Roger Federer will retire from professional tennis next week at the age of 41 after the Laver Cup in London, marking the end of one of the greatest sporting careers of all time.
A 20-time grand slam champion, Federer announced in a social media post that next week will be his last as a professional tennis player. Federer’s management firm, Team8, are founders of the Laver Cup, a Ryder Cup-style event: “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,” wrote the 41-year-old.
Federer has not competed since Wimbledon last year when he lost 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-0 in the quarter-final to Hubert Hurkacz and it emerged that Federer had reinjured the knee that had already kept him out of the tour for over a year.
Federer has only contested five events since January 2020 and has undergone three knee surgeries in that period. He cited his late-career injury issues as the reason for his retirement.
“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,” wrote Federer. “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 ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career, he said.
Federer had won his first grand slam title in 2003 aged 21 at Wimbledon and within 14 months he had established his dominance. He has since gone on to win 6 Australian Opens, 1 French Open, 8 Wimbledon and 5 US Open titles.
