Roger Federer Announces Retirement

[TheSicilian]

Standards are different and elevated for the Big 3! Taking 3 more majors over 10 years sounds like it's being undermined, but considering he won 3 in a season 3 times, it stands out as a little weak! If he wants to be thought the GOAT, Fed and his fans have to acknowledge this past decade has been a failure in comparison to his earliest results! If Djokovic did this, we all know how it would go for him since he's so unlikeable by "the haters!" When it comes to Roger, his problem is he started being "great" a little later! He upset Sampras at Wimbledon, but he'd been around for a few years already! His GOAT run didn't start until 2003! Both Nadovic impressed as kids taking their 1st major a lot earlier than Roger! I was on board thinking him the best ever, but his records are being demolished by Rafa and Djoker and there's nothing he can do about it! He probably thought those 3 extra majors won would save his legacy! It only postponed the inevitable!

Getting older plus stronger opponents was always going to make it difficult for him to keep winning everything! Even if Nadovic are breaking some of his records his numbers are still incredible! Maybe he should have won a few more slams in his older years, he had chances. Even if Fed doesn't hold all the records when it's all said and done he will still likely be the Goat in many people's eyes just because of his effortless style of play and popularity!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

TheScilian,

One of the most worth noting stats I found in Rogers, career apart from his GS titles, ATP titles, Weeks at No 1 etc,

Federer played 1526 single professional tennis match on the ATP Tour ( 223 double matches) and never retired in the middle of a match at any point in time!

 

[Moxie]

End of an era. I think we all knew in our hearts that it was over after 2019 Wimbledon, so this isn't surprising but still hits the gut, nonetheless. I would have loved to see him make one final run next year, but in a way I'm glad, so we get to avoid more heartbreak! He'll always be one of the very greatest to ever play the game, with just a few guys in the same league. Thank you, Roger, for being what you are, and an inspiration to all who ever saw you play (and those who played against you!).

End of an era, indeed. That is what I kept thinking all day. You don't have to be a monarchist to appreciate that the passing of Elizabeth II was that, and you don't have to be a Federer fan to know that we're losing a mountain off of our tennis landscape. He was great for the sport, and moved the goalposts so very far. Always with elegance. I was lucky enough to see Roger play at the US Open more than a few times. I've told some of you before that my favorite one was v. Santoro in 2005. Fabrice lost the first set to love, but managed a few trick shots along the way: a great tweener winner, (I think Roger employed it to great affect after that, perhaps thinking of Santoro,) and a hilarious behind the back shot. Santoro was never going to win, but it was a really fun match to watch, and they clearly both had fun playing it. Another one was first round of 2015. A forgettable match v. Leonardo Mayer, but he had just unleashed the SABR (Sneak Attack By Roger,) and I wanted to see it in action. And I did.

To all of my friends on this forum who are Federer fans, a commiseration and a sigh. Happy to see @Murat Baslamisli drop in to mark the day with us.

 

[tented]

End of an era. I think we all knew in our hearts that it was over after 2019 Wimbledon, so this isn't surprising but still hits the gut, nonetheless. I would have loved to see him make one final run next year, but in a way I'm glad, so we get to avoid more heartbreak! He'll always be one of the very greatest to ever play the game, with just a few guys in the same league. Thank you, Roger, for being what you are, and an inspiration to all who ever saw you play (and those who played against you!).

This is the perfect time to discuss (again!) some of Roger’s insane stats. @El Dude is the stats guy, so hopefully he’ll contribute some more.

Two standouts/favorites of mine which I think may never be surpassed:
- 237 consecutive weeks at No. 1 — this is approximately 4.5 years as No. 1.
- 23 consecutive GS semifinals — nearly 6 years of making at least the semifinal, if not the final, if not winning the tournament. Had he not lost the 2008 AO SF, it would have been 19 consecutive major finals.

Anyone else have their favorites?

 

[Moxie]

This is the perfect time to discuss (again!) some of Roger’s insane stats. @El Dude is the stats guy, so hopefully he’ll contribute some more.

Two standouts/favorites of mine which I think may never be surpassed:
- 237 consecutive weeks at No. 1 — this is approximately 4.5 years as No. 1.
- 23 consecutive GS semifinals — nearly 6 years of making at least the semifinal, if not the final, if not winning the tournament. Had he not lost the 2008 AO SF, it would have been 19 consecutive major finals.

Anyone else have their favorites?

I agree with those. The one that I have always thought will never be surpassed is the consecutive four and a half years at number one. That one is pretty amazing. Also, the win streak on grass. But surely El Dude will have some good ones.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

H

Roger will have to be satisfied with those longevity & consistency records while Nadovic will hold their heads up a little higher with the more meaningful records of total weeks @ #1, Masters 1000 wins, 2 CGS, Nole-Slam, & 7 YE #1's! There are a bunch of other records, but they all belong to Novak!

Even I know that this isn’t the time or the thread to gloat about Nadovic.

 

[Vince Evert]

Sad day for the sport. But NOTHING LASTS FOREVER.

Wish Roger all the best at the Laver Cup next week and post-tennis. Did Roger say or alluded to, that he would be playing some tennis in the future?

 

[rafanoy1992]

This is the perfect time to discuss (again!) some of Roger’s insane stats. @El Dude is the stats guy, so hopefully he’ll contribute some more.

Two standouts/favorites of mine which I think may never be surpassed:
- 237 consecutive weeks at No. 1 — this is approximately 4.5 years as No. 1.
- 23 consecutive GS semifinals — nearly 6 years of making at least the semifinal, if not the final, if not winning the tournament. Had he not lost the 2008 AO SF, it would have been 19 consecutive major finals.

Anyone else have their favorites?

How about this: He literally made 36 consecutive Quarterfinal appearances from 2004 Wimbledon to 2013 Roland Garros. That's literally 9 years of reaching the final 8 of every slam.

 

[Vince Evert]

Good comp here !

 

[El Dude]

I don't have a particular favorite record, but in addition to the ones pointed out by @tented, a few I'm particularly impressed with:

• Three seasons in which he reached all four Slam finals (2006-07, 2009)
• 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals (2005-07)
• 11 Slam titles in four years (2004-07)
• Only player to defend three Slam titles in a season (2007)
• Only player to reach all four GS finals in a year three times. In 2006 he became the first man to reach every Slam final in a season since Laver in 1969, then did it two more times (2007, 2009). Novak joined them in 2011 and '15.
• Seeded first in 18 consecutive Grand Slams
• ATP Finals: holds record with 6 titles, 10 finals, and 17 appearances

It is a silly award, but he's won the "ATP Fan Favorite Award" every year from 2003-21 (Kuerten won it the first year in 2000, Safin in 2001-02). But that does speak to how well loved he's been.

 

[the AntiPusher]

This is the perfect time to discuss (again!) some of Roger’s insane stats. @El Dude is the stats guy, so hopefully he’ll contribute some more.

Two standouts/favorites of mine which I think may never be surpassed:
- 237 consecutive weeks at No. 1 — this is approximately 4.5 years as No. 1.
- 23 consecutive GS semifinals — nearly 6 years of making at least the semifinal, if not the final, if not winning the tournament. Had he not lost the 2008 AO SF, it would have been 19 consecutive major finals.

Anyone else have their favorites?

The 23 consecutive GS semis is unbreakable..IMO..Roger most definitely secured his face on the 3 headed GOAT a long time ago.

 

[Kieran]

Well, a holiday has to end eventually, no matter how sunny. Couldn’t allow old Wodger to slip away unnoticed. It’s sad really, but inevitable, as it will be for Rafa, for Novak, even for Carlos, eventually.

Federer is getting enough praise, but we’re probably not even praising him highly enough. He’s in the top two most naturally gifted players I ever saw (John McEnroe is the other) and he’s obviously among the greatest sportsmen of the modern era, in a class with Rafa, Novak, Ronaldo, Messi, Phelps, Bolt and maybe one or two others. Historically, his credentials are unimpeachable.

I hate to bring up matches he’s lost where he had match points, but I figured this out years ago, when Safin beat him in the fifth in the semi final of Australia, saving match point when Roger missed a shot by inches. And I thought then, and thought every time since, of just how hard players need to work beat Roger. He’s elegant, he’s stylish, but he’s a tough son of a bitch. All the matches he lost this way, he was close to victory without ever playing his best. There’s memes about the 2019 Wimbledon final, and they’re funny, except that he was almost 38 years old that day.

I hated Roger, because I wanted him to lose, because he was a player who could not only beat Rafa, but Roger had an extra gear that nobody else had - he could humiliate a player by doing things they never could handle. When he was on fire, he was unstoppable. So many titles, so many records, longevity and class too. If you had a child who wanted to play sports, there’s no better example of how to handle yourself, how to compete, and how to win and lose.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

I wonder how much Serena retiring played a factor, and how much seeing Alcaraz, Sinner, Tiafoe, Ruud and how physical their matches were also played a factor...

 

[Kieran]

I wonder how much Serena retiring played a factor, and how much seeing Alcaraz, Sinner, Tiafoe, Ruud and how physical their matches were also played a factor...

I’m like everyone, I’m surprised at the timing, but I doubt he was affected by anything that happened at the US Open. I just think he can’t guarantee his knees to hold up as long as Basle…

 

[El Dude]

Yeah, I think the bottom line is that as one of the greatest athletes and players ever, he knows his body very well, and doesn't feel confident that he can play at the level necessary to be truly competitive. Still, I would have liked to see the storybook version of him at least winning Basel and retiring.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Injury wise Roger to me was blessed, he had few injuries in his long career he did suffer from a bad back, it was only towards the later part of his career, he had knee trouble and had to have operations, and rehab, which did not go according to plan.At age 41 Roger has made the right decision to retire, he knew he could not be competitive enough at the current level on the ATP tour.I read there will be a 'special ceremony' for Roger at the Basel tournament.

 

[Moxie]

Roger's first, Serena's 2nd Wimbledon. Very sweet.

 

[kskate2]

I wonder how much Serena retiring played a factor, and how much seeing Alcaraz, Sinner, Tiafoe, Ruud and how physical their matches were also played a factor...

Not much. Behind closed doors, Serena's been planning her exit for awhile now. The USO is her home tournament and I could see why he wouldn't want to make any announcements there. I'm in agreement w/ others, if his knees won't hold up, he can't delay waiting until Basel.

 

[Vince Evert]

wonderful tweet, from the new King of U S Open, Carlos.

LOL have any of you ever seen a male with a beautiful head of hair as the boy Carlos ALCARAZ. I'm certainly not gay but in more than 42 years of watching tennis , i don't believe i ever have

 

[Vince Evert]