Federer posted a “bittersweet decision” via social media on Thursday, less than a week after 23-time champion Serena Williams played what is expected to be the final match of her career. Combined, the retirements of two of the greatest athletes in their sport’s history represent a significant turning of the page. “As many of you know, the past three years have brought me challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries. I’ve been working hard to get back to full match fitness,” Federer wrote on Twitter. “But I also know my body’s capabilities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear.” Federer hasn’t played since Wimbledon in July 2021, so in that sense, his news isn’t all that surprising. But he had appeared at an event to mark the 100th anniversary of Center Court at the All England Club this July and said he hoped to return to play there “one more time”. He had also said he would return to tournaments in his country at the Swiss Indoors in October. In Thursday’s announcement, Federer said his farewell event would be the Laver Cup in London next week. This is a group event organized by its management company. Federer is married, and he and his wife, Mirka — are also tennis players. met as Olympic athletes — they have two sets of twins. He leaves with a total of 103 tour-level titles on his impressive resume and 1,251 singles match wins, both second only to Jimmy Connors in the Open era, which began in 1968. Federer’s records include being the oldest No. 1 in ATP rankings history — he returned to the top spot at age 36 in 2018 — and the most consecutive weeks there (his total of weeks eclipsed by Djokovic). When Federer won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003, the record for most by a man was held by Pete Sampras, who had won his 14th at the US Open the previous year in what turned out to be the final match of his career American. Federer would go on to surpass that, finishing with 20 by winning eight Wimbledon titles, six at the Australian Open, five at the US Open and one at the French Open. The 2009 Roland Garros trophy allowed Federer to complete a career Grand Slam. His serve, forehand, footwork and attacking style will live on in our memory. Also memorable were his matches with younger rivals Nadal, 36, and Djokovic, 35, who equaled, then surpassed, Federer’s Slam total and still wins titles at the sport’s four biggest tournaments. Nadal now leads the crowd with 22, one ahead of Djokovic. “I’ve been lucky enough to play so many epic matches that I’ll never forget,” Federer said in Thursday’s announcement. Addressing his “competitors on the court” _ though not by name _ he wrote: “We pushed each other and together we took tennis to new levels.” Federer’s last match anywhere came on July 7, 2021, when he lost on Center Court in the Wimbledon quarterfinals to Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-0. Soon after, Federer underwent surgery to repair damage to the meniscus and cartilage in his right knee _ his third operation on that knee in 1 1/2 years. “Tennis has treated me more generously than I could have ever dreamed of,” Federer said Thursday, “and now I have to recognize when it’s time to end my competitive career.”
