Roger Federer announces his retirement from the ATP Tour and grand slams
The day he announced his retirement from professional tennis, Roger Federer had just walked away from the Miami Open to his mother’s side. Federer had won the title at age 22, becoming the youngest and youngest-ever men’s major singles champion in history. At 24, he’d finally taken down one of the great-est players of all time: Andre Agassi. Two decades later, Federer, who turned 38 in July and celebrated by announcing his retirement, was stepping away from tennis to “focus on my business and my family.”
He was taking a break from the sport and the pressure that comes with it. But that’s what professional athletes are supposed to do sometimes. And Federer had been making the switch from the pressure cooker of tennis to the calm and relaxing of business. Federer’s career took a dramatic turn when he won his first Wimbledon crown, following in the footsteps of his idol and compatriot Andre Agassi. Federer had won one major singles title in his 20-year active career, which has spanned almost his entire life. And after finally winning his career’s first major, Federer’s status rose to that of an idol.
As a young man, Federer had been obsessed with tennis. He’d wake up early on game days, practice for hours, and make sure his practice gear was as nice as possible. His friends noticed the difference, and Federer eventually joined tennis clinics with his brother Stefan. He learned to play from a young age, and it would continue to develop. Federer has said his goal was always to be the best player in the world. He’d say he was more the “perfect servant than a perfect master.” He’s always been humble, and he credits his success and fame to his fans and critics.
“When I was younger, I had a dream. I wanted to play for the US Open because I wanted to have a bigger match, a better match,” said Federer. “Now, I have the chance to play for the Grand Slam because I’m winning more Grand Slams — which means I’m doing things a little bit better than I used to do.”
Now, Federer has stepped away from tennis for good. He would be the last member of the ATP Tour (