Less than two weeks after Serena Williams, another monument of the game bows out, just as a new generation is advancing, embodied by the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, crowned at the US Open and world No.1 at only 19 years old. .
But if the 40-year-old American made her – big – farewells in front of her audience, those of the Swiss fell by surprise, and more discreetly, via a video message and a long text addressed to her (many) admirers.
“The Laver Cup, next week in London, will be my last ATP event”, published on social networks the former world No.1, who underwent a third right knee operation in a year in the summer of 2021 and half and had been fighting ever since to come back.
“I will still play tennis in the future, of course, but it will no longer be at Grand Slam tournaments or on the circuit”, added Federer, winner of 103 trophies in his career, but who has only played six matches in 2020 and thirteen in 2021.
– “Thank you for the joy” –
The Basel has not replayed in competition since his elimination in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon 2021, and for several months let his doubts about his chances of returning to the courts filter through.
It was the London tournament, the scene of eight successes and his most sumptuous battles, which first paid him an emotional tribute: “Roger, where to start?”, Wrote the organizers on Twitter. “All we can say is thank you, for the memories and the joy you have given to so many” people.
More soberly, Roland-Garros tweeted “tennis legend”, accompanied by a photo of the player on Parisian clay, while the US Open launched a “Thank you Roger” followed by a heart-shaped emoji on the social network, while Carlos Alcaraz simply accompanied “Roger…” with a broken heart.
In addition to the Laver Cup, which will therefore be his final appearance on the circuit, the Basel was announced – since April – in his hometown from October 24 to 20, and still hoped to push until mid-June 2023, with the Swiss daily Tagesanzeiger .
– “A bittersweet decision” –
But if he “worked hard” to rebuild himself physically, his body sent him “a clear message”, he explains: “I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1,500 matches in 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever dreamed of, and I have to recognize when it’s time to quit.”
“It’s a bittersweet decision because I will miss everything the circuit has given me. But, at the same time, there are so many things to celebrate”, underlined the former record holder of the Grand Prix titles. Slam, since overtaken by Rafael Nadal (22) then Novak Djokovic (21), his two friends of the “Big three”.
Roger Federer, adored for his elegance racket in hand much more than for now outdated numbers, considers himself “one of the luckiest people on Earth” in his message first posted on Instagram.
“I was gifted with a knack for playing tennis and raised it to a level I never could have imagined and for far longer than I thought possible,” he explained. .
