Swiss tennis great Roger Federer has announced his retirement from the competition, stating that at age 41, his body is telling him the time has come. “I have played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years,” Federer said in a video message, while stating that his body’s message to him has been clear lately.
The writing was already on the wall. There were speculations due to Roger Federer’s long absence from the tennis grounds because it was the first time in his career that the superstar was missing in action from all Grand Slams in a calendar year. His knee injury became a major cause of concern and his fans started worrying about his future games.
For the past three years, he had limited appearances on the courts. Then finally, the tennis sensation broke his silence. He declared that the upcoming edition of the Laver Cup will be the last time his fans will see him on the tennis courts of a Grand Slam.
ROGER – THE LEGEND
Expressing his statement over a long post on Twitter, he said “Of all the gifts that tennis has given me over the years, the greatest, without a doubt, has been the people I’ve met along the way: my friends, my competitors, and most of all the fans who give the sport its life. Today, I want to share some news with all of you. I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1500 matches over 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career. The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in 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 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”, said the tennis great, reminiscing his prolific career.
Roger’s career has witnessed many moments that have left the fans of the game astonished and awestruck. Federer last appeared in the game at last year’s Wimbledon, where he reached the quarter-finals. His final Grand Slam win was at the 2018 Australian Open when he became the second-oldest man to win a major singles title in the Open era at the age of 36. He created a record when he claimed 103 singles titles on the ATP tour and was world number one for 237 consecutive weeks between February 2004 and August 2008. In 2018, he held the record of being the oldest man to hold this ranking.
In the early stages of his career, he notched 41 match wins in a row – after winning 24 tournament finals straight, from 2003-2005. Federer has been the winner of 20 Grand Slam singles titles, which include eight won at Wimbledon. Over his career, he has won more than 100 titles total and amassed a 1,251-275 record.
Federer began playing tennis at the age of 8 and he recalls his early exposure to pro tennis as a ball kid in his hometown of Basel, watching players ‘with a sense of wonder.’ He mentioned that it made him dream of his own future in the game, and drove him to work hard to achieve his dreams.
Describing the highs and lows of his journey while playing the sport in more than 40 countries, Federer said that the last 24 years have been an incredible adventure. “Finally, to the game of tennis: I love you and will never leave you.” Federer’s decision to retire follows a turbulent period for the Swiss legend, who had undergone three knee surgeries in a desperate attempt to return to his form.
His injuries had limited his appearances in the game and he played in only three of the 11 Grand Slams staged since the start of 2020. His final ATP event will come next week, at the Laver Cup in London(a tournament between Team Europe and Team World) in late September.
END OF AN ERA
Roger Federer’s retirement is a heavy loss for the tennis world. He played his last career match on July 7, 2021. His career that spanned across generations would finally come to an end leaving a massive void in the tennis community.
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