Roger Federer announces his retirement from the ATP Tour and grand slams
By Andy Carroll
22 May 2013
Switzerland’s Roger Federer announced Monday that he would retire from professional tennis on Tuesday. He has won 18 Grand Slam championships, the most of any player ever.
Federer has reached his peak just eight years ago, when he won his first Grand Slam title, Wimbledon in 2009, which made him the world’s top player. With that win, Federer became the oldest-ever Grand Slam champion when Roger Federer defeated Novak Djokovic in the finals.
The Swiss’s peak lasted only two short years. He won his second Wimbledon title in 2011, but shortly afterward, he suffered an abdominal injury that sidelined him for months. By the end of that season, he lost in the first round of the US Open as a result of that injury.
Since then, Federer has won at least one Grand Slam title each season—with the exception of his last two, in 2012 and 2013. He will play the French Open in two months, when he will attempt to defend his 2009 title.
Federer’s career may have ended prematurely, but with his retirement, he has decided to help raise money for charities in his native country of Switzerland.
On Monday, Federer posted a tweet announcing his retirement, saying: “I’m sorry that I couldn’t fulfill expectations to be the best in my sport.”
The Swiss star then paid a visit to the Swiss Parliament, where he spoke to members of Swiss parliament, saying: “It’s not only about me, but about everyone who has supported me. I would like to thank you for your support.”
“I want to thank all my supporters for their constant support and their passion,” said Federer, adding that he did not