It’s the end of a huge career. Undermined by repeated injuries, Roger Federer decided to say stop. The Swiss announced in a press release on Wednesday afternoon that he would end his sports career next week, after a final appearance in London for the Laver Cup. “The past three years have been full of challenges, be it injuries or surgeries. I’ve worked hard to get back in shape but I also know my body’s capabilities and limitations, and his message was clear,” he explains.
“I’ve played over 1,500 matches in 24 years, tennis has been more generous to me than I ever imagined, but now it’s time to recognize that it’s time to put an end to my sporting career,” he continued.
The opposition of style with Nadal has made their rivalry a legend, coupled with a friendship that has never wavered. It is also the Spaniard who came out with the most victories (24 to 16), especially on clay (14 to 2, including 4 Roland-Garros finals). For Nadal, a great admirer of his rival’s classicism, the word “perfect” sums up Federer’s tennis: “He has a perfect serve, a perfect volley, a more than perfect forehand, a perfect backhand (one-handed); he is very fast, everything is perfect with him”.
The Swiss has also always liked to “give the image of a good person”, including taking care of his communication during endless interview sessions granted without hesitation in the four languages he masters (Swiss German, English , French German).
His track record is huge. To the Grand Slam titles must be added six Masters, a Davis Cup and even an Olympic gold medal (in doubles with Stan Wawrinka), the singles gold remaining the only important trophy that he lacks. In total, he won 103 titles on the ATP circuit and spent 310 weeks in first place in the world, a record that Djokovic is however able to take from him in 2021 and which he has spectacularly improved to 373.