After 25 years on the Tour, the 20-time Major winner Roger Federer will retire at the Laver Cup in London in ten days. The Swiss has been struggling with a knee injury for two and a half years, undergoing three surgeries and failing to return at his best.
Roger has decided to end his magnificent career, and the tennis world is honoring him and his legacy. World no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz is among them, saying that Roger was his idol and an inspiration. The young Spaniard will not have a chance to compete against Roger in the official matches, but he hopes to meet the legend on the court in some unofficial form.
Roger’s last Major final came at Wimbledon 2019, and he had a chance to meet the 16-year-old Carlos and take a picture with him. Three years later, they are the oldest and youngest world no. 1 in ATP history! Federer finished the 2019 season ranked 3rd behind Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
The 38-year-old wished for more in 2020, but a knee injury smashed his dreams. Roger lost to Novak in the Australian Open semi-final and underwent knee surgery in February. He needed another in May, and the season was over for him after just one tournament.
Federer returned in March 2021 and played a couple of matches in Doha and Geneva ahead of Roland Garros. The Swiss defeated three rivals in Paris and withdrew ahead of the fourth round to preserve his knee for the grass swing.
Carlos Alcaraz still hopes to meet Roger Federer on the court in the future.
Roger experienced his earliest Halle exit after falling to Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round. The veteran stopped the clock during his 22nd appearance at the All England Club and advanced into the second week.
An eight-time champion ousted four rivals and booked a place in the quarter-final as the oldest player in the Open era! In what turned out to be his last match at Majors, Federer experienced a tough 6-3, 7-6, 6-0 loss to Hubert Hurkacz, missing his chances in the second set and losing steam in the third.
The Swiss underwent his third knee surgery soon after and could not recover enough to play competitive tennis again. “Roger has been one of my idols and a source of inspiration! Thank you for everything you have done for our sport! I still want to play with you! I wish you all the luck in the world for what comes next!” Carlos Alcaraz said.
