed Federer to finish a profession Grand Slam.

His serving, forehand, footwork and attacking type will all be remembered. Additionally unforgettable have been his matches towards youthful rivals Nadal, 36, and Djokovic, 35, who each equalled, then surpassed, Federer’s Slam whole and are nonetheless successful titles on the sport’s 4 greatest tournaments.

Nadal now leads the rely with 22, one forward of Djokovic.

“I used to be fortunate sufficient to play so many epic matches that I’ll always remember,” Federer mentioned in Thursday’s announcement.

Addressing his “rivals on the courtroom” — though not by identify — he wrote: “We pushed one another, and collectively we took tennis to new ranges.”

Federer’s final match wherever got here on July 7, 2021, when he misplaced at Centre Courtroom within the Wimbledon quarterfinals to Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-0.

Quickly after, Federer had surgical procedure to restore injury to his meniscus and cartilage in his proper knee — his third operation on that knee in a span of 1-½ years.

“Tennis has handled me extra generously than I ever would have dreamt,” Federer mentioned Thursday, “and now I have to acknowledge when it’s time to finish my aggressive profession.”