Federer: 'The last 24 years on Tour have been an incredible adventure'
Roger Federer has announced that he will retire from competitive tennis after his participation in the Laver Cup in London on 23-26 September.
In an audio message posted on twitter, the 41-year-old Swiss acknowledged his “challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries over the past three years”.
“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," Federer said.
“I am 41-years-old. I’ve played more than 1500 matches over 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognise 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."
To my tennis family and beyond,
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 15, 2022
With Love,
Roger pic.twitter.com/1UISwK1NIN
The Swiss legend won 20 Grand Slam singles titles between 2003 and 2018, including eight titles at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the US Open, and the 2009 title at Roland Garros.
He is most synonymous with the All England Club, where he is the only man to have won the title on eight occasions, having surpassed seven-time winner Wiliiam Renshaw with his most recent triumph there in 2017.
A world No. 1 for 310 weeks (second behind only Novak Djokovic), including a record 237 consecutive weeks at the top between February 2004 and August 2008, Federer won a remarkable 1,251 tour-level matches during his career. Only Jimmy Connors (1,274 match wins) has achieved more.
Federer delivered a monumental triumph for his nation when he guided Switzerland to its first Davis Cup title in front of a world record crowd of 27,448 at Lille’s Stade Pierre Mauroy in 2014.
He played Davis Cup for 15 years in total, competing in 27 ties and ending his career with the Swiss record for both total match-wins (52) and singles wins (40).
An Olympic gold medal in singles remains perhaps the only significant omission from his remarkable CV, though a gold medal in doubles (alongside Stan Wawrinka at Beijing 2008) and singles silver at London 2012 provide glittering consolation.
Recognised early for his prodigious talent, Federer joined the ITF Junior circuit as a 14-year-old in July 1996 and would go on to win the boys' singles title at Wimbledon two years later. He topped the boys' rankings in December 1998 and was subsequently crowned ITF Junior World Champion - an award he would go on to win in the Men's category a further five times.
Federer's impact on the sport extends far beyond his numerous titles, records and achievements though.
He is credited for significantly growing interest in tennis across the globe through his elegant and graceful court craft, and respectful personality, bringing millions of new fans to the sport.
He arguably elevated rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to greater heights through their numerous gripping duels - creating a standard of play at the top of the game that has, and will continue to have, a significant impact in inspiring the next generation.
Read: 'Roger Federer by the numbers'
Read: 'Lleyton Hewitt: My Davis Cup memories of Federer'
Read: 'Davis Cup stars pay tribute to retiring Federer'