Roger Federer, who defined the sport of tennis for so many for decades, has announced that he will retire from the sport at this year’s Laver Cup.<\/p>\n
In his illustrious career, the Swiss won an unheard-of 20 Grand Slam titles, though he was soon passed by arch-rivals Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.<\/p>\n
Federer has been hampered by a knee injury the last few years. Even after undergoing surgery, he was not quite able to compete at an elite level<\/a> when competing at Wimbledon<\/a> last year. The “Maestro,” as he was affectionately known for much of his career, took more time off to heal, but evidently it wasn’t enough.<\/p>\n He posted his farewell to tennis on his Instagram and Twitter on Thursday. In the post, Federer said the following about his struggles with injuries:<\/p>\n “The past three years had presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries. 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. 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.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n He also spoke about his last professional appearance being at the Laver cup next week and how fortunate he’s been throughout his career:<\/p>\n “The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event. I will play more tennis of course but just not in Grand Slams or on the tour. This is a bittersweet decision as 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 a level that I never imagined for much longer than I ever thought possible…<\/p>\n Finally, to the game of tennis, I love you and will never leave you.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Laver Cup takes place from September 23rd-25th.<\/p>\n You can also see the full message embedded here:<\/p>\n \u2764\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/YxtVWrlXIF<\/a><\/p>\n — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 15, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n