Roger Federer is one of the most iconic male tennis players to have graced the court. Arguably the greatest tennis player ever, he is a household name as far as tennis is concerned. The Swiss legend announced his retirement from the noble game last week, shortly after Serena Williams, another icon, announced her retirement also. His announcement was with tears, and fans of the sport worldwide shared in those tears.
Roger Federer announced his retirement at the Laver Cup which was held in London, marking the end of one of the best athletic careers ever witnessed on the court. Citing recurrent injuries as the reason for his retirement, the 41-year-old Swiss player said he was listening to the message his body was sending him. He added that he would play more tennis in the future but not competitively in grand slams or on tour.
Since his debut as a junior player at Wimbledon, the Swiss Maestro has been stable as a force in the game. The years did not seem to dull his game any bit. Instead, he soared higher. In 1998, he was crowned ITF junior world champion with a number one junior world ranking. He has been ranked as the world’s No. 1 player by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for 310 weeks, with a record 237 consecutive weeks. He also finished as the year-end No. 1 five times in total. Roger Federer played over 1500 matches in an illustrious career that spanned over 24 years. Winning his first grand slam at the age of 21 at Wimbledon, he later went on to win 20 grand slam titles. He reached 23 consecutive grand slam semi-finals and 36 consecutive quarter-finals. He also clinched two Olympic medals. Roger, alongside rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, referred to as the big three, birthed arguably the greatest era that the game has ever seen.
Roger Federer has inspired countless people and set the pace for those who wish to come after them. His persona on and off the court is worthy of emulation. His reign on the court is at an end, but his name would never escape the history books. He has left a void for his adoring fans, and we look excitedly at what the future of the sport holds. It is our sincere hope that he recovers wholly and continues to excel as he moves on to new chapters in his life.
