TWENTY-time Grand Slam champion, Roger Federer, has announced that he is retiring from tennis at the age of 41.
Federer, who turned 41 in August, hasn’t played since last year’s Wimbledon due to a knee surgery. In a statement published on Thursday, Federer revealed he plans to retire after next week’s Laver Cup in London.
Federer, who has had three knee surgeries since 2020, had been initially scheduled to play at the Laver Cup and at the ATP 500 event in Basel next week.
But Federer says he is listening to his body and that’s why he feels retiring is the right thing to do.
“To my tennis family and beyond, of all the gifts that tennis has given me over the years, the greatest, without a doubt, has been the people I’ve met along the way: my friends, my competitors, and most of all the fans who give the sport its life.
“Today, I want to share some news with all of you,” Federer started in his statement. “As many of you know, 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’m 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.
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.”
The Laver Cup is scheduled for next weekend. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to be Federer’s teammates on Team Europe.
