Federer: Twelve Final Days

Roger Federer retired because he could no longer compete at the Grand Slam level. After four surgeries throughout his career, persistent knee pain from injuries sustained at the 2016 Australian Open made it clear he had reached the end of his competitive journey. The realization brought him a sense of relief for himself and his family, who had watched him struggle on the court.

His match losses following the 2020 surgeries foreshadowed his inability to return to top form.

Roger Federer announced his retirement on September 14, 2022, by recording a heartfelt video. The news was released to the public the following day, September 15, 2022, marking the end of his 24-year professional tennis career.

Federer's final tournament was the Laver Cup in London, held from September 23, 2022. This event was particularly meaningful because it was the tournament he helped create to honor Rod Laver and fellow players. He played only doubles matches as part of his farewell.

His participation in the Laver Cup connected to his long-standing relationship with the competition he founded.

Rafael Nadal was Federer's final doubles partner. They played together for the first time as a doubles team, fulfilling Federer's wish to share the court with Nadal one last time before retiring. Their partnership was historic, bringing together two of tennis's greatest rivals who had immense respect for each other.

Federer had expressed wanting a last doubles match with Nadal before his retirement announcement.

In his final match on September 23, 2022, Federer and Nadal won the first set against Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock, but unforced errors crept in and they lost the tiebreak. Despite the loss, the match was filled with emotion and received a standing ovation, with Federer embracing his teammates, especially Nadal, afterward.

Federer's retirement was driven by persistent knee problems. The initial injury occurred during the 2016 Australian Open while he was helping his children with bath time, leading to the discovery of a meniscus issue. He underwent surgery in 2020, but complications required a second procedure. He admitted returning to tennis too soon, resulting in a difficult stretch of match losses.

The 2016 injury during a mundane family moment set the stage for his eventual departure from the sport.

Federer underwent four surgeries throughout his career, all related to his knee injuries. The most significant were the two procedures in 2020 to address the meniscus damage from his 2016 injury. These surgeries ultimately proved insufficient for him to return to competitive form at the highest level.

Federer was supported by his wife Mirka Federer, whom he met at age 18 on the tennis circuit. His manager and agent Tony Godsick and friend Mary Joe Fernandez also stood by him during this time. He personally reached out to friends to announce his retirement before the media release. His family, children Leo, Lenny, Charlene, and Myla, were present throughout his journey.

Roger Federer played over 1,500 professional matches during his 24-year career. By the time of his retirement, he was 41 years old, having begun his journey as a ball kid in Basel and rising to become one of tennis's greatest champions.

Federer and Nadal's legendary rivalry ended on a profoundly personal note with their final doubles match together. Despite being fierce competitors who pushed each other to greatness, they remained friends who shared deep respect and camaraderie off the court. Nadal visibly felt the impact of their rivalry ending as they embraced after the match.

Their relationship evolved from friends to fierce rivals while always maintaining mutual respect.

The Laver Cup was significant because Federer helped create the tournament to honor Rod Laver and fellow players. It represented his legacy beyond playing, the only major team competition in men's tennis outside the Davis Cup. His final appearance at the event in London allowed him to play for Team Europe under captain Björn Borg alongside rivals like Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

In his farewell speech, Roger expressed heartfelt gratitude to his family, particularly his wife Mirka Federer, calling her his greatest support throughout his journey. His words encapsulated his 24-year career in tennis, reflecting on the significant impact he felt he had made on the sport he loved dearly.