Tennis icon Roger Federer has announced his retirement from tennis.
The Swiss legend rides into the sunset with a whopping 20 Grand Slam singles titles, eight men’s single Wimbledon titles, five men’s singles US Open titles, and six year-end championships.
Federer has nothing left to conquer and leaves professional tennis with a claim of being its greatest player of all-time. A true big-game player, the Swiss player never disappointed in major finals and seldom produced a below-par performance.
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The Big Three
His exit from the game is a reminder that we’re all getting older. It wasn’t too long ago that a 21-year-old Federer introduced himself to the world by winning his first Wimbledon singles title in 2003 - ushering in a new era of tennis along with the two other players of the ‘big three’ - Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
The trio were pipped to dominate the men’s game for years to come and they certainly delivered on that promise, with Federer in particular gracing the court with unparalleled grace and composure.
Inspirations
Speaking about how he remained such an elite player for so long, Federer stated: "I get inspired in a big way by the likes of Usain Bolt or Michael Jordan or LeBron James or Valentino Rossi or Michael Schumacher: guys who did things for a very long time at the highest of levels.’’
Federer claimed that he would ‘marvel’ at enduring elite athletes when he was younger and aimed to replicate their dedication to training and perpetual pursuit of excellence.
Known initially for his fiery temper and perceived lack of self-control, the Swiss player quickly matured and soon vastly improved his standing in the public eye.
Fitting Farewell
It was only fitting that his last match was played alongside one of his great rivals, Rafael Nadal. In an emotional encounter at the Laver Cup, the legends came up short against Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe at London’s 02 Arena.
A victory for the two veterans would’ve been a fitting crescendo, but sadly it wasn’t to be. After sharing a hug with Nadal, Roger Federer left the court as an active player for the very last time.
It’s sad to see so many legendary athletes approach the end of the line. Whether it’s Roger Federer, Sergio Aguero, or Wayne Rooney, it’s clear that the old generation of sporting greatness is approaching its twilight.
Roger Federer has done amazing things for the sport of tennis and he leaves behind a legacy that will be hard to beat. You could argue if he’s truly the greatest ever, but he is surely up there.
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