Roger Federer, wey be 20-time Grand Slam singles champion, go retire from top-level tennis afta di Laver Cup for London later dis month.
Swiss Federer wey be 41 years old, neva play since Wimbledon 2021, afta wen e do third knee operation.
“My body message to me dey clear,” Federer tok.
“I don play more dan 1,500 matches ova 24 years. Now I must recognise wen time don reach to end my competitive career.”
E add say: “To di game of tennis, I love you and go neva leave you.”
Federer don struggle wit knee problem for di past three years wey don restrict am to only three of di 11 Grand Slams since di start of 2020.
E neva play competitive match since e lose to Hubert Hurkacz for di quarter-finals for Wimbledon last summer.
E later announce say e need more surgery for im knee afta e don previously get two operations for 2020
Roger,
Where do we begin?
It’s been a privilege to witness your journey and see you become a champion in every sense of the word.
We will so miss the sight of you gracing our courts, but all we can say for now is thank you, for the memories and joy you have given to so many. pic.twitter.com/VDWylKvW86
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) September 15, 2022
Only Spain Rafael Nadal, wit 22 majors, and Serbia Novak Djokovic, wit 21, get more men Grand Slam singles titles dan Federer.
“Dis na bittersweet decision bicos I go miss evritin wey di tour don give me,” Federer tok.
“But, at di same time, so much dey to celebrate. I consider mysef one of di most fortunate pipo on Earth. Dem give me special talent to play tennis and I do am for level wey I neva imagine for much longer dan I don eva tink of di possibility.”
Aside from thanking im family, support team and fans, Federer also thank im opponents from one golden era of di men game.
“I dey lucky enough to play so many epic matches wey I no go never forget. We battle fairly, with passion and intensity, and I always try my best to respect di history of di game.
“I dey extremely grateful. We push each oda, and togeda we take tennis to new levels.”
Federer make im professional debut for di age of 16 for1998 and win im first Grand Slam title for Wimbledon for 2003.
E dey end im career wit record total of eight men singles victories for di All England Club.
Federer final Grand Slam triumph come for di 2018 Australian Open wen, for di age of 36, e become di second-oldest man to win major singles title for di Open era.
Afta e rise to world number one for di first time for 2004, e spend 310 weeks as di leading player for di ATP Tour during im career – one record wey e get until Djokovic pass am for February 2021.
E retirement announcement dey come less than two weeks afta 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams play wetin dey expected to be di final of her career for di US Open.
Wia Federer win im Grand Slam titles
Federer na di most successful grass-court male player of all-time ontop im beta Wimbledon success, wit di last win for di All England Club coming for 2017.
Di Australian Open na di next most successful major tournament for di Swiss, wia e win six titles for Melbourne Park between 2004 and 2018.
E claim all five of im US Open title in a row between 2004 and 2008, while im one and onlywin on di French Open clay come in 2009.
Reaction as Federer wan retire
Di chairman of di All England Lawn Tennis Club, Ian Hewitt, congratulate Federer for im “truly remarkable career”.
“Dem go celebrate am forver as one of our greatest Wimbledon champions, afta e lift di trophy eight times from im 22 appearances for di All England Club,” Hewitt add.
“I hope say, in retirement, Roger go fit look back with big satisfaction and pride on all im accomplishments and di high esteem wey di tennis community take dey look am.”
(1/2) Roger Federer is a champion’s champion. He has the most complete game of his generation & captured the hearts of sports fans around the world with an amazing quickness on the court & a powerful tennis mind. He has had a historic career w/memories that will live on and on. pic.twitter.com/zxGq4izh1v
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 15, 2022
Argentina Juan Martin del Potro, wey defeated Federer to win di 2009 US Open, pay fulsome tribute to im rival.
“I love you Roger,” e tweet.
“Thank you for everything wey you don do for tennis and with mysef. Tennis world go neva be di same without you.”
Di key numbers in Federer career
20 Grand Slam singles titles 310 weeks as world number one
103 ATP titles 28 Masters 1,000 titles
6 ATP Finals victories 31 Grand Slam finals
1 Davis Cup triumph £114m career prize money