Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer has announced his retirement from competition, stating that his body is telling him the time has come at the age of 41. Federer has had to deal with injuries and surgeries in recent years, as well as a slew of newcomers.
Federer said in a video message posted Thursday that his body’s “message to me lately has been obvious.”
To my tennis family and beyond,
With Love,
Roger pic.twitter.com/1UISwK1NIN— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 15, 2022
Roger Federer’s accomplishments and awards
- During his incredible career, the player has won 103 ATP singles titles and 1,251 matches total.
- Federer has 20 Grand Slam trophies to his name, including a record-breaking eight Wimbledon men’s singles titles.
- For the last 24 years, the tennis legend has been competing.
- Roger holds the ATP Rankings record for the most consecutive weeks at No. 1 (237).
His final ATP event will be next week’s Laver Cup in London.
Federer has 20 Grand Slam singles titles to his career, eight of them have come at Wimbledon.
Federer has won more than 100 titles and has a 1,251-275 record in singles and doubles, according to the ATP, and he has never retired from a match, in singles or doubles.
Federer’s extraordinary abilities kept him at the top of the sport with remarkable regularity. He once held the world’s No. 1 ranking for 237 weeks in a row, an ATP record. He became the oldest individual to occupy that position in 2018.
He won 41 straight matches earlier in his career, a squeeze that began the year after he won 24 competition finals in a row from 2003 to 2005.
Federer, who began playing tennis at the age of eight, remembers his first exposure to professional tennis as a ball kid in his hometown of Basel when he saw players “with a sense of wonder.” It pushed him to work hard to achieve his own ambitions in the game, he added.
“The last 24 years on tour have been a great trip,” Federer said, recounting the highs and lows of competing in more than 40 nations.
“Finally, let me say something about tennis: I admire you and will never forget you.”
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 15, 2022
Who all reacted to Roger Federer’s retirement?
While the great Roger announced his retirement on September 15, 2022, social media exploded with messages praising the players for their accomplishments.
Congratulations on a brilliant career 🙌 #RogerFederer pic.twitter.com/mG8bHZQwqA
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) September 15, 2022
What are your favorite @rogerfederer moments?
I’ll start…
2003 Wimbledon, 3rd Rd I play this Federer guy. Called a friend after my 2nd Rd win and said “I think I’ve got a great draw now. I don’t think this guy is all that great!” Got crushed and he won the tournament 🤣
— Mardy Fish (@MardyFish) September 15, 2022
Dear Roger,my friend and rival.
I wish this day would have never come. It’s a sad day for me personally and for sports around the world.
It’s been a pleasure but also an honor and privilege to share all these years with you, living so many amazing moments on and off the court 👇🏻— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) September 15, 2022
Roger Federer was born on August 8, 1981. At the age of 21, he won his first major singles title at Wimbledon in 2003. For 310 weeks, he was ranked world number one by the (ATP) Association of Tennis Professionals. Federer, a talented all-court player, is well-liked by tennis fans for his apparent effortlessness.