Swiss star Roger Federer has brought down the curtain on his brilliant career in the world of tennis, after he announced today his permanent retirement, after the end of the Laver Cup.
Sharjah 24 – Asaad Khalil:
Swiss tennis player Roger Federer, 41, announced his retirement from tennis after the end of the Laver Cup.
Federer, who has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles, missed all season with knee surgery but was expected to return in 2023.
Federer was about to return to the Laver Cup in London, a competition he helped create, and now he decided that it would be his last professional tournament.
“Next week’s Laver Cup in London will be my last ATP competition,” the Swiss wrote on social media on Thursday. “I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but not of course at the Grand Slam or the ATP tournaments.”
“As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries,” Federer added. “I’ve worked hard to get back into full competitive shape.”
Federer added, “But I also know my body’s capabilities and its limits, and his message to me lately has been clear.”
Federer’s announcement of his retirement comes a few weeks after veteran American star Serena Williams announced her retirement.
“I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1,500 matches in 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I could have ever dreamed of, and now I must realize that this is the time to end my competitive career,” the Swiss explained.
Federer won his last four Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open in 2018, before the injury curse chased him, which caused him to lose his record as the most crowned player in the four major competitions in the men’s singles competitions.
The record was set by Spanish star Rafael Nadal, who won 22 titles in the Grand Slam, as he beats his closest opponent, Novak Djokovic, by a single title.
And while the numbers only tell part of the story, many critics seem to agree that no player has ever made tennis so easy as Federer, who was of high moral character both on and off the court.
Federer won his first Grand Slam title in 2003 at the English Open “Wimbledon”, after which he revealed his immense talent after a few missteps as a young player in the ATP competitions.
Federer quickly established absolute dominance of the ATP and major tournaments, winning eight Wimbledon men’s singles titles, including five in a row before losing the epic final to Nadal in 2008.
Federer topped the ATP rankings for 237 consecutive weeks, noting that he won the Australian Open 6 times, and also has 5 titles in the US Open “Flushing Meadows”, in addition to one title in the French Championship “Roland Garros” in 2009, to complete the series His amazing successes in the Grand Slam tournaments.
Federer’s achievements in his career with the white game included winning the gold medal in the doubles competitions at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, as well as the individual silver at the London Olympics in 2012.