Roger Federer retired from professional tennis at age 41 after a series of knee surgeries, ending his career where he won 20 Grand Slam titles, finished first in five seasons and helped create a golden age in men’s tennis with rivals Rafael Nadal. and Novak Djokovic.
Federer published what he called a “bittersweet decision.” Social media On Thursday, less than a week after 23-time world champion Serena Williams played what was supposed to be the final game of her career.
Taken together, the departure of the two greatest athletes in sports history represents an important turn of the page.
“As many of you know, the last three years have given me problems in the form of injuries and surgeries. I worked hard to get back to full fitness,” Federer tweeted. “But I also know the possibilities and limitations of my body, and recently his message has become clear to me.”
Swiss Roger Federer plays against Poland’s Hubert Gurkacs in the men’s singles quarterfinals on the ninth day of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships held in London on 7 July 2021. On Thursday, September 15, 2022, Federer announced his retirement from tennis. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Federer hasn’t competed since Wimbledon in July 2021, so his news isn’t too surprising in that sense.
But he attended the Center Court 100th Anniversary event at the All England Club in July this year and said he hopes to return to play there “one more time”.
He also said he will be returning to tournament action in his home country at Swiss Indoors in October.
Federer said on Thursday that his farewell tournament will be the Laver Cup in London next week. It is a team event organized by the management company.
Federer is married and both he and his wife Mirka are tennis players; They met as athletes at the Olympics – they had two pairs of twins.
He comes on a solid resume with 103 tour-level titles and 1,251 singles wins, second only to Jimmy Connors in the Open Age, which started in 1968. Federer’s track record being the oldest #1. It’s #1 on the ATP rankings – returning to number one at 36 in 2018 – and for most consecutive weeks (overtaking Djokovic for the week total).
Roger Federer of Switzerland waving as he celebrates its 100th anniversary in the Center Court on the seventh day of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on July 3, 2022. On Thursday, September 15, 2022, Federer announced his retirement from tennis. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, file)
When Federer won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003, the men’s record for most wins was held by Pete Sampras, who won his 14th title at the U.S. Open last year, the last of his career.
Federer surpassed that and scored 20 points, winning eight Wimbledon titles, six at the Australian Open, five at the US Open and one at the French Open. The 2009 trophy at Roland Garros saw Federer complete his career Grand Slam.
Service, forehand, footwork and attacking style will be remembered. Also memorable were Federer’s matches against 36-year-old young rivals Nadal and 35-year-old Djokovic, who equaled and later crossed the Slam winning total and won titles in the sport’s four biggest tournaments.
Nadal is leading with 22 goals, one ahead of Djokovic.
“I was lucky to play so many epic matches that I will never forget,” Federer said on Thursday. Said.
Referring to his “opponents on the court”—though not by name—he wrote: “We pushed each other and together we took tennis to the next level.”
Federer’s last game took place on July 7, 2021, when he lost to Hubert Hurkach 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-0 at Center Court in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Shortly after, Federer underwent surgery to repair the damaged meniscus and cartilage in his right knee – his third surgery of that knee in 1.5 years.
“Tennis has been more generous to me than I ever imagined, and now I need to know when to finish my sports career,” Federer said on Thursday.
Source: Breitbart
