Tennis fans have reacted to Roger Federer’s imminent retirement with an outpouring of gratitude, as the Swiss maestro waves goodbye to the sport.
Constant injuries and surgeries in recent years finally took their toll on Federer, who confirmed his last tennis tournament would be the Laver Cup in London.
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It was an announcement many felt was coming at some stage given Federer had not played in a grand slam this year and recently dropped out of the ATP singles rankings altogether for the first time since September 1997.
Federer won a whopping 20 grand slam titles throughout an illustrious career that spanned over two decades.
The 41-year-old was at the centre of some of the sport’s greatest-ever matches and enjoyed legendary rivalries with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Federer’s announcement was met with a tidal wave of support on social media, with many hailing the impact he had on their lives as well as the impeccable and graceful manner in which he played tennis.