The departure of the king of tennis was well worth a tribute from the queen of this sport.
On her Instagram account, Serena Williams, who officially played the last match of her sumptuous career, also welcomed the announcement of Roger Federer's retirement from sport.
“Our paths have always been so similar, so similar.
You have inspired millions and millions of people - including me - and we will never forget it, she wrote.
The message addressed to Federer, whom she says she has "always respected and admired", is accompanied by several photos illustrating the complicity between the two tennis monuments, sometimes smiling during a selfie, sometimes arm in arm.
The 41-year-old man with 20 Grand Slam titles announced on Thursday that he would retire after competing at the Laver Cup in London next week.
Less than two weeks after that taken by Serena Williams, who made the announcement in early August, and recorded it in New York, with a final defeat in the third round of the US Open.
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Williams, who gleaned 23 major titles, falling short one unit short of Australia's Margaret Court's record, had a much harder time formalizing her retirement, telling Flushing Meadows she "doesn't think she's going back on (her) decision. “, before adding:” but you never know “.
She therefore welcomed the more explicit way in which Federer had to lend himself to the painful exercise.
"I wanted to find the perfect way to say this, because you ended the game so elegantly - it was done perfectly, and so was your career," she added.
“I applaud you and look forward to everything you do in the future.
Welcome to the retirement club.
And thank you for being you @rogerfederer,” she concluded.
Cumulatively, the "Queen of Queens" and the "Maestro" have won 43 Grand Slam singles titles.
With their departures from the WTA and ATP circuits, a glorious page in tennis has been turned.
