Tributes poured in for the 41-year-old Swiss legend from rivals such as Rafael Nadal, whereas Serena Williams welcomed him to the ‘retirement membership’.
Roger Federer acknowledges the group following his Wimbledon quarterfinal defeat to Hubert Hurkacz on 7 July 2021. Picture: @atptour/Twitter
GENEVA – Roger Federer will retire following subsequent week’s Laver Cup after admitting his battles with a knee drawback had compelled him to name time on his historic tennis profession.
Tributes poured in for the 41-year-old Swiss legend from rivals such as Rafael Nadal, whereas Serena Williams welcomed him to the “retirement club”.
Federer, a winner of 20 Grand Slam titles and among the best gamers of all time, has been out of motion since a quarterfinal loss at Wimbledon in 2021, after which he underwent his third knee surgical procedure in 18 months.
“The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event,” Federer stated in a press release on social media on Thursday.
“The last 24 years on tour have been an incredible adventure,” he wrote.
“While it sometimes feels like it went by in 24 hours, it has also been so deep and magical that it seems as if I have already lived a lifetime.”
Federer’s knee issues restricted him to solely three of the 11 Grand Slams staged because the begin of 2020 and he stated his physique had successfully advised him it was time to deliver the curtain down.
“I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form,” he wrote.
“But I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear.
“Tennis has handled me extra generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I need to recognise when it’s time to finish my aggressive profession.”
‘PERFECTLY DONE’
Tennis has now lost two greats in quick succession, after the 40-year-old Williams bowed out following a third-round defeat at the US Open at the start of the month.
“I wished to seek out the right method to say this, as you so eloquently put this recreation to relaxation — completely accomplished, similar to your profession,” Williams, who won 23 major titles, said in an Instagram post.
“I’ve all the time appeared as much as you and admired you. Our paths had been all the time so comparable, a lot the identical. You impressed numerous tens of millions and tens of millions of individuals – together with me – and we’ll always remember.”
Nadal, arguably Federer’s greatest on-court rival, said it had been “an honour” to face him.
The pair played 40 times, including nine Grand Slam finals, with Nadal holding a 24-16 winning record.
“It’s a tragic day for me personally and for sports activities all over the world,” Nadal tweeted.
“It’s been a pleasure but additionally an honour and privilege to share all these years with you, residing so many wonderful moments on and off the court docket.”
Wimbledon also paid Federer a handsome tribute in keeping with him being a men’s record eight-time champion there.
“Roger, the place do we start?” tweeted Wimbledon.
“It’s been a privilege to witness your journey and see you turn out to be a champion in each sense of the phrase.
“We will so miss the sight of you gracing our courts, but all we can say for now is thank you, for the memories and joy you have given to so many.”
Teenager Carlos Alcaraz, the up-and-coming man in tennis having received the US Open final Sunday to turn out to be the youngest-ever world primary, paid tribute with a damaged coronary heart emoji on Twitter.
GOODBYE TO ‘BIG FOUR’
Next week’s Laver Cup staff occasion in London guarantees to be an emotional closing assembly of the “Big Four” who dominated males’s tennis over the previous 20 years.
Nadal, who holds the boys’s file for Grand Slam titles with 22; Novak Djokovic, who has received 21 main crowns; and two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will all play collectively as a part of Team Europe.
Federer paid tribute to them too.
“I was lucky enough to play so many epic matches that I will never forget,” he stated.
“We battled fairly, with passion and intensity, and I always tried my best to respect the history of the game.
“I really feel extraordinarily grateful. We pushed one another, and collectively we took tennis to new ranges.”
Federer had said in July he hoped to play one more Wimbledon. He departs with regrets but added he had lived a life that many would envy.
“This is a bittersweet determination as a result of I’ll miss every little thing the tour has given me,” Federer said.
“But, on the identical time, there may be a lot to have fun.
“I consider myself one of the most fortunate people on Earth.
“I used to be given a particular expertise to play tennis and I did it at a stage that I by no means imagined for for much longer than I ever thought doable.”
Federer received the final of his Slam titles on the 2018 Australian Open and final performed in a significant closing at Wimbledon three years in the past, shedding to Djokovic regardless of holding two championship factors.