One of the top tennis players ever has called it a career. Swiss star Roger Federer, whose 103 career ATP titles are second only to Jimmy Connors and whose 20 Grand Slam men’s singles titles are behind only Rafael Nadal (22) and Novak Djokovic (21), announced Thursday that he’ll be retiring from the sport at 41 following next week’s Laver Cup (a Team Europe-Team World tournament) in London. Here’s the statement Federer (seen above in July being honored as a past champion at Wimbledon, a tournament where he won a record eight men’s singles titles) tweeted, citing the injuries he’s been battling:
Here are the first two paragraphs of that statement typed out:
“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. My friends, my competitors, and most of all the fans who give the sport its life. Today, I want to share some news with all of you.”
“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 capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear. I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1500 matches over 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I would have dreamt, and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career.”
Many media members and fans had notable tributes to Federer:
As many noted, too, this comes only weeks after Serena Williams retired with 23 women’s Grand Slam singles titles:
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1570402323381489666
https://twitter.com/AaronWherry/status/1570406653559816193
The tennis world is certainly going to be a different place without Federer and Williams.
[Roger Federer on Twitter]
About Andrew Bucholtz
Andrew Bucholtz has been covering sports media for Awful Announcing since 2012. He is also a staff writer for The Comeback. His previous work includes time at Yahoo! Sports Canada and Black Press.