Widely considered among the greatest Tennis players, Roger Feder has left a lasting impact on many of the present and future stars of the game. hence, the announcement of his retirement from competitive tennis was first met with shock and awe, and then a flurry of respect, praise and love.
In an emotional tweet, the Swiss legend informed his fans worldwide that he will be moving away from professional Tennis after the Laver Cup in London in September. The tournament will be played from 23rd to 25th, and Federer, who also has a Men's Doubles Olympic Gold from London in 2012, will bring to an end an era that defined the sport for over two decades.
And ahead of his much-awaited swansong, the 20-time Grand Slam-winning star has landed in London. The Swiss great will be seen in action at London’s O2 Arena where he will lead team Europe. Among his teammates will be Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
Fitness concerns have stifled the legend's status in the game for the last few years. The 41-year-old player has been in a constant struggle with a knee injury that requires attention. His injury has cut short many tournaments, meaning Federer has played only three out of 11 Grand Slams since 2020.
It is no surprise that the injury played a role in Federer calling it quits. "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 stated in his retirement statement which was released on Thursday ahead of the Laver Cup.
Many fans hope that Federer beats his injury concerns to play in the Laver Cup, and his long-term fitness coach Pierre Paganini has not said much to calm their concerns. “He will decide at the last moment. He's trained to have as much information as possible about whether it's a good idea or not. I am excited.” Paganini told Switzerland’s Blick.
But all said and done, whether Federer plays or not, his achievements in the sport will not go unnoticed for years to come.