Roger Federer has announced he will retire from competitive tennis after next week‘s Laver Cup in London

“I am 41 years old, I’ve played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years, and tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt,” Federer said in a video on social media, “and now I must recognise when it is time to end my competitive career.”

For so much of that career, Federer seemed as if he would go down as the all-time men’s leader for Grand Slam titles. He rounded past his idol Pete Sampras with his 15th major championship in 2009 and topped the list until 2022. But by then, his career had become inextricably linked to the other members of tennis’s Big Three, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

As Federer struggled with injuries in recent years, Nadal overtook his tally at this year’s Australian Open and now sits in first place with 22 major titles, having also won Roland-Garros this year. Djokovic is also ahead of Federer with 21, following his win this year at Wimbledon.

Federer, who will say goodbye at the Laver Cup exhibition in London next week, underwent knee surgery last year in the faint hope of returning to the pro circuit for a last hurrah. But as the recovery dragged and tennis kept speeding up, the Swiss master shoemaker realised it was time to call it a day. The man who once looked untouchable now retires in third place on the list of men’s major championships.

His dizzying final scorecard reads: eight Wimbledon championships, six Australian Opens, five U.S. Opens, and one Roland-Garros. He picked up 103 titles on tour, one Olympic doubles gold medal for Switzerland, and at one point spent a record 237 straight weeks as the No. 1 ranked player in the world. It earned him $130,594,339 in prize money alone, according to the ATP Tour.

Federer’s decision to step away from the game was the second exit by an all-time great in September alone. Earlier this month, 23-time major winner Serena Williams, who shared the stage with Federer for his entire career, also transitioned into an expected retirement following her defeat in the third round of the U.S. Open.

“He’s just a synopsis of greatness and class and amazing and really changed the game,” Williams said of Federer last year. “You see players playing like him, moving like him, doing his techniques. The guy is genius.”

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 deal with Nike, which ended in 2018 and was replaced by a nine-figure, 10-year contract 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 longevity would have seemed even more miraculous had he not played in the sport’s golden era of thirty-somethings. Djokovic and Nadal are still winning majors past 35. Federer himself claimed his final Slam at 37, defeating Marin Cilic at the 2018 Australian Open. At the time, it was his third title in five major championships.

“Winning it is an absolute dream come true,” he said then through tears. “I love you guys, thank you.”

Still, the cracks had begun to show.

After reaching the final of Wimbledon in 2019, which he lost to Djokovic, Federer used the pandemic hiatus to nurse his twice-repaired knee. He then returned to the All England Club in 2021, only to fall in the quarterfinals. That summer, he went on to make the last big bet of his career: Federer had knee surgery again.

“I want to be healthy. I want to be running around later as well, and I want to give myself a glimmer of hope, also, to return to the tour in some shape or form,” he said when he revealed the procedure. “I am realistic, don’t get me wrong. I know how difficult it is at this age right now to do another surgery and try it.”

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.

“I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear,” Federer said on Thursday.

Nowhere was he more beloved than on the grass courts of Wimbledon, the tournament whose history and tradition most closely matched Federer’s classic style. He won the junior tournament there as a hot-headed teenager in 1998 and his first major title at the All England Club in 2003 when he was 21. At a celebration for the 100th anniversary of Centre Court this summer, Federer received the loudest ovation among 26 former champions.

No one knew for certain then that it would be his farewell, but it was fitting enough. Not only had his highest highs come on that court, it was also where the Swiss kid with a ponytail first announced himself to the wider world in 2001, by taking down Sampras in five sets.

“It’s grass-court tennis,” Sampras said at the time. “One minute you feel like you have it, the next minute you’re walking off the court.”

The difference for Federer was that his minute lasted another 20 years.

The full statement

Roger Federer has announced he will retire from the ATP Tour and grand slams after the Laver Cup in London next week.

Federer, 41, has not played a competitive tournament since Wimbledon in 2021 due to persistent knee injuries.

The Swiss maestro has won 103 career titles and more than $US130 million in prizemoney. His 20 grand slam titles rank third all time behind only Rafael Nadal (22) and Novak Djokovic (21).

Federer made the announcement regarding his impending retirement on his social media account on Thursday night Australian time.

His message in full:

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.

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 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 recognise 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.

This is a bittersweet decision, because 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 at a level that I never imagined, for much longer than I ever thought possible.

I would like to especially thank my amazing wife Mirka, who has lived through every minute with me. She has warmed me up before finals, watched countless matches even while over 8-months pregnant, and has endured my goofy side on the road with my team for over 20 years. I also want to thank my four wonderful children for supporting me, always eager to explore new places and creating wonderful memories along the way. Seeing my family cheering me on from the stands is a feeling I will cherish forever.

I would also like to thank and recognise my loving parents and my dear sister, without whom nothing would be possible. A big thank you to all my former coaches who always guided me in the right direction … you have been wonderful! And to Swiss Tennis, who believed in me as a young player and gave me an ideal start.

I really want to thank and acknowledge my amazing team, Ivan, Dani, Roland, and particularly Seve and Pierre, who have given me the best advice and have always been there for me. Also Tony, for creatively managing my business for over 17 years. You are all incredible and I have loved every minute with you.

I want to thank my loyal sponsors, who are really like partners to me; and the hardworking teams and tournaments on the ATP Tour, who consistently welcomed all of us with kindness and hospitality.

I would also like to thank my competitors on the court. I was lucky enough to play so many epic matches that I will never forget. We battled fairly, with passion and intensity, and I always tried my best to respect the history of the game. I feel extremely grateful.

We pushed each other, and together we took tennis to new levels.

Above all I must offer a special thank you to my unbelievable fans.

You will never know how much strength and belief you have given me. The inspiring feeling of walking into full stadiums and arenas has been one of the huge thrills in my life. Without you, those successes would have felt lonely, rather than filled with joy and energy.

The last 24 years on tour have been an incredible adventure. While it 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. Through my travels, I have met many wonderful people who will remain friends for life, who consistently took time out of their busy schedules to come watch me play and cheer me on around the globe. Thank you.

When my love of tennis started, I was a ball kid in my hometown of Basel. I used to watch the players with a sense of wonder. They were like giants to me and I began to dream. My dreams led me to work harder and I started to believe in myself. Some success brought me confidence and I was on my way to the most amazing journey that has led to this day.

So, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart, to everyone around the world who has helped make the dreams of a young Swiss ball kid come true.

Finally, to the game of tennis: I love you and will never leave you.