At the age of 41, the legendary Roger Federer has not played again since being knocked out of Wimbledon 2021 and announced on Thursday that he will retire after the Laver Cup, a competition where he will team up with Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy. Murray.

Roger FedererPhoto: USA TODAY Network / ddp USA / Profimedia

Roger Federer ended his career after the Laver Cup – an emotional letter from the Swiss

Having struggled with his knee in recent years, the Swiss grand champion has not played an official match since July 2021 after losing to Hubert Gurkac in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

20-time Grand Slam champion Federer has announced that the Laver Cup (September 23-25) will be his last event.

“To my tennis family and beyond,

Of all the gifts that tennis has given me over the years, the greatest without a doubt has been the people I’ve met along the way: my friends, my opponents, and most of all, the fans who bring this sport to life. Today I want to share some news with you.

As many of you know, I’ve had my fair share of injuries and surgeries over the past three years. I worked hard to get back into competitive shape. But I also know my body’s capabilities and limits, and lately that message has been clear to me. I am 41 years old. I played more than 1500 matches in 24 years. Tennis has been more generous to me than I could have dreamed, and now I have to admit that the time has come to end my competitive career.

The Laver Cup in London next week will be my last ATP tournament. Of course, I will still play tennis in the future, but not in the Grand Slams or on the circuit.

It’s a bittersweet decision because I will miss everything this track has given me. But at the same time, there is something to celebrate. I consider myself one of the luckiest people on earth. I was gifted with a special talent to play tennis, and I did it at a level I never imagined possible, for far longer than I ever thought possible.

I would especially like to thank my wonderful wife Myrca, who lived with me every minute. She warmed me up for finals, watched countless games even when I was 8 months pregnant, and put up with my grumpy side on the trips I took with the team for over 20 years. I also want to thank my four wonderful children for their support, who are always eager to explore new places and make great memories along the way. Seeing my family cheering me on from the stands is a feeling I will cherish forever.

I would also like to thank my loving parents and my dear sister for their contribution, without whom none of this would have been possible. Big thanks to all my past coaches who always steered me in the right direction…you guys were incredible! And the Swiss Tennis Federation, which believed in me as a young player and gave me the perfect start.

I want to thank my wonderful team, Ivan, Dana, Roland and especially Seva and Pierre, who gave me the best advice and were always there for me. Also Tony for creatively managing my business for over 17 years. You are all incredible and I loved every minute with you.

I want to thank my loyal sponsors, who are my partners, as well as the ATP teams and tournaments, who received us all with kindness and hospitality.

I also want to thank my opponents on the field. I have been lucky enough to play so many epic matches that I will never forget. We fought fair, with passion and intensity, and I always tried my best to respect the history of the game. I am very grateful. We pushed each other and together we took tennis to a new level.

First of all, I have to thank my incredible fans. You will never know how much strength and confidence you have given me. The feeling of walking through packed stadiums and arenas was one of the greatest thrills of my life. Without you, these successes would be lonely rather than full of joy and energy.[singuredecâtplinedebucurieșienergie[singuredecâtplinedebucurieșienergie

The last 24 years have been an incredible adventure. Although sometimes I feel like they passed in 24 hours, they were so deep and magical that it feels like I’ve already lived a lifetime. I’ve been lucky enough to play in front of you in over 40 different countries. I laughed and cried, I felt joy and pain, and most of all, I felt incredibly alive. During my travels I met many wonderful people who will remain friends for life, who always found time in their busy schedules to come watch me play and support me around the world. Thank you.

When my love for tennis began, I was a kid with a ball in my hometown of Basel. I used to look at the players with a sense of wonder. They were like giants for me, and I began to dream. My dreams made me work harder and I started to believe in myself. Some successes gave me confidence and I began my journey on the most amazing journey that has led me to date.

So from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone around the world who helped make a young kid’s Swiss soccer dreams come true.

Finally, to the tennis game: I love you and I will never leave you” – Roger Federeron Instagram.