Swiss tennis star Roger Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam singles winner, has announced this week that he is to retire from tennis following the Laver Cup in London later in September.
The 41-year-old has not played a competitive game since exiting last year’s Wimbledon competition in the quarter-finals, after which he had knee surgery for a third time.
Federer has struggled with a niggling knee problem for the last three years, which has kept him out of action in eight of the 11 Grand Slams held since the beginning of 2020.
In his announcement, Federer said that his “body’s message” of late had “been clear” and after having played “more than 1,500 matches over 24 years”, it was his responsibility to “recognise when it is time to end my competitive career.”
The Swiss played his first professional match in 1998 at the tender age of 16 and won his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon five years later.
He ends his career as the third most decorated man in tennis history with his 20 Grand Slams, a record eight of which came at Wimbledon. Only Spaniard Rafael Nadal (22 titles) and Serb Novak Djokovic (21 titles) have won more Grand Slams in total.
Federer’s last Grand Slam title victory was at the Australian Open, when he became the second-oldest man to win a major single title in the Open era at the age of 36.
Bidding farewell to the game to which he has devoted so much of his life, Federer added: “To the game of tennis, I love you and will never leave you.
"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.
"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. We pushed each other, and together we took tennis to new levels."
