Roger Federer Retired

[ClemmonsDevil]

https://www.espn.com/

Federer officially retires. I consider him the greatest to ever do it, because on a per match basis, his best was simply better than anyone else I ever watched. It's ok to disagree. But the man was like watching a musical genius or exquisite painter. Just pure artistry.

[WillJ]

https://www.espn.com/

Federer officially retires. I consider him the greatest to ever do it, because on a per match basis, his best was simply better than anyone else I ever watched. It's ok to disagree. But the man was like watching a musical genius or exquisite painter. Just pure artistry.

An amazing career.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

An incredible player. He and Sampras are my two favorites ever. He is a brilliant tennis player and a class act. I was hoping for one final year but it was looking increasingly unlikely.

[CameronDuke]

Third most men’s grand slams ever with 20 and the most Wimbledon men’s singles championships ever with 8. He had a long career of 24 years. He was an exciting player and seemed like an even better person. I hope he enjoys his retirement as he has worked hard and deserves some fun and relaxation now.

Thanks Rog!

[Phredd3]

A real class act, but not a surprise that he's retiring. He's had a good run on the court, and I'm sure he'll continue to have a good run off it. He has a decent voice, and it quite competent in English. I wonder if he might get an analyst gig somewhere down the road. I have no idea if he's interested in that.

[SouthernDukie]

https://www.espn.com/

Federer officially retires. I consider him the greatest to ever do it, because on a per match basis, his best was simply better than anyone else I ever watched. It's ok to disagree. But the man was like watching a musical genius or exquisite painter. Just pure artistry.

I can't really add to any of those superlatives. He's the GOAT in my book as well. Sorry to see him go.

[budwom]

What is Rolex going to do?

[ClemmonsDevil]

What is Rolex going to do?

Only time will tell man.

[elvis14]

Been a fan of his for many years and although I'm sad that we won't get to watch him play anymore, I'm happy that he had such a great run.

[Bluedog]

Been a fan of his for many years and although I'm sad that we won't get to watch him play anymore, I'm happy that he had such a great run.

He's playing in the Laver Cup in London next month! Along with Djokovic, Nadal, Murray. That's some major firepower for Team Europe. So, yeah, he's "retired from the ATP Tour", but as he indicated in his note, "this is not goodbye to tennis" (paraphrasing).

I agree that despite having won fewer Grand Slams than Nadal and Djokovic, I consider him the greatest of the Big 3, not sure why. Perhaps it's his class act/artistry on the court and complete dominance for so long. He's what people imagine when they think of the ultimate sportsman. Amazing athletic abilities, amazing class, extremely likable.

His five setter (tiebreak?) defeat to Djokovic at Wimbledon was crushing. So close...

He'll still be a spokesperson for Rolex for a while, I imagine. Thank you Roger!!

[cato]

Only time will tell man.

Almost flammably bad. Well done, sir.

[ClemmonsDevil]

Almost flammably bad. Well done, sir.

Thank you. I immediately went over and put on a hair shirt for mortification of the flesh.

[cato]

I agree that despite having won fewer Grand Slams than Nadal and Djokovic, I consider him the greatest of the Big 3, not sure why. Perhaps it's his class act/artistry on the court and complete dominance for so long. He's what people imagine when they think of the ultimate sportsman. Amazing athletic abilities, amazing class, extremely likable.

His five setter (tiebreak?) defeat to Djokovic at Wimbledon was crushing. So close...

I fervently wish that I agreed with you, but I don’t. If Federer had beat Nadal at Wimbledon in 2008 or Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2019, Federer would unquestionably be the greatest ever.

But he didn’t. Both were matches he could have won if a few points had gone differently, but they didn’t and so he lost absolute heartbreakers.

Best ever is probably Djokovic, much to my heart’s discontent. In fact, they are probably ranked in the opposite order of my fondness for the players.

What about best grass player ever?

[Tooold]

I fervently wish that I agreed with you, but I don’t. If Federer had beat Nadal at Wimbledon in 2008 or Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2019, Federer would unquestionably be the greatest ever.

But he didn’t. Both were matches he could have won if a few points had gone differently, but they didn’t and so he lost absolute heartbreakers.

Best ever is probably Djokovic, much to my heart’s discontent. In fact, they are probably ranked in the opposite order of my fondness for the players.

What about best grass player ever?

I agree with you. Federer certainly had the most fluid, beautiful (and seemingly effortless!) game of the three. He turned out to be a great sportsman, gracious in victory and defeat, but he had a little more of an edge early in his career. Best ever? It’s hard to say. Federer actually had the benefit of competing for majors before Nadal or Djokovic was on the scene (and Djokovic will have benefited from not having either Federer or Nadal for quite a few tournaments in the back half of his career.). Only Nadal has spent his entire career with one or both of them as competitors.

I am a diehard Nadal fan, and I dislike Djokovic. I have always respected Federer’s game, and I have grown to respect his sportsmanship over time. Like others, I am sorry, but not surprised, to see him retire. I also appreciate him even more because it seems he did not need the “Serena send off”.

[cato]

I agree with you. Federer certainly had the most fluid, beautiful (and seemingly effortless!) game of the three. He turned out to be a great sportsman, gracious in victory and defeat, but he had a little more of an edge early in his career. Best ever? It’s hard to say. Federer actually had the benefit of competing for majors before Nadal or Djokovic was on the scene (and Djokovic will have benefited from not having either Federer or Nadal for quite a few tournaments in the back half of his career.). Only Nadal has spent his entire career with one or both of them as competitors.

I am a diehard Nadal fan, and I dislike Djokovic. I have always respected Federer’s game, and I have grown to respect his sportsmanship over time. Like others, I am sorry, but not surprised, to see him retire. I also appreciate him even more because it seems he did not need the “Serena send off”.

You raise the best point in Nadal’s favor. Both Federer and Djoker got benefits from not having to face both Nadal and the other one of the Big 3 during their absolute prime. Nadal had to compete with Federer during essentially his entire prime and Djokovic during what was certainly his entire prime.

I think the argument about best ever is down to Nadal and Djoker, with Djokovic getting the edge has having the longest period of sustained Uber-excellence, when literally no one on the planet could beat him in a Major (or just about any final, really).

[Tooold]

I think the argument about best ever is down to Nadal and Djoker, with Djokovic getting the edge has having the longest period of sustained Uber-excellence, when literally no one on the planet could beat him in a Major (or just about any final, really).

Probably. But it pains me to say or think it.

Actually, I thought the US Open was so exciting this year, even though I always root for Nadal. I would like to see these young guys like Alcaraz, Ruud and Sinner become dominant. And I would really like it if they started beating Djokovic, which I think they can do.

[elvis14]

You raise the best point in Nadal’s favor. Both Federer and Djoker got benefits from not having to face both Nadal and the other one of the Big 3 during their absolute prime. Nadal had to compete with Federer during essentially his entire prime and Djokovic during what was certainly his entire prime.

I think the argument about best ever is down to Nadal and Djoker, with Djokovic getting the edge has having the longest period of sustained Uber-excellence, when literally no one on the planet could beat him in a Major (or just about any final, really).

Interesting, I tend to think that Nadal and Djoker both benefitted by not having to face Roger when he was younger or the same as as them...particularly these last several years (which is when Djoker has feasted). I love Nadal, but could never consider him the best...but I consider him by far the best clay court player ever (I mean it's not even close).

[Bluedog]

Interesting, I tend to think that Nadal and Djoker both benefitted by not having to face Roger when he was younger or the same as as them...particularly these last several years (which is when Djoker has feasted). I love Nadal, but could never consider him the best...but I consider him by far the best clay court player ever (I mean it's not even close).

Federer = best grass court player, Nadal = best clay court player, Djokovic = best hard court player? I could buy that...

Although I'd add Sampras as competition to Federer on grass. And Borg too given his 5 straight championships there.

Given racquet/player advancement, there just isn't as much "specialty" as there used to be where a grinding baseline/dropshot hitting-clay court player basically had no shot to claim the title on grass and a serve-and-volley grass court player had no chance to claim the title on clay. It's actually amazing to watch even how Federer evolved his game at Wimbledon. He'd serve and volley ferociously every point his first title. By the last, the strategy had changed completely. Sampras/Borg were in the eras before where serve and volley was still very effective, although Pete saw some movement towards the end...But you'd still have guys like Rafter and Philippoussis (sp?) be grass court specialists.

[Green Wave Dukie]

He's playing in the Laver Cup in London next month! Along with Djokovic, Nadal, Murray. That's some major firepower for Team Europe. So, yeah, he's "retired from the ATP Tour", but as he indicated in his note, "this is not goodbye to tennis" (paraphrasing).

I agree that despite having won fewer Grand Slams than Nadal and Djokovic, I consider him the greatest of the Big 3, not sure why. Perhaps it's his class act/artistry on the court and complete dominance for so long. He's what people imagine when they think of the ultimate sportsman. Amazing athletic abilities, amazing class, extremely likable.

His five setter (tiebreak?) defeat to Djokovic at Wimbledon was crushing. So close...

He'll still be a spokesperson for Rolex for a while, I imagine. Thank you Roger!!

I fervently wish that I agreed with you, but I don’t. If Federer had beat Nadal at Wimbledon in 2008 or Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2019, Federer would unquestionably be the greatest ever.

But he didn’t. Both were matches he could have won if a few points had gone differently, but they didn’t and so he lost absolute heartbreakers.

Best ever is probably Djokovic, much to my heart’s discontent. In fact, they are probably ranked in the opposite order of my fondness for the players.

What about best grass player ever?

Yeah, Cato, I'm right with ya. And I say that as a HUGE Fed Fan. Fervently is the right word. But those 2 Wimbledon final losses were crushing.

In my mind, the pain of 2008 against Nadal is somewhat soothed by the fact that it was the greatest match in tennis history. Still thought they should have stopped the match due to darkness. And as a Fed Fan, I've really grown to like and appreciate Rafa. Djoker - not so much. Roger's loss to him, 11 years later, after blowing 2 match points, including a tentative forehand approach on the second one after Novak chipped a weak, short return of serve..., just gut wrenching. Two matches he certainly could have won, I'd say should have won, but he just didn't. And I absolutely think he's great. Style. Form. Sportsmanship. He's such a classic tennis player. My old coach's son worked for Wilson 5 years ago and spent a bit of time with Federer and said he's just a great, great guy in person, too.

And then there was the 2011 US Open semifinal. Two blown match points against Joker (again), on his serve (again). Including the first one when he swung a serve out wide and Djoker seeming closed his eyes, swung as hard as he could and hit an incredible forehand service return winner. Guess you just gotta say good shot there. The next one Fed served, Djokovic returned it, and Federer his a net court that unfortunately didn't go over. Oh, so close. That was the semis and DJoker went on to beat Nadal in the finals.


Just think, if Roger had won 3 more points, just 3 more points (and how many thousands has he won on the tour - 3 is an infinitesimal percentage - but I digress), at a minimum, Roger would have 22, Nadal 21, and Djoker 19, and either he or Nadal would have won one more (Joker beat Nadal in the 2011 US Open final after beating Roger in the semis). If Roger had gone on to beat Rafa on the 2nd Sunday in September in '11, Roger would be sitting at 23; 2 ahead of Nadal (who admittedly I think will win another one in his career) and 4 ahead of Novak (who surely will win some more also). (but unlike you, Cato, not sure we can say if Federer had won the 2 Wimbledon titles, he would 'unquestionably' be the greatest of all time. Nadal and Djokovic's final chapters are still yet to be written)

Interesting 'what if'.

And man I'll miss watching him play.

[camion]

Now that Roger is retiring he may have to spend more time working his fallback job, World Ambassador for Lindt Chocolate.


Tough gig.