Breakpointerer
Legend
Yes, just referring to the fact that he had to go out due to injuries
Federer officially retiring (serious)
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counterpuncher64
New User
I'm a Rafa fan and used to hate Federer as a high schooler/college kid because I was immature and emotional over the rivalry. As I got older, I still wanted Rafa to beat him, but began to appreciate Fed's greatness on his own merits and realized the game isn't going to be the same without him. The fact that he was able to play the game at such a high-level for so long is something I also appreciate much more now in my 30s. I'm not a pro athlete, but I do workout regularly and I'm already starting to feel my body ache and pain from the stress. I can't imagine how much more punishment pros put their body through and I only now realize how significant an achievement this was to play like that in his late-30s.
Rafa vs Fed as a player will be a debate till the cows come home, but there's no doubt that Fed was the face of tennis and the game will have a huge hole to fill in his absence. Bon Voyage, Roger. The game lost a great one today.
Rafa vs Fed as a player will be a debate till the cows come home, but there's no doubt that Fed was the face of tennis and the game will have a huge hole to fill in his absence. Bon Voyage, Roger. The game lost a great one today.
ForehandCross
G.O.A.T.
Tributes to the man who defined tennis for two - three generations. One of the greatest ever and maybe the greatest ever.
Tennis shall forever remember the one of it's most beloved and cherished stars.
Cmon Fed!
Tennis shall forever remember the one of it's most beloved and cherished stars.
Cmon Fed!
Mainad
Bionic Poster
103 titles won (2nd only to Connors with 109) including 20 Slams, 6 WTFs, 28 Masters 1000, 24 ATP500s, 25 ATP250s. 310 weeks as world #1 (2nd only to Djokovic currently on 373) including 5 years as Y/E #1 (joint 3rd with Connors and Nadal behind Djokovic and Sampras).
Ain't too bad!!!
Ain't too bad!!!
NeutralFan
G.O.A.T.
What?
The pioneer of the modern baseline era was a Swedish guy with long hair who achieved something no one else has, three Channel Slams.
Look dude i am talking about post 2000 era that has been exclusively baseline.Borg's game was not even remotely closer to today's game, moreover there were many styles in Borg's time so he didn't make baseline era dominant .Comparing Borg's time with post 2000 is almost like comparing Rigby league as Rugby union. Fed introduced a new era with his perfect blend of offense and defense followed by Djokovic and Nadal. Players before him were lacking in one aspect or the other.
Wiggedbaldy
Rookie
I don't know why seeing a man that doesn't even know I exist hitting a yellow ball back and forth made me so happy but it did, thank you for brightening my days.
On the positive side, he played so many matches I have highlights to watch for the next 10 years.
And I really hope his knees won't bother him too much for the rest of his personal life.
Goodbye Roger.
On the positive side, he played so many matches I have highlights to watch for the next 10 years.
And I really hope his knees won't bother him too much for the rest of his personal life.
Goodbye Roger.
Mark-Touch
Legend
There's still hope!
I read the letter carefully.
He never says he is retiring.
Smart guy!
He probably got some help with that letter, it was peRFect.
I read the letter carefully.
He never says he is retiring.
Smart guy!
He probably got some help with that letter, it was peRFect.
Karma Tennis
Legend
Only one Career GRAND SLAM though. And no Olympic Gold Medal in Singles play.
Rafa has Double Career GRAND SLAM and an Olympic Gold Medal in Singles.
Novak has Double Career GRAND SLAM .
And none of them have achieved the GRAND SLAM.
Mainad
Bionic Poster
The day many of us have been dreading has finally arrived!!!
Had hoped he might make 1 final appearance at Wimbledon but it was not to be. Not even a farewell appearance at his home tournament, Basel. Has chosen the Laver Cup (to be played in London in a couple of weeks' time) for his farewell appearance on the ATP tour. It's going to be a very emotional experience for all of us Fedfans and many more besides!!!
Had hoped he might make 1 final appearance at Wimbledon but it was not to be. Not even a farewell appearance at his home tournament, Basel. Has chosen the Laver Cup (to be played in London in a couple of weeks' time) for his farewell appearance on the ATP tour. It's going to be a very emotional experience for all of us Fedfans and many more besides!!!
tennis_pro
Bionic Poster
If Federer can't even play Basel, but needs to finish with an exho then his injuries must be really bad. The whole world will be watching Laver Cup now too.
Also if Fed was virtually done at the age of 38 when he's pretty much always been injury free and in good health it gives you a perspective of how long Nadal and Djokovic can play from now. Even for the ultimate haters enjoy them while you still can.
Also if Fed was virtually done at the age of 38 when he's pretty much always been injury free and in good health it gives you a perspective of how long Nadal and Djokovic can play from now. Even for the ultimate haters enjoy them while you still can.
Mainad
Bionic Poster
There is only ONE current player who has won in ALL categories of main tennis titles.
NatF
Bionic Poster
Classy from Rafa as expected.
Third Serve
Talk Tennis Guru
man this is hard to really accept even though he’s been basically retired for over a year
still the best player I’ve ever seen and what a joy it was to watch him play
wishing him a very happy retirement
still the best player I’ve ever seen and what a joy it was to watch him play
wishing him a very happy retirement
UnderratedSlam
G.O.A.T.
I was sure he'd play Basel.
The injury must have been heavy enough to prevent this. In other words, in the Laver Cup he'll be playing only doubles probably.
The injury must have been heavy enough to prevent this. In other words, in the Laver Cup he'll be playing only doubles probably.
Karma Tennis
Legend
Sorry DUDE!
Prior to Borg, the dominant and most successful style of tennis was Serve and Volley.
Borg arrived and proceeded to use topspin groundstokes and his athleticism as weapoons. He was able to use either as an attacking or defending weapon. And he was able to do all that using a wooden tennis racquet with a tiny hoop and natural gut strings.
The 1980 Wimbledon Men's Singles Final was billed as contest between Serve&Volley and Baseline styles.
Federer basically took Borg's game and went to the next level. He was able to do that thanks to the evolution of tennis equipment and sports science.
Borg wrote the book. Guys like Lendl, Wilander and Chang read the book and took its advice. Federer read Borg's book and added a few chapters of his own.
If you don't see that, then you weren't there.
Federev
Legend
WOW.
All class. Beautiful stuff. Really.
Just to see them fight so hard against eachother but have a friendship and respect that is bigger …
Wow.
Karma Tennis
Legend
There is only ONE current player who has won in ALL categories of main tennis titles.
Not aware that any of the Big 3 have won Major Titles in Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
Who are you talking about?
EdMcMush
Professional
what? Nadal has health problems which makes it soon. When Novak is allowed to play tournaments he is always one of the top 2 top 3 favorites at an tournament
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
Mainad
Bionic Poster
Wasn't just talking about Majors. ALL categories of main tour tennis titles and maybe try thinking past the Big 3.
onyxrose81
Hall of Fame
If Roger could have played Basel, I’m sure he would have tried. His knee is obviously to the point where that’s not possible.
LC is a friendly exho where he can go out and officially retire with his colleagues. It’s not a bad way to leave competitive tennis.
LC is a friendly exho where he can go out and officially retire with his colleagues. It’s not a bad way to leave competitive tennis.
Karma Tennis
Legend
Interviewer: So Rafa, many say that you are the GOAT of tennis.
Rafa: No, No. I am not the GOAT.
Interviewer: So Noak, many say that you are the GOAT of tennis.
Novak: That is so kind of them to say that. But, No, I am not the GOAT.
Interviewer: So Roger, many say that you are the GOAT of tennis.
Roger: Really? That is so nice of them to say that.
Rafa: No, No. I am not the GOAT.
Interviewer: So Noak, many say that you are the GOAT of tennis.
Novak: That is so kind of them to say that. But, No, I am not the GOAT.
Interviewer: So Roger, many say that you are the GOAT of tennis.
Roger: Really? That is so nice of them to say that.
onyxrose81
Hall of Fame
Roddick was my fave in the past so I could never give Roger my love, lol, but he’s one of the greatest to ever play and he transcended the sport. I wish him the best.
(And I sympathize and empathize with the knee issues. Mine just popped.)
(And I sympathize and empathize with the knee issues. Mine just popped.)
Terry Tibbs
Hall of Fame
Although this retirement announcement should not come as a shock, I still feel quite devastated. I was hanging on to the hope that one day he may return to the tour and play at a good level. Now it is indeed final its quite hard to accept. Its also making me think about 40-15 all over again and how if only he could have converted one of those 2 championship points.
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Bhagi Katbamna
Legend
Insanely expensive Platinum Daytona in that picture above.
Karma Tennis
Legend
I presume you are an American. Not that that matters, but it would explain your thinking.
One Career GRAND SLAM may not be a big deal.
However, TWO Career GRAND SLAMs is a huge deal because so few players have achieved it over many decades of the sport. And both Rafa and Novak have achieved it across several different surfaces.
IME, it is really only Americans and fans of the Big 3 that are obsessed with Major Titles counts.
Personally I think winning four of each would be a much greater achievement than winning 20 where most of them come from the one event.
So, if a guy like Alcaraz comes along and achieves a FOUR time Career GRAND SLAM, he will have a valid claim to GOAT status ... even if Rafa and Novak finish up with no more Major Titles.
Karma Tennis
Legend
Not really. A friend of mine picked one up in Hong Kong a few years back for under $250 USD.
Maria & Newport Breakers
New User
From the footnotes of David Foster Wallace’s essay on Federer:
“By the way, it’s right around here, or the next game, watching, that three separate inner-type things come together and mesh. One is a feeling of deep personal privilege at being alive to get to see this; another is the thought that William Caines is probably somewhere here in the Centre Court crowd, too, watching, maybe with his mum. The third thing is a sudden memory of the earnest way the press bus driver promised just this experience. Because there is one. It’s hard to describe — it’s like a thought that’s also a feeling. One wouldn’t want to make too much of it, or to pretend that it’s any sort of equitable balance; that would be grotesque. But the truth is that whatever deity, entity, energy, or random genetic flux produces sick children also produced Roger Federer, and just look at him down there. Look at that.”
www.nytimes.com
“By the way, it’s right around here, or the next game, watching, that three separate inner-type things come together and mesh. One is a feeling of deep personal privilege at being alive to get to see this; another is the thought that William Caines is probably somewhere here in the Centre Court crowd, too, watching, maybe with his mum. The third thing is a sudden memory of the earnest way the press bus driver promised just this experience. Because there is one. It’s hard to describe — it’s like a thought that’s also a feeling. One wouldn’t want to make too much of it, or to pretend that it’s any sort of equitable balance; that would be grotesque. But the truth is that whatever deity, entity, energy, or random genetic flux produces sick children also produced Roger Federer, and just look at him down there. Look at that.”
Roger Federer as Religious Experience (Published 2006)
How one player’s grace, speed, power, precision, kinesthetic virtuosity, and seriously wicked topspin are transfiguring men’s tennis.
Crisstti
Legend
Nonsense. Federer isn't retiring to "leave it to the youngsters", he's retiring because he's tried as hard and for as long as he's been able to, to come back, and he's come to accept now that it won't be possible. Cause his body won't allow him to.
He will b missed on the tour.
Open Stance
Professional
Not surprising. He really brought tennis to another level. I think my favorite matches of his were earlier in his career against Agassi. Probably the two greatest ball strikers in the history of tennis. Just two dudes standing on top of the baseline and pounding the ball. Farewell Roger!
The Fedfather
Legend
I'm not sure how I'm going to watch him play LC, knowing that it's the last time. It's just sad the retirement couldn't have been on his own terms. But I guess the way Roger recognizes himself to be one of the luckiest people on Earth, as fans we too can recognize that it was amazing luck to watch Federer's unique talent, his dedication and passion for tennis, his sportsmanship for as long as we have. My favorite athlete, probably forever.
All the very, very best to Roger, and looking forward to seeing him in some other role in tennis that he might take.
All the very, very best to Roger, and looking forward to seeing him in some other role in tennis that he might take.
NeutralFan
G.O.A.T.
Did you even read my post? Did Borg make one style dominated no? And don't kid me , son of you think Borg's era was anything similar to modern baseline . You were not even born and most people who have fascination with old era talk sht . Tennis in 70s and 80s was so different that you may very well call it a different game. Borg didn't invent an era but Federer did and later on Djokodal emulated him. Did Borg's style kill SNV?
Darrell
Rookie
I have literally been watching Roger since 1999, when I was still in high school! Roger has brought me thrills for over half my life. What a ride and journey this has been. With Roger's announcement today, it almost feels like tennis is retiring. Thank goodness with live in a world that has YouTube, so us Fed fans can go and relive so many amazing moments. I doubt there will ever be a player that I will ever enjoy watching more than the maestro, Roger Federer. Long live the Kind, Federer Forever!
Chanwan
G.O.A.T.
Not gonna lie. Am gutted even though I had lost hope of him returning to top-tennis.
Roger made me go from a casual fan to a 'tennis is the best sport in the world' fan.
Roger also plays a part in me picking up a racquet again years after tennis lost out to other sports for me (it's been the main one for a long while now)
And when every once in a while, I manage to do something 'Federer-like' on the court, the rest of the game (almost) doesn't matter.
I was lucky enough to meet him and see him live not once, not twice, but again and again. Against Rafa, Novak, Andy, Jo-W, Delpo etc.
Thanks for the memories & thanks for the magic ❤️
You will always be the best in my book, Roger
Roger made me go from a casual fan to a 'tennis is the best sport in the world' fan.
Roger also plays a part in me picking up a racquet again years after tennis lost out to other sports for me (it's been the main one for a long while now)
And when every once in a while, I manage to do something 'Federer-like' on the court, the rest of the game (almost) doesn't matter.
I was lucky enough to meet him and see him live not once, not twice, but again and again. Against Rafa, Novak, Andy, Jo-W, Delpo etc.
Thanks for the memories & thanks for the magic ❤️
You will always be the best in my book, Roger
Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
Many of you might not know this but I accepted Federer begrudgingly after Pete's retirement. He seemed to me an interloper, at the time. It is therefore even more ironic that I feel the need to comment in this manner.
Yes, Roger Federer was undoubtedly athletic, driven and talented. He seemed too exuberant, though; overly emotional and childish even. I was, of course, comparing to Pete Sampras, the introvert perfectionist. I was looking for a temperament to identify with. A player capable of noble violence dispensed with grace. It took the better part of two years after Pete’s retirement for me to begin embracing Roger Federer. I began to appreciate the self-control I was seeing, coating like enamel the staggering tennis talent he already had. He knew he was good. He knew he was freakishly good. And I could see that it wasn’t good enough for him. He wanted to win with artistry that the tennis system just could not capture. Instead, he captured the hearts and minds of millions who, to this day, walk around with merchandise spelling “RF”, “Genius at work” or similar.
Roger Federer remains the greatest athlete I have ever seen. No, not for the numbers on any scoreboard. Not for the records in any internet page. He remains the greatest for me for making me feel, while playing, in a way that only music has managed to make me feel. Roger’s retirement leaves a gaping void in the culture of tennis, but I hope this only serves to accelerate the efforts of up-and-coming players to emulate his impact and success. I can but hope for what can be and be thankful for what has been.
Yes, Roger Federer was undoubtedly athletic, driven and talented. He seemed too exuberant, though; overly emotional and childish even. I was, of course, comparing to Pete Sampras, the introvert perfectionist. I was looking for a temperament to identify with. A player capable of noble violence dispensed with grace. It took the better part of two years after Pete’s retirement for me to begin embracing Roger Federer. I began to appreciate the self-control I was seeing, coating like enamel the staggering tennis talent he already had. He knew he was good. He knew he was freakishly good. And I could see that it wasn’t good enough for him. He wanted to win with artistry that the tennis system just could not capture. Instead, he captured the hearts and minds of millions who, to this day, walk around with merchandise spelling “RF”, “Genius at work” or similar.
Roger Federer remains the greatest athlete I have ever seen. No, not for the numbers on any scoreboard. Not for the records in any internet page. He remains the greatest for me for making me feel, while playing, in a way that only music has managed to make me feel. Roger’s retirement leaves a gaping void in the culture of tennis, but I hope this only serves to accelerate the efforts of up-and-coming players to emulate his impact and success. I can but hope for what can be and be thankful for what has been.
Great, great player with a well rounded stylish game, which could hold him for 20 years among the top players. Amazing career, both in prime and longevity. Was the most popular male player since Agassi, but had also the successes on court. But its just a retirement from a sport, at a very ripe age, not more. No time for grief. He still has a lucky life, a nice family, fame, money, business success. Not all of the champions before him had this luck at the end of their careers.
Tenacity
Hall of Fame
This a thousand times. Main takeaway.
a10best
Hall of Fame
Fed's swiss chocolate commercial at the airport was funny. I think he's a natural in a comedy film or action James Bond / MI film. Some people just have it.
I can't say the same for former or current tennis players (or the NBA).
a10best
Hall of Fame
yep, the fans in Melbourne and AELTC would probably be applauding for an hour non-stop. He deserves it.
Federev
Legend
Give it a rest man.
You have no literally no clue what’s in his or any of these guys’ hearts.
No need to pretend you do.
Especially no need today.
trenzterra
Semi-Pro
Realised that nothing good ever comes out of an AO semifinal loss to Djokovic
2008 - well you know
2011 - went slamless for the first time since 2002
2016 - injured his knee after the SF
2020 - injured his knee after the SF
Looking back, wish Federer had pulled 2019 Wimbledon out of the bag.
But it was an awesome 15 years or so following him... Many nerve wrecking moments and frustrating moments looking at ******** shank ball after ball, but when he manages to pull through, like in AO 2017. You get a sense of happiness as though you had just won the tournament yourself
2008 - well you know
2011 - went slamless for the first time since 2002
2016 - injured his knee after the SF
2020 - injured his knee after the SF
Looking back, wish Federer had pulled 2019 Wimbledon out of the bag.
But it was an awesome 15 years or so following him... Many nerve wrecking moments and frustrating moments looking at ******** shank ball after ball, but when he manages to pull through, like in AO 2017. You get a sense of happiness as though you had just won the tournament yourself
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