Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer call it quits as he posted a lengthy letter for his fans on social media. Laver Cup in London next week will be the 20-time Grand Slam Winner’s last act.
Federer cited the challenges he has been facing since the last three years in the form of injuries and surgeries as the reason behind putting an ‘end to his competitive career’. The tennis virtuoso’s successful career has spanned 24 years wherein he played more than 1500 matches.
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 15, 2022
Federer was the first player to win 20 Grand Slam titles till his record was broken by his competitors Rafael Nadal (22) and Novak Djokovic (21). Various games between the ‘Big Three’ have raised their fan’s heartbeat.
His illustrious is marked with big titles and trophies. Federer played his first junior match in 1996 at the age of 14 at a grade 2 tournament in Switzerland. His main accomplishments as a junior player came at Wimbledon in 1998, where he won both the boys’ singles final over Irakli Labadze, and in doubles teamed with Olivier Rochus, defeating the team of Michaël Llodra and Andy Ram.
Major highlights of his career
- 103 titles – 2nd in Open Era to Jimmy Connors’ 109
- 1,251 wins – 2nd in Open Era to Connors’ 1,274
- 65 straight wins on grass (2003-08)
- 41 straight wins (2006-07)
- 24-final win streak (2003-05)
- 24 straight wins vs. Top 10 (2003-05)
- 17 straight finals (2005-06)
- Most consecutive weeks at world number one (237).
- Oldest player to hold the number one ranking (36 years, 320 days).
- Most Wimbledon titles for a men’s singles player (8).
- Oldest men’s player to win Wimbledon (35 years, 342 days in 2017).
- Never retired from a match in his career, having played 1,526 singles (W 1,251) and 223 doubles (W 131) matches.
- Only player to win two Grand Slams five consecutive times – Wimbledon from 2003-07 and the U.S. Open from 2004-08.
- Only player to reach 10 straight men’s Grand Slam finals (2005-06). He played 31 finals in all, one behind Novak Djokovic’s record tally of 32.
- Only player to reach all four Grand Slam finals in the same calendar year three times (2006, 2007 and 2009).
- Holds the Open Era record for the longest winning streak on grass (65) and the all-time record on hard courts (56).
- Only men’s player to win at least 10 titles on clay, grass and hard courts.
- Won 24 straight finals on the ATP Tour (2003-05).
- Holds the record for most titles (6) at the year-end Tour Finals, which only features players ranked in the top eight.
Wishes pour in from Federer’s competitor Rafael Nadal.
Dear Roger,my friend and rival.
I wish this day would have never come. It’s a sad day for me personally and for sports around the world.
It’s been a pleasure but also an honor and privilege to share all these years with you, living so many amazing moments on and off the court 👇🏻— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) September 15, 2022
Wimbledon also posted great moments from Federer’s career.
So grateful for this moment ❤️#Wimbledon | @rogerfederer pic.twitter.com/ECe89cFmQS
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) September 15, 2022
When the dream came true 🏆@rogerfederer | #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/hd6IUZN5wH
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) September 15, 2022
