The 20-time Grand Slam champion has been battling a knee problem for the past three years and has decided now is the time to step away.
Federer will play in next week’s Laver Cup in London, the Ryder Cup-style competition that was his brainchild, but will then retire from the professional game.
Federer made the announcement via a letter posted on social media, which began: “To my tennis family and beyond. Of all the gifts that tennis has given me over the years, the greatest, without a doubt , were the people I have met along the way: my friends, my competitors and above all the fans who give their lives to the sport Today, I want to share some news with you all.
“As many of you know, the past three years have brought me challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries. I have been working hard to get back to full match fitness.
“But I also know my body’s capabilities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear. I’m 41 years old. I’ve played more than 1,500 matches in 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.
“Next week’s Laver Cup in London will be my last ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but not in a Grand Slam or on tour.”
Federer’s Grand Slam record has now been surpassed by both arch-rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, but many people, especially the legions of fans he brought to the sport, will still consider him the greatest of all time.
Federer continued: “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 luckiest people on Earth. I was given a special talent to play tennis and I did it at a level I never imagined, for far longer than I ever thought possible.”
The Swiss has not played a competitive match since losing to Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon last summer.
He then announced that he needed more surgery on his knee, having previously undergone two operations in 2020 that kept him out for more than a year.
Federer had aimed for a full return after the latest operation, but it became increasingly clear that his recovery was not going as well as he had hoped.
Federer, who won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003, thanked his family for their support, writing: “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 when he was over eight months pregnant and has put up with my silly side on the road with my team for over 20 years.
“I also want to thank my four wonderful children for supporting me, always willing to explore new places and create great memories along the way. Seeing my family cheering me on from the stands is a feeling I will cherish forever.”
Federer’s retirement, which comes less than a fortnight after Serena Williams’ emotional elimination at the US Open, is another sign that this momentous era in tennis is coming to an end.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play so many epic matches that I’ll never forget,” Federer said.
“We fought fairly, with passion and intensity, and I always tried to respect the history of the game. I feel extremely grateful. We pushed each other and together we took tennis to new levels.
“Above all, I have to give a special thanks to my incredible fans. You will never know how much strength and faith you have given me.
“The inspiring feeling of walking into packed stadiums and arenas has been one of the greatest thrills in my life. Without you, these successes would have felt lonely, instead of filled with joy and energy.
“The last 24 years on tour have been an incredible adventure. While sometimes it feels like 24 hours passed, it’s also been so deep and magical that it feels like I’ve already lived a lifetime.”
Finally, in the game of tennis: I love you and I will never leave you. Roger Federer
Concluding his letter, Federer wrote: “When my love for tennis began, I was a ball boy in my hometown of Basel. I watched the players with a sense of wonder.
“They were like giants to me and I started to dream. My dreams made me work harder and I started to believe in myself. Some success gave me confidence and I was on my way to the most amazing journey that has led to this day.
“Well, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart, to everyone around the world who helped make a young Swiss ball boy’s dreams come true. Finally, to the game of tennis: I love you and I will never leave you .”
Federer’s career in numbers
20 – Grand Slam titles 31 – Grand Slam Finals 23 – consecutive Grand Slam semifinal appearances from 2004 to 2010, all-time record 36 – consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal appearances 65 – consecutive Grand Slam appearances from Australian Open in 2000 to French Open in 2016 8 – Wimbledon titles, most of all 6 – Australian Open titles 5 – US Open titles 1 – French Open title 1,251 – career games won out of 1,526 369 – Grand Slam match wins 22 – consecutive appearances at Wimbledon 310 – weeks at world No. 1, 237 of them consecutively 36 – aged 36 years and 320 days, Federer was the oldest world No. 1 in ATP history 5 – Federer has reached the final of every Grand Slam at least five times 103 – career titles, second in the Open era behind Jimmy Connors 6 – titles won in ATP finals, all-time record 10 – titles won at the ATP events in Basel and Halle 12 – titles won in 2006, his most successful season 92 – games won out of 97 played in 2006 65 – consecutive games won on grass from 2003 to 2008 3 – Federer reached the finals of all Grand Slams in three different seasons 2 – Olympic medals. doubles gold with Stan Wawrinka in 2008 and singles silver in 2012 24 – losses to his great rival Rafael Nadal from 40 matches 130,594,339 – career prize money (USD) 550 million – estimated net worth (USD)
Wimbledon tweeted: “Roger, where do we start? It’s been a privilege to follow your journey and watch you become a champion in every sense of the word. We will miss seeing you grace our courts, but the only all we can say for now is thank you, for the memories and joy you have given to so many.” Judy Murray tweeted: “The end of a great era…” Juan Martin del Potro tweeted: “I LOVE you Roger. Thank you for everything you have done in tennis and for myself. The world of tennis will never be the same without you.” Don’t forget to follow us at skysports.com/tennis, our Twitter account @skysportstennis & Sky Sports – on the go! Available to download now on – iPhone & iPad and Android
