The day had to come, but to see one of the Big Three call it a day is so tough. However, Roger gave us everything he had and more. The sport’s greatest ambassador.
I am crushed. Been dreading this day for a very long time, and it is finally here. Feeling so sad right now, but I will always cherish the memories I have of watching Roger and being his fan for so many years. Thank you Rog for being so amazing, not just as a player but as a person too. You are my GOAT, and always will be, and I will miss you so much on court. Happy retirement legend.
You sum up so well that part of the sadness is that this was forced. For me I think the worst thing is that he is so unique: there are players who may win more than him and players who will copy his tennis strokes. But not both - no-one will probably ever win as much as he did playing the way he did. He was the perfect blend of aesthetic game and actual success, like a “velvet assassin”. No-one from the upcoming gen looks like coming remotely close. This is going to take some days to process for sure :(
Bs all these aesthetics is all subjective . I believe nadal plays more beautiful and entertaining tennis than federer. There's no sound argument that you could make to convince me otherwise and vice versa.
@@Fraudkovic of course they're subjective. i dont like onions, most people do. most people think he plays by far the most aesthetically pleasing game. so your argument is unfounded
I started falling in love with federer when i first saw him on tv at the AO 2005. The elegance, the easiness and the pure aesthetic of his game caught my eye, when i knew nothing about the sport. I started playing tennis because of him, i changed to a one hander because of him , i tried to model his behaviour and poker face on the court, i tried to move with the same elegance and deadly precision. Its safe to say i never came close. But the joy i have felt watching him, trying to emulate him, the laughs i have shared with friends when he hit the most ridiculous shots, the tears i have shed when he was beaten in the most gut wrenching ways - i wouldnt wanna miss a single moment and i am so happy i followed his amaizing career so closely. Thanks for the gift of Tennis and thanks for the memories Rog
Thank you Rog. Your legacy is one beyond the sport, you gave us art. Immortal like no other. Maybe not the strongest, not the most successful, but certainly the most beloved tennis player of his time. What a surreal day.
Sobering reminder to us all that nothing lasts forever. Thank you for all the memories Roger. Thinking about his 2001 Wimbledon match with Sampras, 2008 Wimbledon final, 2019 USO match with dimitrov and now Alcaraz (who plays like him) winning the USO this year. I'm shocked his knees of all things failed him.
Federer must have had several tears in his meniscus or ligaments from years of playing on hard surfaces even if it’s “soft” compared to other surfaces. Unlike Nadal, Federer probably staved off years of potential chronic pain issues with the way he played.
first tennis match I watched was Federer vs Sangren in 2020 (I believe). something about watching Federer play stuck with me. now I'm a huge fan of the sport
Damn! My favorite player of all time! Thank you so much Roger! Too many moments to ever pick just one as my favorite! Only retirement of an athlete thus far that I feel on a personal level! Thank you so much Roger for memories that will last for a lifetime!
Love your analysis, Gill. You don't just talk in clichés, and you bring up points that might go against the grain of what the majority of journalists are saying. It's refreshing.
Statistically speaking, Roger's dominance was god like and he seemed untouchable at his best- • Continuous weeks at number 1 - 237 weeks(4.5 years) Djokovic - 122 weeks(2 years 2 months) , Nadal- 56 weeks(1 year) • Won 11 slams in a period of 4 years- 2004-2007 In comparison Djokovic took 6 years 2011-2016 and Nadal took 7 years 2008-2014 to win 11 slams • Roger has 3 years with 3 Grand Slams + tour finals(2004,2006,2007). Novak has 1- 2015( most big titles in 1 season). Nadal had 0.
my favorite player of all time and the player who got me into tennis. really really sad to him go. thankfully, carlitos has arrived to fill at least some of the void he left in my heart. really sad but at the same time, we knew it was coming. this will take some time to get used to. Unfortunately, I only became a diehard tennis fan semi-recently, and at that point he was done winning his slams. Still, it is because of him that I have a connection with my father through tennis, and he is one of the core reasons of why I am a sports fan.
I don't think it's sad that he was forced. I'm happy that he was forced. It would have been a lot worse if it was for any other reason than than the natural course. It is nature. Actually, he defied natured. He got so much more than tennis players used in the previous generations. Think about Sampras, when did he get his last slam? What Federer did was amazing. He set a higher bar, way higher than ever, for what you would expect from a star in terms of longevity. As a Novak fan, I have to thank this man for giving so much to the sport. His talent is something else. His beauty in every strike, composure and competitiveness. Really beyond impressive. Thanks, and enjoy the things you couldn't before. Enjoy family, and every moment, because in tennis you are and will always be imortal.
Still the injury force the retirement which is sad his down fall started at AO 2020 playing vs Djokovic and also playing the exho plus coming back to early to play FO last year
I'm a huge Rafa fan and am saddened today by Roger's retirement. He's an inimitable legend, a truly magical player, especially at the peak of his powers, and a gentleman. So a long golden era of tennis has really started closing today. Rafa probably has 1-2 years left in him and Djokovic maybe a few more years beyond that. Time flies and it's bittersweet to reflect on how much of our lives have flowed under the bridge since 1998, when Fed became a pro, since 2003, when he won his first GS, and since other numerous tennis milestones he was a part of, such as the Wimbledon 2008 final and the AO 2017 final, all of which are akin to life markers for those of us passionate about this greatest era of tennis - the era of the Big 3. Thank you Roger for your inspiring brilliance and the epic rivalries you were one-half of.
Beautifully stated. I was in high school when Roger turned pro. I distinctly remember watching the entirety of the 2008 Wimbledon final when I was in my 20s and aimless (and could spend eight hours watching a tennis match). I set my alarm for 4 a.m. to watch the 2017 AO final, up a couple hours before my own son got up to join me.
@@voighta Thanks voighta, I too was finishing high school (and entering university) the year Roger turned pro and still remember those times vividly. Over the last year I was really hoping that Fed would come back one more time, one last great flare of his career's setting sun, but alas, his body said "enough" and now he has a lot of other beautiful commitments in life to focus on, though we tennis fans are left a little broken-hearted. This day had to come but it feels too sudden, and man will it be tough when Rafa hangs up his racket. :)
Winning Wimbledon at almost 38 would have been insane. That’s like 10 years past your peak physical condition. I wonder if in future we’ll be able to preserve bodies of pros at a major winning level into their 40s. Of course, players like Fed, Serena, Nadal and Djokovic played fewer tournaments during the year as they got older which helped tremendously with their longevity.
Thank you for the memories Roger and the artistry which you brought to the game. I would have loved to see one final Wimby run, but unfortunately father time had other plans. Certainly the best pure tennis player of the big 3. His historic matches vs his biggest rivals, whether win or lose, were historic masterpieces that could have gone either way. Despite getting owned by Nadal during the early part of their rivalry, everybody knows that Federer was the much better player. Had Fed changed rackets earlier, he would have won the head to head vs the Spaniard, had the slam lead and been far and away the goat.Twilight Federer 7-1 vs a 6 years younger Nadal says it all.
Thanks Gill for trying to sum up something that's so unquantifiable. For so many of us, Roger has been a part of life. He's been about a sense of beauty in life. We've grown up with him. Laughed in ecstasy when he won, cried inconsolably when he lost, laughed at his goofy jokes, admired his charisma. And just marveled at how simple he made an incredibly physical game look, how near perfect his movements were. He combined beauty with success and stability. It was a privilege of a lifetime to watch him.
American sports fan here & Roger played so elegantly & explosively. He is my favorite all-time athlete; above American football players, baseball players, anybody. Best wishes to Roger. I appreciate the show he put on
Gill you are SPOT ON about watching Federer play even when the competition is not up to his level. If you love the sport you must respect all of the Big 3 and those players who also managed to steal a Grand Slam title once and a while. But Federer is the only player I have enjoyed watching in early round matches no matter who he plays and how lopsided the score might be. His incredible feel for geometry and gravity made watching even blow-outs enjoyable. He would calmly work his opponent into giving him a ball he wanted and then, "holy s**t ... how did he make that shot!" I saw 2017 through to 2019 as an incredible gift as a Federer fan. Of course I was still hoping he had another run left in the knees but at 41 let's not be greedy. I only regret not seeing one ace on one of the two match points against Joker at Wimbledon where he played a really great match after beating Rafa in the semifinal.
I grew up with Roger aswell. I was still in primary school when he was at his peak, winning all those grand slams, playing so many consecutive finals, so many weeks at number 1. Now he announced his retirement and I'm almost 30. That puts his longevity in context.
You said it all Gill. Roger played a beautiful, free flowing brand of tennis like no other. He hinted at his retirement at the centenary parade of champions at Wiimbledon this year. Even though hos announcement wasn't totally unexpected, it still comes as very sad news. I wish him and his family all the best in the future
Roger, Roger...like the Queen, you knew it was going to happen soon but still shocked when it does! My 2 favourite matches of all times,..Wimbledon 2008, AO 2017, my 2 favourite players of all time. :(
I m blessed I saw Roger played live.. I will never forget it, I ve never seen a player like that he was floating on the court: beautiful, amazing...Merci Roger.🥰🥰❤🩹😭
IMO, the most talented player to ever play the game. You can go back and forth about who the GOAT is, but as far as pure talent goes, Roger is in a league of his own. I’ve been privileged enough to watch him since the beginning of his career, for over half of my life. There will never be another Federer. Long live the king. RForever!
Being a Nole fan I ve to agree to that...Nole and Rafa might be more difficult to beat but your boy Roger is the most talented ever to grace the tennis court and the most elegant...its a sad day indeed in tennis...but hey all good things have to come to an end...it's is going to be even more devastating when both Rafa and znole retire in the next 3 years...once Rafa retires I think Nole will lose that motivation to carry on...now that he has already lost half the motivation after Roger's retired... Nole and Rafa might retire earlier than expected although I personally don't want it to happen...Congrats to Roger on an absolutely amazing epic career....
Roger is great and so classy, I am so sad. Thank you Roger. Am a Rafa fan, but I love Roger and Novak as well. These 3 are always going to be together, can't have one without the other 2. the beginning of the end to a truly amazing era of tennis.
Whenever you meet tennis players in real life you realize how rough around the edges they are and how inelegant they can be which makes sense because you are very quickly reminded that tennis is a physical sport ... and then you meet someone like Federer and you realize this is what the movies base their characters on when they are portraying a tennis player. Elegant, cool, calm, collected, and incredibly talented like a wizard inventing new shots and gliding around the court like it's an art, not a sport. That's what Federer did all his career and guess what he went toe to toe with a couple of GOATs while appearing to exert half the effort. He might have lost the GOAT race but to me that's a more admirable quality in tennis player so he's my favorite. Maybe not the best ever but definitely the most stylish in more ways than one you gotta give him that.
Fed didn’t start out being calm and elegant. He was rough around the edges like everyone else, giving into temper tantrums. It wasn’t until after his first two majors that he turned his personality, attitude, and composure around. By doing so, the crowds came to favor him and support him. His coach must have helped him see the flaws of his previous behavior.
Whilst the stats will probably end up bearing Novak out as the GOAT Roger will go down as perhaps the biggest icon in the sports history. His game, his attitude, the way he conducted himself. Everything. If I had to pick a player to win a match to save my life it might not be Federer. But if I could play like any player ever? I would play like Roger Federer.
@K Totci Roger’s tennis IQ and creative tennis shots were well above Nadal and Novak. Nadal always had that grueling, grinding, never give up mentality. And Novak had that impenetrable defense and all around court awareness, able to get to balls most couldn’t. All 3 were and are far superior to any before.
The amount of crazy love and passion Federer generated also say something else, as much as you'll talk about hard work and things, and Federer clearly did a lot of this, we revere innate, gifted abilities much more than anything else.
Brilliant summary of the most talented player ever to do it. On the flip side, the trauma of the 5 set match he lost against Djokovic at Wimbledon ‘19 will haunt me forever. 8-7 up…40-15. Elite level sport sucks when your heroes lose.
He will always be my favorite he is why I started watching tennis 🎾 he made some shots you never saw before, Alcaraz is my next favorite. Well done Federer 👏 you change tennis to what it is today.🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Forever Fed …. And like Gill says, all my best memories and magical moments of tennis are with Fed…. He’s the only one! There’s a sadness enveloping …an inexplicable sense of loss …. for this great man who gave us all so much joy … May he stay well always 😀
Sic transit gloria mundi. It's a sad moment for all tennis fans. I'm mainly a Djokovic supporter, but thoroughly enjoy watching all great tennis matches, of which Federer delivered so many. I'll remember him as the most graceful of all great tennis players. When you watch his matches on TV, the cameras do too many slow motion shots, which doesn't do justice to Federer's style and movement - but when you see him from the stands at Wimbledon, which I was privileged to do several times, the sight is spellbinding! Only then does one realise how poetic and graceful his playing style actually is. But nobody's perfect - I'll also remember his aloofness verging on arrogance. He should have engaged with his fans a lot more than he did. Perhaps he'll make up for it now that he's about to retire. I wish him all the best, and hope that his injuries heal up as quickly as possible. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the filler Legends Matches, normally relegated to the side courts, feature on Centre Court at Wimbledon in the future.
Roger Federer is in a class of his own in many respects, never wanted to see this day. On a wider note, Federer, DelPo and Tsonga have all bowed out this year, doesn't feel like Nadal, Wawrinka and Murray can can on much longer. The era of the Big Three and their strong support cast is coming to an end at a pace.
I remember a US Open, probably 2007 or 2008, when Agassi did a short guest commentating segment for a Federer match. First of all, I wish Agassi did more commentating. He was excellent. Secondly, as a great ball striker himself, he clearly explained why Federer was a level above him. There were times when it seemed that Federer purposely allowed the ball to get slightly behind him to create a better angle. Anyway, to me, Agassi has seemed mostly “absent” from tennis in his retirement years. Not as bad as Sampras but certainly not around as much as McEnroe and Courier. I doubt Federer will disappear but just wonder when and where we’ll see him in tennis again.
Roger made a mistake last year. His goal was to play at Wimbledon. He needed a warm-up prep. He played couple matches on the clay but the biggest mistake was to play at the FO especially the grueling 4 hour match against Kopfer. During that match, his not fully-cured-old injury opened up and consequently he forfeited his next match against Berettini to avoid more damage. This incident had a huge negative impact on his performance in Halle against Felix and couple matches at Wimbledon. The total disaster was that match against Hurkach. That was the nail in his coffin.
call me crazy but I still hope he can play a farewell wimbledon ... oh gosh this dude makes us go nuts hahaha thta's the thing about federer he makes you wanna pick a raquet to me as a spectator watching him was always unique , no disrespect to djoko and nadal but I only really enjoy them when they play a big player , federer he plays a journeyman and its gonna be poetry in motion even if you know he is gonna win it's how he is gonna win , when will the tweener come , when will the drop volley come , what about the fake slice and so on and so on
The legend of Federer. Saw him play Agassi for the first time…. Will tell my grandkids … gracias King Fed!!! Wish the next generation could at least try to be as humble!
Well said! I never saw Federer play in person, but I was fortunate enough to see Magic Johnson and Mario Lemieux play their respective sports. Only a select few can make their competitive best look easy, joyous, and beautiful.
Gill, What an ambassador. IMO he created the Big 3, he was the one chaced till the very end of his carrer by Nadal. Novak, just wanted to catch them, he appeared 3 years later than Rafa and boy, what a pursuit he made. I am one of the biggest RaFa Nadal fans, but I give credit to Novak for what he is doing and I won`t be surprised if he ends with more GS/. Back to the Maestro - he set the standarts, he brought tennis to a new level, he made both Rafa and Novak better players /Nadal made his backhand lethal at the latter stages of his carreer :D/. Tennis 2nd most popular sport after football and embraced young Rafa to keep on promoting the sport together as #1 and #2. He was chaced and at the same time admired by everyone of his competitors. Pure class on and off the court. He was invincible to me that 2017 - won AO, sunshine doubles, Wimbledon, he destroyed Rafa that year with his improved backhand, beat him once again 2019 at Wimbledon and deserved to win that final, was much better than Novak, but tennis could be sometimes more cruel than life. I could write a lot about him, but will end with one of his finest acts - he was the one who not only honered the legends worldwide at his speeches, but came up and created Laver Cup. I am not surprised he chose to end there his professional tennis journey instead of Wimbledon where his heart belongs IMO. I am pretty sure that after his last professional stike I`ll see a lot of tears on the faces of both team Europe and World /particularly on Rafa`s face who will be very emotional /, exactly as the tear I saw in your left eye at the end of this nice video. Greetings from Bulgaria, Alex
@@trumpameri1638 Like I said, Djokovic fans feel compelled to be complete assholes….and you prove the point but posting your classless idiocy over and over in a forum that has nothing to do with Djokovic. You can post all you want, bit nothing your hero does had any relevance to your sorry life. Not a single slam or tournament that Djokovic was accomplished because of you and any success that Djokovic has is his accomplishment and not yours and doesn’t make you any better than the asshole that you are.
He was like a dancer and did make it look easy and I had never seen that level until I saw him.Nadal was also amazing but he didn't make it look easy,you knew how hard he was working,Roger didn't even break a sweat,and it was beautiful
Nicely done, Gill. Yes we all knew the day was coming. Roger will be missed; what a player to grace the court, and probably the best ambassador of the sport.
You were right on the mark, that glamour, style and ease of playing at the highest level and making it look easy while being that successful had never been done nor will be done again. Fed made top level tennis look fun while still winning majors and dominating. I mean look at Kyrgios who is supposedly the new icon of entertaining and flashy tennis but still hasn’t managed to win a Masters 1000 let alone a major and let’s not even get into Dimitrov or Monfils.
Nice tribute! Federer was actually evolving with the game as he got older and not really falling behind in the rankings. But after his first knee surgery, it was limited periods of his greatness that would shine so could you imagine if he had no knee problems? He might still be a top 10 player or at least until he was 40.
I have followed tennis since 1973, when I was 8 and Bjorn Borg began to show his talent, but watching RF play is the best sports experience that I have had.
I am fine with it. The big 3 era has ended. The other two will continue on for however long they are able. I want a new era in men's tennis, led by Carlos Alcaraz, and the sooner the better!
Re: Roger's possible XO tour. I assume it will come as well - barring another COVID surge worldwide. If you saw Nadal's shout out to Roger he basically hinted that the two of them will be playing some XOs down the road. I wouldn't be surprised to see Stan, DelPo, Novak, Murray, - maybe even Serena, Venus, etc., all involved in it as well. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the money goes to his foundation.
This is sad news for Fed fans around the world. But as usual, Roger has shown incredible grace & class in the way he's retiring. I think we all would've liked to see him win one last grand slam before calling it quits. That would've been a fairy tale ending. But as it is, this is maybe the next best thing. Everybody knows how much he loves the game & so my biggest fear with Fed was that he would continue playing after being way past his prime, throwing his racquet in the air and ecstatically falling on the ground after winning 1st round matches. But Roger has way too much class to let that happen.
Gill, that Dabul tweener is all over YT Best Shots of Federer, and indeed of All Time. Raz Ols is The Man, but other too. We've seen it a million times, and yes it was even better than the Djoko one. It has had a vast audience beyond your USO R1 😁.
I think most of us Fed Fans knew Roger was calling it quits when he only announced his return for Laver Cup and Basel. A lot of us assumed Basel would be his last tournament. Also, Roger was injured going into the Hurkacz match in 2021. Let's face it - Nadal or Djokovic would have withdrawn and given Hurkacz a walk over. Roger went out and played the match knowing it was a long shot just as he played the 2020 AO SF against Djokovic - on one leg. As a result Hurkacz not only got the win but can boast that he's the only player to have ever bageled Roger Federer at Wimbledon. A lot of people suspect, based on Roger having said he played with the bad knee for a really long time, that the knee was troubling him all of 2019 as well. He's the only player in the open era to have never retired for a match - and yet many people doubted his "grit" and determination because he didn't bleed it all over the court like Nadal. I don't care what the pundits say and they can analyze Slam and Masters wins "from here to eternity" - Roger is the GOAT. He is the greatest talent tennis has ever had...and probably the nicest guy as well. "Take a bow, Mr. Federer." Unlike Nadal he wasn't fortunate enough to have a 3-months long grass court season for his entire career. Unlike Novak he wasn't fortunate enough to come along at a time when Roger and Nadal had beaten each other up and gotten in each other's heads. He's literally had no competition but Roger and Rafa. As I always like to point out - in Roger's career he had to play 18 Grand Slam champions. Rafa and Novak have had to play each other, Roger, Murray, Stan, DelPo, Cilic, Thiem and Medvedev. Remind me again who dominated in the "weak" era? And really, Roger, at 5-6 years older than Rafa and Novak is basically a different generation who played through their generation. To have still been that good after 30 when most former champs had retired? GOAT, baby, GOAT!
Federer won in a 4 year span out of 16 grand slams 11 titles, the most for any man in the open era during any span of that length. For me he is still the best to ever do it. He spawned what would become the Big 3.
@@trumpameri1638 A typical Djokovic fan who possesses no class. Novak is a good and decent man, but for some reason his fans feel compelled to be complete assholes.
@K Totci FYI - Novak is my favourite player but for me Federer and Nadal's rivalry was very special and what got me hooked on men's tennis 😊 they are all wonderful players
Hi Gill Enjoy your channel! Never miss it! Could you please talk about what’s the best way to get Wimbledon tickets. I have a difficult time understanding how this works. It appears to be some sort of lottery I guess…
I'm not sure about Roger going on an exhibition tour. What is the nature of this knee injury? It seems to be so tricky that multiple surgeries and lengthy rehabs weren't able to resolve it. Let's assume he can even repair the injury to be able to execute basic tennis moves. Would he risk another setback preparing for a large exhibition tour, much less in playing matches for it? Eventually he seems destined for a knee replacement, just to get daily quality of life. Playing exhibitions is out of the question with a knee replacement, isn't it? It's a frustrating, delicate situation. When he vows to stay connected with tennis, it almost seems like a vow to do something despite a very challenging physical setback. I hope he eventually does figure out a way.
@@colethomas903 Once you get into your late 30's it's not so much being able to play a great match that is the problem, it's being able to recover in time to play another 1 or 2 days later. This is why a lot of people retire mid to late 30's, at that level. We'll see if Nole or Rafa can win a GS after reaching 39/40, I would not put a lot of money on it.
I'd say it was more than obvious that he will never win another one after the new injury in 2020. After that, it was all just wishful thinking and delusions
Yup u have people on RUclips comments section saying Nadal gonna win 6 more FO 😂 They act like winning GS is easy I be shock if they win more then 2-3 GS combine there margin of error is getting less and less plus the gap on HC is shrinking clay Rafa and Djokovic have a advantage but there’s guys coming that could beat them Grass I say Djokovic is the fav If someone ask me do u think Djokovic/Nadal will repeat winning a combine 3 majors in 2023 I take the under
@@colethomas903 Both mid 30's now, lots of younger players coming up who are not easy to beat. If Nole stays in good shape and can play or get into Australia I think he'd be the favourite there and maybe at Wimbledon, we will see. Rafa seems to be struggling more and more with injuries, but he is such a competitor he might be able to win another French or even others. I would not put any money on it!
I convinced myself he wouldn't go until he has that all time title record. Being so close, I thought, yeah he can squeeze out some 250's maybe a 500 on grass. But I guess not :((
Roger always said, he would know when it was time and that then the decision would be easy. In true Roger fashion, he did it efficiently no fuss, no anguish and agonising. Awful that he cant go out on the Tour proper. Horrible that the bagel will be his last Wimby memory. But we will of course see Roger play plenty - I for one will see his last official match soon at LC. Not sure about the World Tour tho Gill - repeated water on the knee might preclude a series of Exhibitions - but a staggered Tour, yes. He will always play tennis and Tennis will always be synonymous with The Great Roger Federer
What do you mean no anguish/agonizing. He's been trying to force a return, doing several surgeries at age 40. Only when literally there is 0% chance of a comeback left, he finally admitted to himself it's time to call it quits.
How good was Federer? So good that there came a point when Federer’s own wife was tired of hearing people gush over him lol. He didn’t just make tennis look easy, he made it look beautiful. In 2004 and 2005 you had people starting to wear ties to tennis matches. His matches were an occasion.
The day had to come, but to see one of the Big Three call it a day is so tough.
However, Roger gave us everything he had and more. The sport’s greatest ambassador.
As a novak fan I think nadal is truly sports greatest ambassador
@@chocosquirrel3319 Nah. It's Roger you fake Novak fan.
@@chocosquirrel3319 😀
I am crushed. Been dreading this day for a very long time, and it is finally here. Feeling so sad right now, but I will always cherish the memories I have of watching Roger and being his fan for so many years. Thank you Rog for being so amazing, not just as a player but as a person too. You are my GOAT, and always will be, and I will miss you so much on court. Happy retirement legend.
i feel you so much
Same !!!
You sum up so well that part of the sadness is that this was forced. For me I think the worst thing is that he is so unique: there are players who may win more than him and players who will copy his tennis strokes. But not both - no-one will probably ever win as much as he did playing the way he did. He was the perfect blend of aesthetic game and actual success, like a “velvet assassin”. No-one from the upcoming gen looks like coming remotely close. This is going to take some days to process for sure :(
The tennis player who has won the most tournaments with 109 is Jimmy Conners!
Totally agree
Bs all these aesthetics is all subjective . I believe nadal plays more beautiful and entertaining tennis than federer. There's no sound argument that you could make to convince me otherwise and vice versa.
@@Fraudkovic of course they're subjective. i dont like onions, most people do. most people think he plays by far the most aesthetically pleasing game. so your argument is unfounded
@@bsrussian most people also think he's the goat which is also untrue.
This is all fed fanboys bias. Even the aesthetics
I started falling in love with federer when i first saw him on tv at the AO 2005. The elegance, the easiness and the pure aesthetic of his game caught my eye, when i knew nothing about the sport. I started playing tennis because of him, i changed to a one hander because of him , i tried to model his behaviour and poker face on the court, i tried to move with the same elegance and deadly precision. Its safe to say i never came close. But the joy i have felt watching him, trying to emulate him, the laughs i have shared with friends when he hit the most ridiculous shots, the tears i have shed when he was beaten in the most gut wrenching ways - i wouldnt wanna miss a single moment and i am so happy i followed his amaizing career so closely. Thanks for the gift of Tennis and thanks for the memories Rog
Thank you Rog. Your legacy is one beyond the sport, you gave us art. Immortal like no other. Maybe not the strongest, not the most successful, but certainly the most beloved tennis player of his time. What a surreal day.
Sobering reminder to us all that nothing lasts forever. Thank you for all the memories Roger. Thinking about his 2001 Wimbledon match with Sampras, 2008 Wimbledon final, 2019 USO match with dimitrov and now Alcaraz (who plays like him) winning the USO this year. I'm shocked his knees of all things failed him.
Federer must have had several tears in his meniscus or ligaments from years of playing on hard surfaces even if it’s “soft” compared to other surfaces. Unlike Nadal, Federer probably staved off years of potential chronic pain issues with the way he played.
first tennis match I watched was Federer vs Sangren in 2020 (I believe). something about watching Federer play stuck with me. now I'm a huge fan of the sport
From a Rafa fan , sad day for tennis man we will miss the maestro the elegent the most important person in tennis history 💔
We are all indebted to Roger. 👑🐐🎾♥
Gill, it appears you were crying man. I notice your eyes are red. Millions have shed tears also. Respect to the Great Roger Federer. From a Rafa fan.
Damn! My favorite player of all time! Thank you so much Roger! Too many moments to ever pick just one as my favorite! Only retirement of an athlete thus far that I feel on a personal level! Thank you so much Roger for memories that will last for a lifetime!
Love your analysis, Gill. You don't just talk in clichés, and you bring up points that might go against the grain of what the majority of journalists are saying. It's refreshing.
Time to make a Federer comedy short!
@@aldeayeah Haha
Statistically speaking, Roger's dominance was god like and he seemed untouchable at his best-
• Continuous weeks at number 1 - 237 weeks(4.5 years) Djokovic - 122 weeks(2 years 2 months) , Nadal- 56 weeks(1 year)
• Won 11 slams in a period of 4 years- 2004-2007
In comparison Djokovic took 6 years 2011-2016 and Nadal took 7 years 2008-2014 to win 11 slams
• Roger has 3 years with 3 Grand Slams + tour finals(2004,2006,2007). Novak has 1- 2015( most big titles in 1 season). Nadal had 0.
my favorite player of all time and the player who got me into tennis. really really sad to him go. thankfully, carlitos has arrived to fill at least some of the void he left in my heart. really sad but at the same time, we knew it was coming. this will take some time to get used to. Unfortunately, I only became a diehard tennis fan semi-recently, and at that point he was done winning his slams. Still, it is because of him that I have a connection with my father through tennis, and he is one of the core reasons of why I am a sports fan.
:(
Thank you Mr. Tennis, Roger Federer.
Thank you for this video, Gil. It makes this day a bit easier to handle
I don't think it's sad that he was forced. I'm happy that he was forced. It would have been a lot worse if it was for any other reason than than the natural course. It is nature. Actually, he defied natured. He got so much more than tennis players used in the previous generations. Think about Sampras, when did he get his last slam? What Federer did was amazing. He set a higher bar, way higher than ever, for what you would expect from a star in terms of longevity.
As a Novak fan, I have to thank this man for giving so much to the sport. His talent is something else. His beauty in every strike, composure and competitiveness. Really beyond impressive. Thanks, and enjoy the things you couldn't before. Enjoy family, and every moment, because in tennis you are and will always be imortal.
Still the injury force the retirement which is sad his down fall started at AO 2020 playing vs Djokovic and also playing the exho plus coming back to early to play FO last year
For me you will always be the GOAT Roger and my favourite tennis player.
I'm a huge Rafa fan and am saddened today by Roger's retirement. He's an inimitable legend, a truly magical player, especially at the peak of his powers, and a gentleman. So a long golden era of tennis has really started closing today. Rafa probably has 1-2 years left in him and Djokovic maybe a few more years beyond that. Time flies and it's bittersweet to reflect on how much of our lives have flowed under the bridge since 1998, when Fed became a pro, since 2003, when he won his first GS, and since other numerous tennis milestones he was a part of, such as the Wimbledon 2008 final and the AO 2017 final, all of which are akin to life markers for those of us passionate about this greatest era of tennis - the era of the Big 3. Thank you Roger for your inspiring brilliance and the epic rivalries you were one-half of.
Beautifully stated. I was in high school when Roger turned pro. I distinctly remember watching the entirety of the 2008 Wimbledon final when I was in my 20s and aimless (and could spend eight hours watching a tennis match). I set my alarm for 4 a.m. to watch the 2017 AO final, up a couple hours before my own son got up to join me.
@@voighta Thanks voighta, I too was finishing high school (and entering university) the year Roger turned pro and still remember those times vividly. Over the last year I was really hoping that Fed would come back one more time, one last great flare of his career's setting sun, but alas, his body said "enough" and now he has a lot of other beautiful commitments in life to focus on, though we tennis fans are left a little broken-hearted. This day had to come but it feels too sudden, and man will it be tough when Rafa hangs up his racket. :)
Winning Wimbledon at almost 38 would have been insane. That’s like 10 years past your peak physical condition. I wonder if in future we’ll be able to preserve bodies of pros at a major winning level into their 40s. Of course, players like Fed, Serena, Nadal and Djokovic played fewer tournaments during the year as they got older which helped tremendously with their longevity.
Thank you for the memories Roger and the artistry which you brought to the game. I would have loved to see one final Wimby run, but unfortunately father time had other plans. Certainly the best pure tennis player of the big 3. His historic matches vs his biggest rivals, whether win or lose, were historic masterpieces that could have gone either way. Despite getting owned by Nadal during the early part of their rivalry, everybody knows that Federer was the much better player. Had Fed changed rackets earlier, he would have won the head to head vs the Spaniard, had the slam lead and been far and away the goat.Twilight Federer 7-1 vs a 6 years younger Nadal says it all.
Yup same
Thanks Gill for trying to sum up something that's so unquantifiable. For so many of us, Roger has been a part of life. He's been about a sense of beauty in life. We've grown up with him. Laughed in ecstasy when he won, cried inconsolably when he lost, laughed at his goofy jokes, admired his charisma. And just marveled at how simple he made an incredibly physical game look, how near perfect his movements were. He combined beauty with success and stability. It was a privilege of a lifetime to watch him.
Well said. I considered peak Roger was up to about 2011/12 so the last 10 years was all gravy
American sports fan here & Roger played so elegantly & explosively. He is my favorite all-time athlete; above American football players, baseball players, anybody. Best wishes to Roger. I appreciate the show he put on
Gill you are SPOT ON about watching Federer play even when the competition is not up to his level. If you love the sport you must respect all of the Big 3 and those players who also managed to steal a Grand Slam title once and a while. But Federer is the only player I have enjoyed watching in early round matches no matter who he plays and how lopsided the score might be. His incredible feel for geometry and gravity made watching even blow-outs enjoyable. He would calmly work his opponent into giving him a ball he wanted and then, "holy s**t ... how did he make that shot!"
I saw 2017 through to 2019 as an incredible gift as a Federer fan. Of course I was still hoping he had another run left in the knees but at 41 let's not be greedy. I only regret not seeing one ace on one of the two match points against Joker at Wimbledon where he played a really great match after beating Rafa in the semifinal.
Nice video. Good luck to Roger Federer in all of his future endeavors. What a player!
I grew up with Roger aswell. I was still in primary school when he was at his peak, winning all those grand slams, playing so many consecutive finals, so many weeks at number 1. Now he announced his retirement and I'm almost 30. That puts his longevity in context.
You said it all Gill. Roger played a beautiful, free flowing brand of tennis like no other. He hinted at his retirement at the centenary parade of champions at Wiimbledon this year. Even though hos announcement wasn't totally unexpected, it still comes as very sad news. I wish him and his family all the best in the future
Tennis will never be same again without him...
Wow...You sum it up so well Gill. Always insightful with your analysis. What a champ-he will be missed
Roger, Roger...like the Queen, you knew it was going to happen soon but still shocked when it does! My 2 favourite matches of all times,..Wimbledon 2008, AO 2017, my 2 favourite players of all time. :(
I m blessed I saw Roger played live.. I will never forget it, I ve never seen a player like that he was floating on the court: beautiful, amazing...Merci Roger.🥰🥰❤🩹😭
This was a beautiful tribute, Gill.
IMO, the most talented player to ever play the game. You can go back and forth about who the GOAT is, but as far as pure talent goes, Roger is in a league of his own. I’ve been privileged enough to watch him since the beginning of his career, for over half of my life. There will never be another Federer. Long live the king. RForever!
Most talented: Federer | Most adaptable and most well rounded: Djokovic | Most athletic and possessing raw power: Nadal
Being a Nole fan I ve to agree to that...Nole and Rafa might be more difficult to beat but your boy Roger is the most talented ever to grace the tennis court and the most elegant...its a sad day indeed in tennis...but hey all good things have to come to an end...it's is going to be even more devastating when both Rafa and znole retire in the next 3 years...once Rafa retires I think Nole will lose that motivation to carry on...now that he has already lost half the motivation after Roger's retired...
Nole and Rafa might retire earlier than expected although I personally don't want it to happen...Congrats to Roger on an absolutely amazing epic career....
Yep. Without a doubt. Twilight Federer going 7-1 vs a 5 to 6 years younger Nadal says it all.
Roger is great and so classy, I am so sad. Thank you Roger. Am a Rafa fan, but I love Roger and Novak as well. These 3 are always going to be together, can't have one without the other 2. the beginning of the end to a truly amazing era of tennis.
Whenever you meet tennis players in real life you realize how rough around the edges they are and how inelegant they can be which makes sense because you are very quickly reminded that tennis is a physical sport ... and then you meet someone like Federer and you realize this is what the movies base their characters on when they are portraying a tennis player. Elegant, cool, calm, collected, and incredibly talented like a wizard inventing new shots and gliding around the court like it's an art, not a sport. That's what Federer did all his career and guess what he went toe to toe with a couple of GOATs while appearing to exert half the effort. He might have lost the GOAT race but to me that's a more admirable quality in tennis player so he's my favorite. Maybe not the best ever but definitely the most stylish in more ways than one you gotta give him that.
Fed didn’t start out being calm and elegant. He was rough around the edges like everyone else, giving into temper tantrums. It wasn’t until after his first two majors that he turned his personality, attitude, and composure around. By doing so, the crowds came to favor him and support him. His coach must have helped him see the flaws of his previous behavior.
Thank you Gill. Really nice tribute to Roger.
It’s funny because Brian dabul also posted on his IG the video of that point as his post about Roger.
Whilst the stats will probably end up bearing Novak out as the GOAT Roger will go down as perhaps the biggest icon in the sports history. His game, his attitude, the way he conducted himself. Everything. If I had to pick a player to win a match to save my life it might not be Federer. But if I could play like any player ever? I would play like Roger Federer.
Roger’s game goes beyond numbers. Way beyond.
@K Totci Roger’s tennis IQ and creative tennis shots were well above Nadal and Novak. Nadal always had that grueling, grinding, never give up mentality. And Novak had that impenetrable defense and all around court awareness, able to get to balls most couldn’t. All 3 were and are far superior to any before.
@K Totci iq is Rafa, clearly.
Making difficult things look easy is the definition of grace
Watching Federer play tennis was like watching music.
The amount of crazy love and passion Federer generated also say something else, as much as you'll talk about hard work and things, and Federer clearly did a lot of this, we revere innate, gifted abilities much more than anything else.
Brilliant summary of the most talented player ever to do it. On the flip side, the trauma of the 5 set match he lost against Djokovic at Wimbledon ‘19 will haunt me forever. 8-7 up…40-15. Elite level sport sucks when your heroes lose.
He will always be my favorite he is why I started watching tennis 🎾 he made some shots you never saw before, Alcaraz is my next favorite. Well done Federer 👏 you change tennis to what it is today.🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Forever Fed …. And like Gill says, all my best memories and magical moments of tennis are with Fed…. He’s the only one! There’s a sadness enveloping …an inexplicable sense of loss …. for this great man who gave us all so much joy … May he stay well always 😀
Yup
Sic transit gloria mundi.
It's a sad moment for all tennis fans. I'm mainly a Djokovic supporter, but thoroughly enjoy watching all great tennis matches, of which Federer delivered so many.
I'll remember him as the most graceful of all great tennis players. When you watch his matches on TV, the cameras do too many slow motion shots, which doesn't do justice to Federer's style and movement - but when you see him from the stands at Wimbledon, which I was privileged to do several times, the sight is spellbinding! Only then does one realise how poetic and graceful his playing style actually is.
But nobody's perfect - I'll also remember his aloofness verging on arrogance. He should have engaged with his fans a lot more than he did. Perhaps he'll make up for it now that he's about to retire.
I wish him all the best, and hope that his injuries heal up as quickly as possible. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the filler Legends Matches, normally relegated to the side courts, feature on Centre Court at Wimbledon in the future.
Very sorry to hear this news. One of the three greatest of all time.
Yup
I can't believe this day finally came. He will always be the greatest. That magnificent back hand will always play in my mind. Legends never die.
I'm just so pleased (grateful) we had his resurgent 2017 (and 2018, 2019) to enjoy. For me, he went out with a bang.
Only if 2019 didn’t end the way it did I would been full abroad the last part of this
Roger Federer is in a class of his own in many respects, never wanted to see this day. On a wider note, Federer, DelPo and Tsonga have all bowed out this year, doesn't feel like Nadal, Wawrinka and Murray can can on much longer. The era of the Big Three and their strong support cast is coming to an end at a pace.
I remember a US Open, probably 2007 or 2008, when Agassi did a short guest commentating segment for a Federer match. First of all, I wish Agassi did more commentating. He was excellent. Secondly, as a great ball striker himself, he clearly explained why Federer was a level above him. There were times when it seemed that Federer purposely allowed the ball to get slightly behind him to create a better angle. Anyway, to me, Agassi has seemed mostly “absent” from tennis in his retirement years. Not as bad as Sampras but certainly not around as much as McEnroe and Courier. I doubt Federer will disappear but just wonder when and where we’ll see him in tennis again.
pain and even more gratitude are in my heart.
Roger made a mistake last year. His goal was to play at Wimbledon. He needed a warm-up prep. He played couple matches on the clay but the biggest mistake was to play at the FO especially the grueling 4 hour match against Kopfer. During that match, his not fully-cured-old injury opened up and consequently he forfeited his next match against Berettini to avoid more damage. This incident had a huge negative impact on his performance in Halle against Felix and couple matches at Wimbledon. The total disaster was that match against Hurkach. That was the nail in his coffin.
call me crazy but I still hope he can play a farewell wimbledon ... oh gosh this dude makes us go nuts hahaha thta's the thing about federer he makes you wanna pick a raquet to me as a spectator watching him was always unique , no disrespect to djoko and nadal but I only really enjoy them when they play a big player , federer he plays a journeyman and its gonna be poetry in motion even if you know he is gonna win it's how he is gonna win , when will the tweener come , when will the drop volley come , what about the fake slice and so on and so on
One of the 3 Tennis Goats!
NOVAK
RAFA
Roger
Y’all are so sensitive
The legend of Federer. Saw him play Agassi for the first time…. Will tell my grandkids … gracias King Fed!!! Wish the next generation could at least try to be as humble!
Well said! I never saw Federer play in person, but I was fortunate enough to see Magic Johnson and Mario Lemieux play their respective sports. Only a select few can make their competitive best look easy, joyous, and beautiful.
Roger federer, The GREATEST player to ever pick up a racket. Thanks for the memories.
Thank u Gil, I felt your broken voice as mine.
fantastic video! Im a big Rafa fan and it really makes me miss watching that rivalry
Love your analysis Gill thank you 😢😢❤🇬🇧
Gill,
What an ambassador. IMO he created the Big 3, he was the one chaced till the very end of his carrer by Nadal. Novak, just wanted to catch them, he appeared 3 years later than Rafa and boy, what a pursuit he made. I am one of the biggest RaFa Nadal fans, but I give credit to Novak for what he is doing and I won`t be surprised if he ends with more GS/.
Back to the Maestro - he set the standarts, he brought tennis to a new level, he made both Rafa and Novak better players /Nadal made his backhand lethal at the latter stages of his carreer :D/.
Tennis 2nd most popular sport after football and embraced young Rafa to keep on promoting the sport together as #1 and #2. He was chaced and at the same time admired by everyone of his competitors. Pure class on and off the court.
He was invincible to me that 2017 - won AO, sunshine doubles, Wimbledon, he destroyed Rafa that year with his improved backhand, beat him once again 2019 at Wimbledon and deserved to win that final, was much better than Novak, but tennis could be sometimes more cruel than life.
I could write a lot about him, but will end with one of his finest acts - he was the one who not only honered the legends worldwide at his speeches, but came up and created Laver Cup.
I am not surprised he chose to end there his professional tennis journey instead of Wimbledon where his heart belongs IMO.
I am pretty sure that after his last professional stike I`ll see a lot of tears on the faces of both team Europe and World /particularly on Rafa`s face who will be very emotional /, exactly as the tear I saw in your left eye at the end of this nice video.
Greetings from Bulgaria,
Alex
It doesn't matter how many slams other guys end up with, he will always be the greatest in my eyes because of the way he played the game
40-15 also unforgettable forever
@@trumpameri1638 Like I said, Djokovic fans feel compelled to be complete assholes….and you prove the point but posting your classless idiocy over and over in a forum that has nothing to do with Djokovic.
You can post all you want, bit nothing your hero does had any relevance to your sorry life. Not a single slam or tournament that Djokovic was accomplished because of you and any success that Djokovic has is his accomplishment and not yours and doesn’t make you any better than the asshole that you are.
@@trumpameri1638 still hurts
He was like a dancer and did make it look easy and I had never seen that level until I saw him.Nadal was also amazing but he didn't make it look easy,you knew how hard he was working,Roger didn't even break a sweat,and it was beautiful
Nicely done, Gill. Yes we all knew the day was coming. Roger will be missed; what a player to grace the court, and probably the best ambassador of the sport.
Exceptional video! 👏👏👏 Exceptional Words! 👏👏👏 I need to watch it again!
You were right on the mark, that glamour, style and ease of playing at the highest level and making it look easy while being that successful had never been done nor will be done again. Fed made top level tennis look fun while still winning majors and dominating. I mean look at Kyrgios who is supposedly the new icon of entertaining and flashy tennis but still hasn’t managed to win a Masters 1000 let alone a major and let’s not even get into Dimitrov or Monfils.
Beautifully summarised Gill
Perfectly summed it up! Its true, genius is always worth a 2nd look. We will always love you Roger!
Nice tribute! Federer was actually evolving with the game as he got older and not really falling behind in the rankings. But after his first knee surgery, it was limited periods of his greatness that would shine so could you imagine if he had no knee problems? He might still be a top 10 player or at least until he was 40.
He would have 100% guaranteed
I have followed tennis since 1973, when I was 8 and Bjorn Borg began to show his talent, but watching RF play is the best sports experience that I have had.
Brilliant summary Gill.
I am fine with it. The big 3 era has ended. The other two will continue on for however long they are able. I want a new era in men's tennis, led by Carlos Alcaraz, and the sooner the better!
Same
Re: Roger's possible XO tour. I assume it will come as well - barring another COVID surge worldwide. If you saw Nadal's shout out to Roger he basically hinted that the two of them will be playing some XOs down the road. I wouldn't be surprised to see Stan, DelPo, Novak, Murray, - maybe even Serena, Venus, etc., all involved in it as well. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the money goes to his foundation.
Sad to see him go, but he has left a great legacy. He should be content with what he achieved.
This is sad news for Fed fans around the world. But as usual, Roger has shown incredible grace & class in the way he's retiring. I think we all would've liked to see him win one last grand slam before calling it quits. That would've been a fairy tale ending. But as it is, this is maybe the next best thing. Everybody knows how much he loves the game & so my biggest fear with Fed was that he would continue playing after being way past his prime, throwing his racquet in the air and ecstatically falling on the ground after winning 1st round matches. But Roger has way too much class to let that happen.
fed was all class top to bottom in tennis and as a person
Gill, that Dabul tweener is all over YT Best Shots of Federer, and indeed of All Time. Raz Ols is The Man, but other too.
We've seen it a million times, and yes it was even better than the Djoko one. It has had a vast audience beyond your USO R1 😁.
I think most of us Fed Fans knew Roger was calling it quits when he only announced his return for Laver Cup and Basel. A lot of us assumed Basel would be his last tournament.
Also, Roger was injured going into the Hurkacz match in 2021. Let's face it - Nadal or Djokovic would have withdrawn and given Hurkacz a walk over. Roger went out and played the match knowing it was a long shot just as he played the 2020 AO SF against Djokovic - on one leg. As a result Hurkacz not only got the win but can boast that he's the only player to have ever bageled Roger Federer at Wimbledon. A lot of people suspect, based on Roger having said he played with the bad knee for a really long time, that the knee was troubling him all of 2019 as well. He's the only player in the open era to have never retired for a match - and yet many people doubted his "grit" and determination because he didn't bleed it all over the court like Nadal.
I don't care what the pundits say and they can analyze Slam and Masters wins "from here to eternity" - Roger is the GOAT. He is the greatest talent tennis has ever had...and probably the nicest guy as well. "Take a bow, Mr. Federer." Unlike Nadal he wasn't fortunate enough to have a 3-months long grass court season for his entire career. Unlike Novak he wasn't fortunate enough to come along at a time when Roger and Nadal had beaten each other up and gotten in each other's heads. He's literally had no competition but Roger and Rafa. As I always like to point out - in Roger's career he had to play 18 Grand Slam champions. Rafa and Novak have had to play each other, Roger, Murray, Stan, DelPo, Cilic, Thiem and Medvedev. Remind me again who dominated in the "weak" era? And really, Roger, at 5-6 years older than Rafa and Novak is basically a different generation who played through their generation. To have still been that good after 30 when most former champs had retired? GOAT, baby, GOAT!
Federer won in a 4 year span out of 16 grand slams 11 titles, the most for any man in the open era during any span of that length. For me he is still the best to ever do it. He spawned what would become the Big 3.
The preternatural elegance that he played with, and won 103 professional titles with sets him apart from all the rest. The GOAT never in doubt.
Yup
A great player and inspiration to us all!
We are lucky to live in the time of Roger and Rafa 👏
NOVAK destroy them both 💪💪💪
@@trumpameri1638 You really are misaligned my friend.
@@trumpameri1638 A typical Djokovic fan who possesses no class. Novak is a good and decent man, but for some reason his fans feel compelled to be complete assholes.
@K Totci Are you Djokovic’s internet protector or something? Nobody is obligated to mention Djokovic in a comment if they don’t want to.
@K Totci FYI - Novak is my favourite player but for me Federer and Nadal's rivalry was very special and what got me hooked on men's tennis 😊 they are all wonderful players
I was watching the CBS broadcast and I was like "hey its Gill"
Hi Gill
Enjoy your channel! Never miss it!
Could you please talk about what’s the best way to get Wimbledon tickets. I have a difficult time understanding how this works. It appears to be some sort of lottery I guess…
I'm not sure about Roger going on an exhibition tour. What is the nature of this knee injury? It seems to be so tricky that multiple surgeries and lengthy rehabs weren't able to resolve it.
Let's assume he can even repair the injury to be able to execute basic tennis moves. Would he risk another setback preparing for a large exhibition tour, much less in playing matches for it? Eventually he seems destined for a knee replacement, just to get daily quality of life. Playing exhibitions is out of the question with a knee replacement, isn't it?
It's a frustrating, delicate situation. When he vows to stay connected with tennis, it almost seems like a vow to do something despite a very challenging physical setback. I hope he eventually does figure out a way.
thank you,Roger!
It is amazing that he lasted this long. Sampras retired at 31; Roger lasted 10 more years.
Excellent point about how Federer is the most enjoyable tennis player ever to be watched as a superior.
Tough day for all tennis lovers.
I didn't expect him to play anymore. 41,knee problems! He must have known months ago winning another slam was going to be near impossible
Had to more with water in the knee then he didn’t think he could win if he didn’t have that problem he would been back months ago playing
@@colethomas903 Once you get into your late 30's it's not so much being able to play a great match that is the problem, it's being able to recover in time to play another 1 or 2 days later. This is why a lot of people retire mid to late 30's, at that level. We'll see if Nole or Rafa can win a GS after reaching 39/40, I would not put a lot of money on it.
I'd say it was more than obvious that he will never win another one after the new injury in 2020. After that, it was all just wishful thinking and delusions
Yup u have people on RUclips comments section saying Nadal gonna win 6 more FO 😂
They act like winning GS is easy
I be shock if they win more then 2-3 GS combine there margin of error is getting less and less plus the gap on HC is shrinking clay Rafa and Djokovic have a advantage but there’s guys coming that could beat them
Grass I say Djokovic is the fav
If someone ask me do u think Djokovic/Nadal will repeat winning a combine 3 majors in 2023 I take the under
@@colethomas903 Both mid 30's now, lots of younger players coming up who are not easy to beat. If Nole stays in good shape and can play or get into Australia I think he'd be the favourite there and maybe at Wimbledon, we will see. Rafa seems to be struggling more and more with injuries, but he is such a competitor he might be able to win another French or even others. I would not put any money on it!
The Fred Astaire of tennis is leaving us. But, the Gene Kelly of tennis is still around (Rafa). I hope.
Everyone talk about Federer v Nadal but let me say that nothing impressed me more than watching prime Federer against Agassi.
I convinced myself he wouldn't go until he has that all time title record.
Being so close, I thought, yeah he can squeeze out some 250's maybe a 500 on grass.
But I guess not :((
Why would he further abuse his body to set a record that Djokovic and Nadal will break anyway
I thought none of them would leave without double digits in there favorite slam like Rafa.
He’s talking about the mens title record for tournaments not GS which Nadal or Djokovic wouldn’t of touch that much I can guarantee
Yea injury kill our hopes of this we had it in sight
"No más " muy bien Gill
I don't know why but it makes me kind of sad
Roger always said, he would know when it was time and that then the decision would be easy. In true Roger fashion, he did it efficiently no fuss, no anguish and agonising.
Awful that he cant go out on the Tour proper. Horrible that the bagel will be his last Wimby memory.
But we will of course see Roger play plenty - I for one will see his last official match soon at LC.
Not sure about the World Tour tho Gill - repeated water on the knee might preclude a series of Exhibitions - but a staggered Tour, yes.
He will always play tennis and Tennis will always be synonymous with The Great Roger Federer
What do you mean no anguish/agonizing. He's been trying to force a return, doing several surgeries at age 40. Only when literally there is 0% chance of a comeback left, he finally admitted to himself it's time to call it quits.
He’ll still get a send off if he’s coming to London for one last outing. We’ll show him a party, don’t worry about that!
How good was Federer? So good that there came a point when Federer’s own wife was tired of hearing people gush over him lol. He didn’t just make tennis look easy, he made it look beautiful. In 2004 and 2005 you had people starting to wear ties to tennis matches. His matches were an occasion.
You should have said ' Super easy, barely an inconvenience '
I will never forget the last FeDal Aussie final
To paraphrase American Pie, this is the day that tennis died...