Roger Federer Retires From Tennis
On Thurs., Swiss tennis star Roger Federer announced his retirement from the sport via social media, declaring that next week's Laver Cup will be his final tournament.
Facts
- On Thurs., Swiss tennis star Roger Federer announced his retirement from the sport via social media, declaring that next week's Laver Cup will be his final tournament.
- The winner of 20 Grand Slam men's singles titles has faced three knee surgeries over the past two years, and has been out of competitive action since Wimbledon 2021.
- Federer, who has played more than 1.5K matches over 24 years, won 20 Grand Slam titles – six Australian Open titles, one French Open, a record eight Wimbledon titles (including five in a row) and five US Open crowns. He also won a Davis Cup title, six Tour Finals, and two Olympic medals.
- He is currently the third biggest winner of men's singles Grand Slam titles behind Spain's Rafael Nadal with 22, and Serbia's Novak Djokovic with 21. His final Grand Slam title came at the 2018 Australian Open.
- Last year, Federer was reportedly the world's most-endorsed athlete, receiving $90M off the court – $10M more than LeBron James. On the court, he earned roughly $130M in prize money during his career.
- Federer’s announcement comes just weeks after fellow tennis star Serena Williams played her last match at the 2022 US Open. The pair of legends will leave a void on the ATP and WTA tours.
Sources: NBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, BBC News, Forbes, and New York Times.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by Tennis Up To Date. Federer is a legend, but history won't name him the greatest of all time (GOAT). The GOAT debate should be decided in favor of the winner of the most major titles, and he's already been passed by Djokovic and Nadal, who are now battling for GOAT status.
- Narrative B, as provided by New York Post. Never mind the Grand Slam titles record, Federer is the GOAT both as a player and a human being. On the court, he's exemplified class, elegance, and grace, while seeming to play effortless tennis. Off the court, Federer was as humble as they come and he treated people kindly, which earned him universal adoration.
- Cynical narrative, as provided by Bleacher Report. Federer has been a magnificent player and he's surely a legend, but fueling this very American "greatest of all time" debate is troublesome. It's impossible to compare different athletes in different contexts, meaning this discussion is purely a clash of fanbases. We should stop debating it and start enjoying and respecting all great champions.
