The 20-time grand slam winner Roger Federer has announced that he will retire from the ATP Tour and grand slams after competing in the Laver Cup in London next week.
Federer shared his announcement in an Instagram post where he shared his thankfulness for being able to compete in the sport for 24 years.
“I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1500 matches over 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career,” Federer said in the post.
While the long-time tennis great has collected a treasure trove of victories in his more than two decades of tennis, the last three years have been filled with injuries instead of trophies.
“As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries,” he said. “I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form. But I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear.”
The surgeries that he mentioned included two knee surgeries in 2020 and another in 2021 following his defeat in the Wimbledon quarterfinal.
Having spent a record 237 consecutive weeks at the top of the tennis rankings, paired with six Australian Open victories, a career grand slam, a French Open win, five US Open victories, and a record eight Wimbledon wins, Federer knows what it means to be top dog.
“This is a bittersweet decision, because I will miss everything the tour has given me,” he said. “But at the same time, there is so much to celebrate. I consider myself one of the most fortunate people on Earth. I was given a special talent to play tennis, and I did it at a level that I never imagined, for much longer than I ever thought possible.”
It’s said that an athlete is only as good as those that he plays against, and Federer has played against some of the best in 22-time grand slam winner Rafael Nadal and 21-time grand slam winner Novak Djokovic.
The three men have been the ones to beat for almost three decades, and Federer acknowledged them and everyone else he faced in his note.
“I would also like to thank my competitors on the court,” Federer said.
“I was lucky enough to play so many epic matches that I will never forget. We battled fairly, with passion and intensity, and I always tried my best to respect the history of the game. I feel extremely grateful.”
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