If you follow tennis, you’ve probably been missing Roger Federer a lot over the past three years. Roger got injured in the 2019 season, but he put off having knee surgery until 2020, around the start of the pandemic, actually. He missed more than a full year, then made a brief comeback in 2021, where he promptly re-injured himself at Wimbledon on the slippery grass. He spent the rest of 2021 and 2022 having surgeries and rehabbing and trying out different things. Recently, the rumor mill was in overdrive because after a successful rehab, doctors apparently found more fluid in Roger’s knee. I think that was probably it – he’s done with the surgery-and-rehab cycle. He’s 41 years old, rich as hell and he wants to spend more time with his four kids. So Roger announced his retirement. His last event will be Laver Cup, an exhibition tournament he created, which will be played in London next week. Here’s Roger’s announcement:
To my tennis family and beyond,
With Love,
Roger pic.twitter.com/1UISwK1NIN— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 15, 2022
What I find remarkable is that he’s not going to retire in Switzerland, at the tournament in Basel. I think that alone speaks to the fact that his body is hurting and he simply wants to pull the plug on his career immediately. We knew it was coming this year or next, but tennis fans hoped he would be able to play Wimbledon at least one more time. But as Roger says, he’s happy he made the decision and now he gets to enjoy his life with his wife and kids. And his piles of money.
I also think it’s amazing for tennis history that Roger stood back and watched Serena Williams’ amazing final run at the US Open and he decided to go out with one final bang like that at Laver Cup. It’s been less than two weeks since Serena played her final match – it’s incredible that these two GOATs are going out together, within a month of each other.
43 singles slam titles champions retired within 2 weeks to each other
serena williams
roger federer pic.twitter.com/R5rJLJ8EGn— enrico maria riva (@enricomariariva) September 15, 2022
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- Roger Federer (Sui) TENNIS : Australian Open 2020,Image: 563161470, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic / Panoramic / Avalon
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- Roger Federer (Sui) TENNIS : Australian Open 2020,Image: 563161576, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic / Panoramic / Avalon
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- Jul 7, 2021; London, [ENTER STATE], United Kingdom; Roger Federer (SUI) seen playing in the quarter finals of the Wimbledon championship agains Hubert Hurkacz (POL) in possibly his final centre court appearance,Image: 620236104, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Peter van den Berg / Avalon
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- Roger Federer (Sui),Image: 620264521, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic / Panoramic / Avalon
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- FEDERER Roger, tennis player, invited by Mercedes AMG F1 Team, portrait, during the Formula 1 Pirelli Grand Premio de Espana 2022, 6th round of the 2022 FIA Formula One World Championship, on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, from May 20 to 22, 2022 in Montmelo, Spain -,Image: 693456312, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: 00122015, Model Release: no, Credit line: DPPI / Panoramic / Avalon
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- Former Champion Roger Federer seen on Centenary day on Centre Court at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Club, London, United Kingdom,,Image: 704765154, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: World Rights, Model Release: no, Credit line: Peter van den Berg / Avalon
Serena and Roger both retiring from tennis is a great loss. They’ve worked so hard and won so much. True champions of a great sport.
Damn. What a year.
I am so happy for them both. In my opinion the two best the sport has ever seen(especially GOAT Serena) but this is really such a loss for the sport and I will miss seeing them play.
Roger’s game in particular was a favourite of mine, never seen a player cover the court with more grace, it sometimes looked as if he was floating.
Hope he enjoys an amazing retirement!
sunny – agree with everything you wrote. They’re both lovely, gracious people too!
Co-signing this @sunny! Couldn’t have said it better. I wish him all the best, he’s brought so so much to the sport, a true joy to witness. And not to mention how much he supports up and coming players with his foundation and things like that.
It’ll be sad to not see them both play any more, but I hope that maybe they do some exhibition matches here and there!
Well it’s the end of an era. Hate to see him go, but he’s been so injured lately I figured it was coming. Andy will probably be next.
Apparently Serena said something on the Tonight Show (ew) about maybe pulling a Tom Brady. I really wish people would just retire and mean it.
Serena’s not coming back.
Ugh! Serena & Roger leaving me!😢😭😭
Not sure I’ll be able to handle it once Venus and Rafael retires. Sh!t, I’m gonna full on lose it!! Because it will truly be the end of an era!🥺😭😭
He probably has to do another surgery. I’m sad about this because he along with Serena were my favourite players. For two of the biggest stars in tennis to retire in a matter of weeks is a huge blow but tennis has been through this many times before and will survive. All the best to Roger and his family.
Didn’t Serena and Roger have some joke/friendly comp about who was going to retire first/outlast the other. I feel like I read something where they joked that they were both trying to outlast each other and kept hoping the other would retire so they could.
I swear I read this and it was hilarious
Oh no what is Kate going to do maybe that is why she is so sad. I’m sure she will see him next week in London. She has some tennis match with him – she definitely won’t cancel that even if she is in mourning.
I’d be surprised if Kate is there. The family will still be in mourning.
Federer’s backhand slice is the sexiest sport-related move I’ve ever seen. I’m already missing Serena, but I’ll miss Roger so much. Damn.
What an amazing champion he has been. Will miss him but am happy for him to stop punishing his body and to spend more time with his family and doing other pleasurable activities.