In news that saddened the tennis world, Roger Federer announced his inevitable retirement from tennis last week. The all-time great will appear in his last competitive tournament this weekend, playing for Team Europe at the Laver Cup 2022. With his side, a strong favourite heading into the matchup, can the Swiss maestro sign off on his career by notching one last win?
Roger Federer Announces Retirement From Competitive Tennis
In a move that all tennis fans knew would have to come eventually, Roger Federer announced he will officially retire from competitive tennis at the end of September 2022.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion communicated his sad news to the world through a social media post early last week. Ever the gentleman, Federer posted a series of screenshots from an eloquently written letter, articulating his reasons for retirement and heartfelt thanks to those who have supported him.
“The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in Grand Slams or on the tour,” said the Swiss star.
Federer went on to explain how the past few years have been a difficult time for him physically, which led him to make this announcement, saying,
“I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear. I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1500 matches over 24 years… I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career.”
Federer’s Final Dance at the Laver Cup
As part of Federer’s announcement, he declared that the upcoming Laver Cup will be his final professional appearance.
Occurring from 23 to 25 September in London, the Laver Cup sees two tennis teams compete for its namesake trophy over three days. Team Europe and Team World meet, with each team curating a selection of players from their respective geographical regions to represent them.
Historically, Team Europe have been much stronger, with multiple Top 10 players filling their ranks. While Federer has been one of these players in every prior edition, he now joins the side as an unranked player, having not appeared on the Tour in over a year. Therefore, the viewers at Tennis Channel will be in for a somewhat special appearance.
Heading into this weekend, Federer’s team is the strong favorite in the bookmaker’s odds. Those who are eager to put a bet on Team Europe to win can get odds of -238 when they visit betflorida.com. The question is, can Federer himself end with a win?
Can the Tennis Great Finish With a Flourish?
With all of the Big Three appearing for Team Europe this weekend, they have an excellent chance of winning the Laver Cup.
But what about Federer’s chances in his matchup?
Sadly, it’s quite likely that while this will be Federer’s last tournament, he may not make it on the court officially. Pierre Paganini, Federer’s fitness coach, has spoken to the media explaining that it will be a last-minute decision whether or not the Swiss great plays on the weekend.
Inflammation and fluid build-up in Federer’s knee has prevented him from playing at a high level, and while there’s still a chance he’ll make it on the court this weekend, his likelihood of finishing with a win is not as strong.
