Roger Federer of Switzerland holds up the trophy in front of photographers after winning his match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men’s final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, New York, September 9, 2007. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
Sept 15 (Reuters) – The following is Roger Federer’s letter in which the 20-times Grand Slam champion announced he would retire from the sport after the Laver Cup this month:
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 competitors, and most of all the fans who give the sport its life. Today, I want to share some news with all of you.
As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries. I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form.
But I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear. I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years.
