AFP, Geneva :
Roger Federer will retire following next week’s Laver Cup after admitting his battles with a knee problem had forced him to call time on his historic tennis career.
Tributes poured in for the 41-year-old Swiss legend from rivals such as Rafael Nadal, while Serena Williams welcomed him to the “retirement club”.
Federer, a winner of 20 Grand Slam titles and one of the best players of all time, has been out of action since a quarter-final loss at Wimbledon in 2021, after which he underwent his third knee surgery in 18 months.
“The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event,” Federer said in a statement on social media on Thursday.
“The last 24 years on tour have been an incredible adventure,” he wrote.
“While it sometimes feels like it went by in 24 hours, it has also been so deep and magical that it seems as if I have already lived a lifetime.”
