Aria Tahilramani
February 15th, 2023
On September 15, 2022, Roger Federer made headlines when he announced his retirement from professional tennis.
“I am 41 years old; I have played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years,” Federer said in a message posted through his social media. “Tennis has treated me more generously than I would have ever dreamed, and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career,”
Federer has arguably had the most celebrated career the sport has ever seen, winning a total of 103 tour singles titles, 20 Grand Slam singles titles, 310 weeks ranked as world No.1, and a record-breaking six victories in season-ending tour finals. Moreover, he has never been forced to forfeit a match due to injuries despite his incredibly long career.
Before his announcement, he had not played a single match since the previous year’s Wimbledon quarterfinal loss to Hubert Hurcakz. However, he promised fans he would play in the Laver Cup, his last-ever tournament on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour.
His final match finished in a 6-4 6-7 9-11 doubles loss against Team World’s Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock, whom he had played against with long-time rival and friend Rafael Nadal.
Roger Federer, throughout his career, had some of the most significant victories and triumphs the world had ever seen, yet he also suffered some of the most brutal setbacks. That was part of the appeal: the emotion he showed in the face of victory and defeat.
Furthermore, no one ever played the sport with grace much as he did. Regardless of the court, Federer was comfortable pouncing on a volley, reaching for an overhead smash, or flowing into his infamous signature stroke, the inside-out forehand. He did not move so much as to flow through the points; every stroke was emphasized as if to remind the world that no one had the magic to work with as much as he did.
“He made the game look so easy,” One of his former coaches, Paul Annacone, said. “I’ve always felt he was Picasso with a tennis racket. What I will miss most is the beauty he brought to the game.”