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Roger Federer, tennis pro:
»I am 41 years old.
I've played 1500 games over 24 years.
Tennis has treated me more generously than I could ever have imagined.
And now I have to face it when it's time to retire."
It came as a shock to tennis fans around the world: Roger Federer is retiring.
He will still compete at the Laver Cup in London next weekend.
Then it's over.
It's like a turning point in tennis and leaves many fans sad, like here in Wimbledon.
David King, Federer fan from Colorado, USA:
»Definitely my favorite player.
I said it yesterday: Federer will always be my favorite player.
The greatest in history.
But yes, a sad day for the sport.«
Liam Murphy, Federer fan from Northern Ireland:
»You will miss him here on the pitch every year.
You look forward to Wimbledon, to seeing Federer play on Center Court.
A few years ago I lined up because I wanted to see Roger on center court.
Once you've experienced that, it's practically the pinnacle of tennis."
Vasu Devan, Federer fan from Singapore:
“I think all [Federer, Nadal and Djokovic] have their strengths but overall I would say he is the player who is complete, in all aspects of the game.
And that's why I think he's a true champion."
Federer was particularly successful at Wimbledon.
Here he won eight of his 20 Grand Slam titles.
There is also a French Open victory, five consecutive titles at the US Open and six Australian Open successes.
At the Olympic Games, Federer won a silver medal in singles and a gold medal in doubles.
Federer always managed to come back from long injuries.
His most spectacular comeback to the top of the world came in Melbourne in 2017.
He won a major title for the first time in five years by beating Rafael Nadal in the final.
Roger Federer, tennis pro:
»What makes me happiest is when I see how happy my friends and family were - and my team, everyone was there.
When I saw them celebrate again, it really moved me, even when I heard that people in Switzerland were following and that people were so happy for me that I was playing a Grand Slam tournament again won, especially this one.
Maybe coming back this way is a kind of fairy tale.”
A few months later he won again at Wimbledon, and the following year he won his last major title, again in Melbourne.
In his homeland, the Swiss is a folk hero, also because he won the Davis Cup with the country in 2014.
Despite all his individual successes, that was also a special moment.
Roger Federer, tennis pro:
»We just had a great year.
I've been playing this game for 15 years and it just evokes huge emotions.
I couldn't be happier right now.«
Federer was considered a gentleman in his sport and remained down to earth.
His game was characterized by an apparent lightness.
Even when he played at the highest level, it seemed almost casual.
Tom Bagnato, Federer fan from New York, USA:
»His style.
He was just so fluid and he made it look so easy, never sweating even when it came to tough points.
He was unique.«
David King, Federer fan from Colorado, USA:
»For me he is the [Michael] Jordan of tennis.
Style, class, great tennis player.
I've watched him since I was 15, definitely my favorite player."
Linda Soudani, Federer fan from France:
»He was a very simple man, he said what he really thought.
And he gave everything when he played tennis.
That's what I really liked.
He was also a fair sportsman, always congratulating his opponent, always shaking his hand, whether he won or not.«
Federer will leave a big gap.
And he himself will be missing something from now on.
He ended his statement with a declaration of love for his sport.
Roger Federer, tennis pro:
"I love you and will never leave you."
