Swiss Tennis Star Roger Federer Is Retiring At 41 In Laver Cup

20 Grand Slam Winner Roger Federer Dominates Tennis For Two Decades

After next week's Laver Cup in London, Roger Federer, who is widely considered the best male tennis player ever and who advanced the game to new heights throughout a career spanning more than two decades, will retire. Tennis fans across the world have long feared that the renowned Swiss player, who won 20 Grand Slam singles titles and redefined a sport with his elegance and grace, has retired. In a lengthy post on social media, the player confirmed this. The Swiss master, who has dominated tennis for two decades, made his final appearance at Wimbledon in 2021.

Federer's declaration

Serena Williams' anticipated retirement from tennis following her heart-breaking U.S. Open loss earlier this month and Federer's declaration has tennis fans fearing the sport is beginning to enter the last stages of its golden period. After winning his first Grand Slam championship at Wimbledon in 2003 and developing exciting rivalries with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, Federer dominated men's tennis for several years. Federer, meanwhile, has experienced injury problems recently.

Roger's Knee Surgeries 

The 41-year-old Federer has had three knee surgeries in the past two years due to ongoing knee problems, which has made his recovery more challenging and uncertain overall. The GOAT of tennis, Roger Federer, has made the difficult decision to break ways with the sport and call it a career. Federer will play in his final match as a member of Team Europe in the Laver Cup, which will be held in London from September 23–25. Joining him on Team Europe will be the remaining of the Big Four - Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray - a quartet who changed tennis as we know it. Some pedestals are far higher than podiums for athletes like Federer.

Federer’s Record

Federer has played 1,500 matches and was coached by Ivan Ljubicic and Severin Luthi, was ranked world No. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for 310 weeks, and has finished as the year-end No. 1 five times. He is second all-time behind Jimmy Connors with 103 ATP singles titles won. These include 20 Grand Slam singles victories, an Open Era record eight Wimbledon titles for men, an Open Era record five US Open titles for men, and an unprecedented six Year-End Championships. On his staggering final tally, he won eight Wimbledon trophies, six Australian Open titles, five U.S. Open titles, and one Roland-Garros title. He won 103 tournament championships, one Olympic doubles gold medal for Switzerland, and at one point held the No. 1 ranking for a remarkable 237 consecutive weeks. According to the ATP Tour, he won $130,594,339 in prize money alone.

Roger Federer’s Grand Slam Tournament

When it came to Grand Slam tournaments, Federer was the very definition of ever-present. From 2000 until a major knee injury in 2016, he played in an unbroken run of 65 consecutive majors, winning 17. His subsequent recovery and return to world No. 1 in 2018, at age 36, also counts among his greatest achievements. During that time, his on-court brilliance, clean-cut image, and comfort in at least three languages made him a magnet for sponsors, from the watch and chocolate endorsements that come with being a Swiss superstar, to his long-term contract with Nike, which expired in 2018, and his nine-figure, 10-year deal with Uniqlo. The Japanese outfitter wanted to be associated with him for the rest of his playing days and well into his retirement, whenever it happened to come. 

Federer’s Powerful Game

Federer’s seemingly effortless game—which combined balletic movement with a powerful serve and routine feats of geometry—created a sense that age might be gentler on him than most. But if his tennis appeared timeless, his knees very much weren’t. Federer is calling it quits after 24 years in the game with this declaration. Serena Williams' "evolution" away from tennis and playing her last month just a few weeks ago at the US Open have left the whole tennis community in shock, so Roger Federer's revelation has come as somewhat of a shock that will take some time to sink in. Federer's potential exit has been discussed for years, through painful exits, knee surgery, back ailments, and extended exiles. It has now materialised. The most well-liked player in tennis will depart.