Farewell to Roger Federer, the King of Tennis, a true gentleman on and off the court
by Michelle Kaufman / © 2022, Miami Herald. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Roger Federer chose to retire from tennis [last September] in London, the home of Wimbledon and a city of royals. His final tournament [was] the Laver Cup, a Europe vs. the World event, which included his biggest rivals, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
The Swiss star won 20 Grand Slam titles, reached 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals, was No. 1 in the world for six years and won 103 ATP singles titles. Those are impressive numbers. But they are not the reason Federer is so beloved.
It is his grace on and off the court that makes Federer so special. His forehand is fierce, his backhand wicked, but his playing style is elegant and fluid, a thing of beauty. [And] there is something almost regal about Roger, from his perfect hair to his simple, but classy RF logo.
The father of four is a marketer’s dream. It is no wonder that Federer has made an estimated $1 billion over his career in sponsorships, endorsements, appearance fees and business deals.
Federer remains dignified, win or lose
Despite his riches and fame, Federer treats media members with respect. He makes eye contact with reporters in press conferences and gives thoughtful answers, even when some questions are silly.
Onset of injuries
Injuries started creeping up on Federer of late, and his once seemingly invincible body began to show its wear. He overcame knee surgery in 2016 and made a comeback in 2017, beating Nadal in the Australian Open final [and] winning his eighth Wimbledon title. [In 2018, he] became the oldest No. 1 in history at 36 [and] defended his Australian Open title, his last major title.
Federer explains why he’s retiring
“I have played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years,” Federer said on his farewell video on social media. “Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamed, and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career.”
There will be other stars to come. That’s sports. But Roger [was] truly special.
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