Roger Federer has announced his upcoming retirement from the ATP Tour and grand slams after the Laver Cup next week in London.
The 41-year-old has been hampered with injuries in recent years and is yet to feature on the 2022 Tour after undergoing knee surgery last summer.
Federer has spent the previous 13 months recovering from his most recent operation, with his most recent encounter being in the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year, where he lost in straight sets to Hubert Hurkacz.
The Swiss ace revealed earlier this year that he would be competing in the Laver Cup in London later this month, but he will be making his farewell appearance on the ATP Tour this month.
Why Is Federer Retiring?
“To my tennis family and beyond, of all the gifts that tennis has given me over the years, the greatest, without a doubt, has been the people I’ve met along the way,” Federer posted on social media.
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 15, 2022
“Today, I want to share some news with you all. As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries. 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 am 41 years old. I have played over 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.
“The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in Grand Slams or on the tour.
“This is a bittersweet decision, because I will miss everything the tour has given me. 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.
“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 deep and magical that it seems as if I’ve already lived a full lifetime.
“I have had the immense fortune to play in front of you in over 40 different countries. I have laughed and cried, felt joy and pain, and most of all I have felt incredibly alive.
“When my love of tennis started, I was a ball kid in my hometown of Basel. I used to watch the players with a sense of wonder. They were like giants to me and I began to dream.
“My dreams led me to work harder and I started to believe in myself. Some success brought me confidence and I was on my way to the most amazing journey that has led me to this day.”
Federer is set to retire from competitive tennis after winning 103 singles titles on the ATP Tour, the latest of which came in October 2019 at the Swiss Indoors.
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The twenty-time major winner was a member of Team Europe’s Laver Cup triumphs over Team USA in 2017, 2018, and 2019. He will compete in the 2022 tournament alongside Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Casper Ruud, Novak Djokovic, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Federer’s impending retirement comes less than two weeks after Serena Williams announced her retirement from tennis after losing in the third round of the US Open against Alja Tomljanovic.
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