Federer says he’s retiring
Roger Federer is retiring from professional tennis at age 41 after a series of knee operations, closing a career in which he won 20 Grand Slam titles, finished five seasons ranked No. 1 and helped create a golden era of men’s tennis with rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Federer posted what he called a “bittersweet decision” via both a written statement and an audio clip on Thursday, less than two weeks after 23-time major champion Serena Williams played what is expected to be the last match of her career.
Combined, the exits by two of the greatest athletes in their sport’s history represent a significant turning of the page.
“As many of you know, the last three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries. I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form,” said Federer, who’s home in Switzerland. “But I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear.”
Federer hasn’t competed anywhere since Wimbledon in July 2021, and so, in that sense, his news isn’t all that surprising.
In Thursday’s announcement, Federer said his farewell will come at the Laver Cup, a team event, in London next week.
Federer and his wife, Mirka — a tennis player, too; they met as athletes at an Olympics — have two sets of twins, girls who are 13 and boys who are 8.
Federer leaves the sport with a total of 103 tourlevel titles on his substantial resume and 1,251 wins in singles matches, both second only to Jimmy
Connors in the Open era, which began in 1968.
The dominance Federer displayed at the height of his powers is unrivaled, including reaching 10 consecutive Slam finals, winning eight, from 2005-07, a run that also extended to 18 of 19 major finals into 2010.
“Roger Federer is a champion’s champion. He has the most complete game of his generation and captured the hearts of fans around the world with an amazing quickness and a powerful tennis mind,” Hall of Famer Billie Jean King said.
When Federer won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003, the men’s record for most major trophies was held by Pete Sampras, who had won his 14th at the U.S. Open the year before in what turned out to be the last match of the American’s career.
Federer would go on to blow way past that, ending up with 20 by winning eight titles at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the U.S. Open and one at the French Open. His 2009 trophy at Roland Garros allowed Federer to complete a career Grand Slam.
His serving, forehand, footwork and attacking style will all be remembered. Also unforgettable were his matches against younger rivals Nadal, 36, and Djokovic, 35, who both equalled, then surpassed, Federer’s Slam total and are still winning titles at the sport’s four biggest tournaments.
“I wish this day would have never come,” Nadal said. “It’s a sad day for me personally and for sports people around the world.”
Nadal now leads the men’s major championship count with 22, one ahead of Djokovic.