End of an era for the big ones Roger Federer. The Swiss tennis player announced that he is retiring from the tournament at the age of 41. The tennis legend announced in an emotional message on social media that he was quitting after making one final appearance at the Laver Cup in London next week (September 23-25).

Federer has won a total of 20 Grand Slams. In total, he won Wimbledon eight times, was a multiple winner of that tournament, six times the Australian Open, five times the US Open and once Roland Garros, while winning a total of 103 titles and finishing second on the relevant list at the Open of the era.

He stayed at the top of the world rankings for a total of 310 weeks, played a total of 1,526 games and celebrated 1,251 victories.

In his emotional farewell message, Federer expressed how blessed he was to have this talent in tennis, but also all the people who were by his side and of course his family.

What Federer said in detail in his farewell message

To the entire tennis family and beyond,

Of all the gifts tennis has given me over the years, the greatest are the people I have met along the way: friends, opponents and most importantly, the fans who breathe life into the sport. Today I want to share some news with you all.

As many of you know, the last three years have presented me with challenges of injuries and surgeries. I worked hard to become fully competitive again. But he also knows my body’s potential and its limitations, and his message has been clear lately. I am 41 years old. I’ve given over 1,500 matches in 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I could have dreamed of and now I have to realize when it’s time to retire from my pro career.

Next week’s Laver Cup in London will be the final ATP event. Of course I will play more tennis in the future, but not in Grand Slams or on the ATP Tour.

It’s a bittersweet decision because I will miss everything the tour gave me. At the same time, there is so much to celebrate. I consider myself one of the happiest people on earth. I was given a special talent to play tennis and did it at a level I never imagined, for much longer than I could have imagined.

I especially want to thank my amazing wife Mirka who lived with me every minute. He warned me about finals, watched countless games even when I was eight months pregnant and was on the road with my team for over twenty years with my special side. I would also like to thank my four wonderful children for their support who are always keen to explore new places and create wonderful memories along the way. Seeing my family cheer me on from the stands is a feeling I will always cherish.

I would also like to thank and acknowledge the contribution of my dear parents and my dear sister, without whom nothing would have been possible. A big thank you to all my former coaches who always guided me in the right direction. you were awesome And to the Swiss Tennis Association, who believed in me as a youngster and gave me the ideal start to my career.

I really want to thank and acknowledge my amazing team Ivan, Danny, Roland and especially Seve and Pierre who gave me the best advice and were always there for me. Also Tony who has creatively led my business for over 17 years. You are all amazing and I enjoyed every minute with you.

I would like to thank my loyal sponsors who are my true partners and the hard working teams and tournaments on the ATP Tour who have always welcomed us all with kindness and hospitality.

I would also like to thank my competitors on the courts. I was lucky enough to play so many epic matches that I will never forget. We fought fairly, with passion and intensity, and I always did my best to respect the history of the game.

I feel very grateful. We pushed each other and together we took tennis to a new level. First of all, I have to say a special thank you to the incredible fans. You will never know how much strength and trust you gave me.

The inspiring feeling of walking through crowded stadiums and arenas was one of the greatest thrills of my life. Without you, these achievements would be lonely and not full of joy and energy.

The last 24 years on tour have been an incredible adventure. While at times it felt like it would last 24 hours, it was so deep and magical that it felt like it would last a lifetime. I’ve been very fortunate to play for you in over 40 different countries.

I laughed and cried, felt joy and pain, and most importantly, felt incredibly alive. In my travels I have met many wonderful people who will always be my friends who have always taken years out of their busy schedules to come and see me perform all over the world. Many Thanks.

When my love for tennis began I was a kid picking up balls in my hometown of Basel. I used to watch the players with admiration. They were like giants to me and I started dreaming.

My dreams made me work harder and I started believing in myself. A few successes filled me with confidence and I was on my way to the most amazing journey to date. So I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, everyone in this world who helped make the dream of a little Swiss boy collecting balls come true.

Finally on the world of tennis: I love you and will never leave you.

Roger Federer”.