Hanging up his tennis racket, Roger Federer has given the news that his fans never expected to hear. The swiss star tennis player has announced his retirement from his 24-year-old tennis career.
The tennis legend posted this expected from his Twitter handle. Where he mentioned that he has played over 1500 matches in his career spanning 24 years.
The star admitted that the toughest decision is the result of the challenges he has been facing in the form of injuries and surgeries. He also mentioned that he has been pushing himself hard to get back into the ‘full-competitive form’ and acknowledged the capacities and limits of his body. He said,
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 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.
Social media was filled with reactions soon after the announcement by Federer. Netizens expressed shock over the news and recalled the favorite moments of their star player, Roger Federer. People from all spectrums including celebrities appreciated and hailed him as the ‘Legend of Tennis’ and ‘Tennis GOAT (Greatest of all time).’
Federer in the announcement has said that Laver Cup in London week will be his final ATP event. He stated,
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.
Federer was the first tennis player to win over 20 Grand Slam titles. However, the record was broken by Rafael Nadal who won over 22 Grand Slam titles, and Novak Djokovic with winning over 21 Grand Slam titles. The three legend players have played so incredibly that they kept being in the headlines for their game.
Recalling his career, the tennis legend said in the lengthy announcement,
The last 24 years on tour have been an incredible adventure. While it is sometimes feels like it went by in 24 hours, it has also been so deep and magical that it seems as if I’ve already lived a full lifetime. I have had the immense fortune to play in front of you in over 40 different countries. I have laughed and cried, felt joy and pain, and most of all I have felt incredibly alive.
The mesmerizing game of Federer has won millions of hearts across the globe, due to the magic his fans would get to see on the tennis court. The precisions and touch packed with significant skills through which he made his game look like an event worth remembering, is the reason, that while fans are celebrating him, at the same time they are sad that they’ll not be able to see the moments again.
Born on 8 August 1981 in Basel, Switzerland to Robert Federer and Lynette Federer, the star tennis player played his first match as a junior in the year 1996 when he was 14 and made his professional debut in 1998 with ATP at the 1998 Swiss Open Gstaad in Switzerland. He is married to former Women's Tennis Association player Miroslava Federer (Also known as Mirka).Here are Some of the Memorable and Worth Celebrating Records of Federer:
- He has won over 20 Grand Slam titles and is only behind Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic who have won 22 and 21 Grand Slam titles respectively.
- Won over 103 ATP singles titles and is the second tennis player to do so after Jimmy Connors who holds the record of winning 109 titles.
- The second player in the history of tennis to win 1,251 singles matches after Connors who won 1,274 matches.
- Federer held the position of world number one by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for most consecutive weeks (237 weeks ).
- He is the oldest player to hold the number one ranking at the age of 36 years, 320 days.
- Federer won most (eight) Wimbledon titles for men’s singles player.
- He has been the oldest men’s player to win Wimbledon at the age of 35 years, 342 days in the year 2017.
- He has played over 1,526 singles winning 1,251 out of them and 223 doubles winning over 131 matches out of them.
- He is the only player to win two Grand slams consecutively five times that include Wimbledon from 2003-07 and the U.S. Open from 2004-08.
- Federer is the only player to enter 10 men’s Grand Slam finals consecutively from 2005 to 2006 and played over 31 finals staying only behind Novak Djokovic’s records of 32 finals.
- He is the only men’s player to win over 10 titles on clay, grass, and hard courts.
- He has won over 24 finals consecutively on his ATP Tour from 2003 to 2005.
- Also, he is the only player to reach all four Grand Slam finals in the calendar year three times in 2006, 2007, and 2009.
- He also holds the record of Open Era for the longest winning streak on the grass of 65 titles and 56 on hard courts