Roger Federer announced on Thursday that he is retiring from professional tennis at the age of 41 after winning 20 Grand Slam titles.
The decision comes just days after the conclusion of the US Open, which is expected to be the final tournament of 23-time major champion Serena Williams’ career and signals the true end of an era in tennis.
Federer has not competed since Wimbledon in July 2021 – he has had several knee operations – and in that sense the news is not surprising.
But he appeared at an event to mark the 100-year anniversary of Center Court at the All England Club this July and said he hoped to return to play there “one more time”.
He also said that he will be back in tournament action at the Swiss Indoors in October.
Posting the news on Twitter, Federer said his farewell event will be next week’s Lever Cup in London. It is a team event run by his management company.
“To the game of tennis: I love you, and I will never leave you,” she concluded her message, posted both in text and. Audio.
Federer’s last match anywhere was on 7 July 2021, when he lost to Hubert Herkaz 6–3, 7–6(4), 6–0 on Center Court in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Soon after, Federer had surgery to repair damage to the meniscus and cartilage in his right knee — his third operation on that knee in a span of 1 1/2 years.