Federer has confirmed that the final tournament of his illustrious career will be the Laver Cup in London, which is scheduled to take place at the O2 Arena next weekend.
The Swiss maestro – who won a total of 20 Grand Slams, the third-highest number of men of all time – retires as one of the greatest to ever play the game.
Federer’s last appearance was at last year’s Wimbledon, where he reached the quarterfinals. His last Grand Slam triumph was at the 2018 Australian Open when, aged 36, he became the second-oldest man to win a major singles title in the Open era.
He won 103 ATP Tour singles titles and was world number one for 237 consecutive weeks between February 2004 and August 2008, which remains a record.
Federer’s decision follows a turbulent period for the Swiss star, who has undergone three knee operations in a desperate bid to return to his former glory.
Injuries have limited his tour appearances and he has played in just three of the 11 Grand Slams held since the start of 2020.
Roger Federer announces his retirement from competitive tennis at the age of 41
Federer has been a household name both on and off the court during a highly successful career
The Swiss star will bid farewell to the sport when he plays in next week’s Laver Cup
Federer is set to play in exhibition matches, but the Laver Cup, where he will represent Team Europe, will be his last event on the ATP Tour.
“To my tennis family and beyond, of all the gifts that tennis has given me over the years, the greatest, without a doubt, have been the people I’ve met along the way: my friends, my competitors and most of all the fans who give their lives to the sport,” Federer said.
“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.
The 41-year-old Swiss star won the last of his eight Wimbledon titles in 2017
The last few years of his career have been plagued by injuries, and he has had three knee surgeries
“I have been working hard to get back to full match fitness. But I also know my body’s capacity and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear.
“I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years. Tennis has been more generous to me than I could have ever dreamed of, and now I have to recognize when it is time to end my competitive career.
“The Laver Cup in London next week will be my last ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but not in the Grand Slams or on the tours.
“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.”
Federer has always been popular and a fan favorite at every tournament he has played, especially at Wimbledon
Federer thanked his wife, Mirka, his coaches, his fans and everyone involved in his stellar career.
He also paid tribute to fellow players like Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – who lead the all-time Grand Slam standings with 22 and 21, respectively.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play so many epic matches that I’ll never forget,” Federer added in a video statement.
We fought fairly, with passion and intensity and I always tried to respect the history of the game. I feel extremely grateful.
Federer has shared some incredible matches with the likes of Rafael Nadal during his career
Roger,
Where do we start?
It has been a privilege to follow your journey and watch you become a champion in every sense of the word.
We will miss the sight of you gracing our courts so much, but all we can say for now is thank you, for the memories and joy you have given to so many. pic.twitter.com/VDWylKvW86
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) September 15, 2022
“We pushed each other and together we took tennis to new levels. Above all I have to give special thanks to my incredible fans.
FEDERER’S CAREER
Unit Titles: 103 Grand Slam titles: 20 Highest rank: 1 (for a total of 310 weeks) Davis Cups: 1 (2004) Hopman Cups: 3 (2001, 2018, 2019) Olympic medals: 2 (gold double 2008, silver individual 2012) “You will never know how much strength and faith you have given me. The inspiring feeling of walking into packed stadiums and arenas was one of the greatest thrills of my life. Without you, these successes would feel 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 was also so deep and magical that it feels like I’ve already lived a lifetime. “I’ve had the great fortune to play in front of you in over 40 different countries. I have laughed and cried, felt joy and pain, and most of all felt incredibly alive.’ Federer concluded his statement with a message to his fans and the sport. “In the game of tennis: I love you and I will never leave you.” The Swiss was a household name both on and off the pitch. He is believed to have raised more than £812 million through tournament prize money and endorsement deals with companies such as Nike and Rolex. Federer released a statement on Instagram confirming that he will retire after the Laver Cup Federer has also appeared in the top-10 every year on Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes since 2012. He made his debut at the age of 16 in 1998 and won his maiden Grand Slam title at the hallowed courts of the All-England Club in 2003. This success was the first of eight triumphs at Wimbledon, the place where he was perhaps most revered. Federer also won six Australian Open titles and five US Open crowns, while his solitary French Open triumph came in 2009. He was part of a golden era for tennis, regularly competing for top honors alongside the likes of Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray. The quartet produced some of the greatest matches in the history of the sport, including the famous Wimbledon final with Nadal in 2008. Federer’s final appearance at the top level will be at the Laver Cup, which runs from September 23-25, where he will join Murray, Nadal, Djokovic, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas and Norway’s Kasper Rudd in the European team that will face the rest of the world.
ROGER FEDERER FULL STATEMENT
To my tennis family and beyond, of all the gifts 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 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 capacity and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear. I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years. Tennis has been more generous to me than I could have ever dreamed of, and now I have to recognize when it is time to end my competitive career. The Laver Cup in London next week will be my last ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but not in the Grand Slams or on the tours. 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. I would especially like to thank my amazing wife Mirka, who has lived every minute with me. She’s warmed me up before finals, watched countless games even while over 8 months pregnant, and put up with my goofy side on the road with my team for over 20 years. I also want to thank my four wonderful children who have supported me, always willing to explore new places and create wonderful memories along the way. Seeing my family cheering me on from the stands is a feeling I will cherish forever. I would also like to thank and acknowledge my beloved parents and my beloved sister, without whom nothing would have been possible. A big thank you to all my former coaches who always guided me in the right direction. you were wonderful. And to Swiss tennis, who believed in me as a young player and gave me the ideal start. I really want to thank and acknowledge my amazing team, Ivan, Dani, Roland, and especially Seve and Pierre, who gave me the best advice and were always there for me. Also, Tony, for creatively managing my business for over 17 years. You are all incredible and I loved every minute with you. I want to thank my loyal sponsors, who are really like partners for me. and the hard working teams and tournaments on the ATP Tour, who have consistently greeted you all with kindness and hospitality. I would also like to thank my competitors on the field. I was lucky enough to play so many epic matches that I will never forget. 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 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 was one of the greatest thrills of my life. Without you, these successes would feel lonely, instead of filled with joy and energy. The last 24 years on tour have been an incredible adventure. While it sometimes feels like it passed in 24 hours, it was also so deep and magical that it seems like…
