Roger Federer has heard the messages his body has been sending him for several months. He can now quietly become a tennis legend.
Posted at 9:29
Federer, certainly one of the greatest in history, announced on his social media on Thursday that he will retire from competition after the Laver Cup, which takes place in London from September 23-25.
Federer’s last competitive match was on July 7, 2021, when he suffered a 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-0 loss to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz on center court in the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon tournament.
Soon after, Federer underwent surgery to repair damage to the meniscus and cartilage in his right knee — the third surgery to that joint in a year and a half.
“The past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and operations. I have worked hard to regain my full health, but I know the limits of my body. His messages have been clear lately. I’m 41, tennis has treated me with more respect than I could have imagined, and I need to know when it’s time to end my competitive career. »
“I will still play tennis in the future, but not in the Grand Slam or on the ATP circuit, adds the winner of 20 major titles, including 8 at Wimbledon. It’s a bittersweet decision, but at the same time, there’s so much to celebrate. I am one of the luckiest people on Earth. I was given a special talent for tennis and I reached a level I never thought possible, for much longer than I thought I would. »
He then thanked his wife Mirka, as well as his children and parents, as well as everyone around him who allowed him to remain at such a high level all these years. He concludes his missive by thanking sponsors, rivals on the courts, and above all, his many supporters.
“The past 24 years have sometimes felt like 24 hours. »
“I laughed, I cried, I felt joy and pain. Above all, I felt incredibly alive. »
The news comes days after the conclusion of the US Open, the final tournament in American Serena Williams’ illustrious career.
Roger Federer in brief
- Date of birth: 08/08/1981 (41 years old)
- Place of birth: Basel (Switzerland)
- Resides in Switzerland
- Height: 1.85m
- Right-handed, one-handed backhand
- Professional since 1998
- No longer ranked, having not played for over a year
- Singles record: 103 tournaments won (2e player behind Jimmy Connors, 109)
- In Grand Slam: 20 victories (two less than Rafael Nadal and one less than Novak Djokovic)
- Australian Open: 6 titles (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018), 1 final (2009)
Roland-Garros: 1 victory (2009), 4 finals (2006, 2007, 2008, 2011) - Wimbledon: 8 titles (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017), 4 finals (2008, 2014, 2015, 2019)
- US Open: 5 titles (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008), 2 finals (2009, 2015)
Davis Cup: 1 title (2014) - Olympic Games: 1 title in doubles (2008, with Stan Wawrinka), a silver medal in singles (2012)
- Masters: 6 titles (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011), 4 finals (2005, 2012, 2014, 2015)
- Masters 1000: 28 titles (7 Cincinnati, 5 Indian Wells, 4 Miami, 4 Hamburg, 3 Madrid, 2 Canada, 2 Shanghai, 1 Paris)
- 237 weeks in a row ranked first in the world
- 369 Grand Slam wins
France Media Agency