Tennis fans have been waiting for this news, sooner or later, but couldn’t comprehend it. Neither Roger Federer nor regular tour events will be played again. The Swiss star’s last competitive match is next week’s Laver Cup in London.
With 41 years under his belt, Federer was way beyond the point when tennis players are expected to be relevant in big tournaments.
Federer was 41 years old when big tournament draws were supposed to include players of his age. His aura, natural talent, track record, and nearly devotional fan following always made it seem like there was some magic in his racquet – which often turned into a wand in his hands – and a flicker of hope remained.
After several knee surgeries and a long layoff, Federer realized it was over.”I’ve worked hard to get back in shape. In order to return to full competitive form, I have worked hard. I’ve been getting a clear message from my body lately. Over the past 24 years, I’ve played more than 1,500 matches. In a social media announcement, he said, “I must recognise when it’s time to stop competing.”
To my tennis family and beyond,
With Love,
Roger pic.twitter.com/1UISwK1NIN— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 15, 2022
In his last competitive match, he lost 0-6 in the quarterfinals to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz at Wimbledon 2021. But it’s safe to say it won’t be the enduring memory of Federer and any of his countless admirers and tennis fans looking back on his career.
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have surpassed him in the Grand Slam singles title race. Even though Federer has awe-inspiring numbers, you can’t judge him solely on them. It was amazing to watch him play and realize what a tennis racquet and a fluffy ball could do.
A sensory experienceÂ
Add to it his playing style, which combined athletic prowess with balletic grace, along with his sportsmanship and articulation on a whole range of topics, and it became a whole new level of tennis.
Together with the retirement of another all-time great, Serena Williams, tennis has lost its last link to the 20th century. Pete Sampras’ 14 Grand Slam titles were considered unbreakable when Federer took the throne in the early 2000s.In the present day, without any disrespect to the American great, he does not appear in many GOAT debates.
Men’s tennis reached unprecedented heights thanks to Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. There will always be a debate over who’s the best, but Federer has always been the fan fave, as well as tournament organizers and TV networks.
As he reflected on his nearly quarter-century playing career on Thursday, he said, “Tennis has treated me generously more than I ever could have imagined.”.
The crowds around the world cheered and supported Federer vociferously, even when he lost.
I’m sure fans will forgive me. People who have watched tennis for decades, including all-time greats like Rod Laver, have said they’ve never seen anything like the Swiss genius.
There was the graceful serve, the forehand – probably one of the greatest weapons in tennis history – and the silken volley, the drop and the lob, and a bunch of other shots Federer could conjure that made tennis lovers go back to YouTube over and over. His matches often left spectators gasping in awe. As a result, it defied the laws of physics.
It’s all about possibilities
It’s safe to say tennis will never be the same.There’s a lot of metronomes trading powerful, accurate strokes from the baseline, and they don’t venture to the net unless it’s absolutely necessary. They don’t see past the advantage of pushing the opponent back behind the baseline and forcing them to make mistakes.
Sometimes he let emotions get the best of him – like after losing to Nadal in the 2009 Australian Open final, and once shouting at Djokovic’s parents during a match – but it only made him more human.
Federer will not be the greatest player ever based on statistics.Nadal and Djokovic will fight for the honor.Their greatness doesn’t quite grab people’s attention like Federer’s does.There’s grit and sweat in the Spaniard’s game, while the Serb’s is almost a mechanical marvel.Tennis’ magic era may be over.
