Roger Federer has confirmed that he will retire from official competition at the age of 41: “The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in Grand Slams or on the tour.”
The winner of 103 ATP titles and 1251 ATP singles matches, Federer has won twenty Grand Slam titles since turning pro in 1998. He has not played a professional match since losing at Wimbledon in 2021 in three sets to Poland’s Hubi Hurkacz.
ATP · Roger Federer · Switzerland · Wilson
Bill McGill · September 15, 2022 at 9:49 am
I don’t want to say I told you so…but I absolutely told you so.
https://www.tennis-prose.com/bios/djokovic-adds-capoeira-training-to-regimen/#comments
Scoop Malinowski · September 15, 2022 at 10:08 am
You can say it Bill, YOU TOLD US SO! Good call. It was the logical finale, but there were many actually. Basel, Wimbledon, but Laver Cup will profit the most from the drama of it all. Here is my article asking tennis insider and players how they felt Roger should retire… https://www.tennis-prose.com/bios/how-should-roger-federer-retire/
Scoop Malinowski · September 15, 2022 at 11:03 am
Thinking back on Federer and working on my book Facing Federer, it was astounding and awesome how much the players respect him, one player called RF “the god of tennis.” https://www.amazon.com/Facing-Federer-Scoop-Malinowski/dp/1490387064/
Scoop Malinowski · September 15, 2022 at 12:15 pm
Tennys Sandgren
@TennysSandgren
Roger is one of the greatest champions ever. What an absolute legend. Just an incredible sportsman and ambassador for the game. Iām privileged to have done battle with him. Also fuck him tho š
Justified reaction. Those seven MPS at AO QF cost him about $500,000.
MATT SEGEL · September 15, 2022 at 12:56 pm
My favorite Roger story was in James Blake’s book. Blake apparently suffered a really nasty injury and was in the hospital, and he reported that there was one pro who checked in on him. I don’t remember if it was a gift or get well card or something, but Federer was that person.
He does seem like a genuinely nice person outside the court.
Inside the lines he was a stubborn and ferocious competitor who never gave up and really hated to lose.
He is the reason I fell back in love with tennis almost 20 years ago.
I also think he was vulnerable in a way that was endearing. Nadal and Novak were unbeatable, but Fed seemed to be beatable but 81.4% of the time found a way to win.
Even that loss to Del Potro, he went out firing. That might have been the Buster Douglas moment, but I like him even more after he started losing more. It showed how much he cared.
He might not be the “greatest of all time” but he was my favorite player.
I hope he coaches.
Scoop Malinowski · September 15, 2022 at 1:25 pm
Yes Matt, Blake also mentioned that when I interviewed him for Facing Federer book, he said “The one note I got in the hospital room was from Roger Federer.” Federer transformed the sport with a new image and aura and then on top of that he inspired the next generation lead by Rafa and Novak to be the greatest era of tennis history. It’s all based on the inspiration of Roger Federer. What I liked most about him was the pure emotion he showed on court after the monumental moments of his career, cried after first Masters series title win in Hamburg, cried after winning two Davis Cup matches in Switzlerland vs USA, cried after beating Sampras at Wimbledon, cried after winning first Grand Slam and Wimbledon title. I was told by media, that veteran reporters were openly crying in the press box at Wimbledon after he beat Philippoussis. As golf great Greg Norman told me, “watching Federer was like watching live art.”
Scoop Malinowski · September 15, 2022 at 2:05 pm
Matt, BTW, Blake told me he didn’t save that note from Federer, probably worth a million bucks now on ebay ) There are a lot more class stories about Federer like the Blake anecdote from other players in Facing Federer. Another very memorable one was Tim Smyczek saying after he qualified for his first US Open in 2012 he was hitting with Blake on Ashe and Federer came and was next on court and Federer congratulated Tim on qualifying for the first time, Tim said it was “surreal” that Federer even knew about it and congratulated him for it. Federer created a lot of those magical moments for a lot of people.
Cory · September 16, 2022 at 12:15 am
Great thread. Fed is so likeable… and Nadal the same with his competitive energy… but there’s something about Djokovic’s game and countenance that is very boring and i can never put my finger on it. He’s just so smug. If anything that’s it. Anyhow, there’s nobody with more raw natural talent and ability than Federer, IMO, and if he falls short as the GOAT it’s merely statistically. The 3 GOATS are for all intents and purposes equal.
The Smyczek story is nice. I agree Scoop, he does seem that he would be genuine off the court. I don’t see him coaching at all tho; he doesn’t seem to have that personality needed to coach. I think he fades into the sunset but comes around every year or two for charity matches (raising millions but also raking in a million for himsefl). He will be missed. Was hoping we’d have one more Wimbledon go. Shoulda won that 2019 vs. Joker.
Scoop Malinowski · September 16, 2022 at 7:47 am
Cory, I adored Federer also until Djokovic emerged and knocked him off and then some dark side qualities came out. Djokovic brought out his worst. Still disappointed when Novak was locked up in Australia and unjustly run out of the country, Federer never said a word of support. I agree Federer was such an awesome champion with so many positive inspiring wonderful anecdotes – until Novak rained on the parade. I know a lot more but at this time won’t mention it out of respect.