Federer to call time on professional tennis career
One of the tennis world’s great entertainers and champions Roger Federer has called time on an illustrious 24-year professional career.
The 41-year-old Swiss ace provided the world with some of tennis’ finest moments and his nearly 20 year rivalry with Rafael Nadal will be seen as one of the greatest in tennis history.
With 20 grand slam titles to his name, and 103 career titles, Federer’s legacy will go down as one the greatest alongside his old rival Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
The Laver Cup coming up in London next week will be Federer’s last event on the ATP and following a number of years where he battled injury, he felt the time was right to retire.
“The past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries,” he said in a statement released on social media.
“I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form. But I also know my body’s capacity and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear.
“I have played more than 1500 matches in 24 years.
“Now I must recognise when it’s time to end my competitive career.”
To my tennis family and beyond,
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 15, 2022
With Love,
Roger pic.twitter.com/1UISwK1NIN
Federer made his debut on the ATP Tour in 1998 at the Swiss Open and a year later won his first match on Tour in France.
He shot to fame at the 2001 when a 19-year-old Federer beat Wimbledon royalty Pete Sampras in a five set match to reach the quarter-finals.
Federer won his first grand slam title at Wimbledon in 2003 when he beat Australian Mark Philippoussis in the final; he would go on to win seven more times at SW19.
His record at the All England Club shows consecutive wins from 2003 to 2007.
He won two more grand slam titles in 2004 when he won the Australian Open and the US Open.
His one and only triumph on the clay of Roland Garros came in 2009 when he beat Robin Soderling in straight sets to finally capture the Coupe des Mousquetaires and with it the career Grand Slam.
Along with his incredible record in the grand slams Federer also won the season-ending Tour Finals on six different occasions.
“The last 24 years on tour have been an incredible adventure.
“While it sometimes feels like it went by in 24 hours, it has also been so deep and magical that it also seems as if I’ve already lived a full lifetime.
“Finally, to the game of tennis; I love you and will never leave you.”
