Earlier this week, legendary tennis player Roger Federer announced his retirement from the sport after a glorious career that lasted 24 years. Regarded among the greatest sports persons to have graced the game, Federer won a total of 20 Grand Slam titles across the course of his career.
Federer will bid farewell to the sport in the upcoming 2022 Laver Cup which is scheduled to take place from September 23-25 at London’s O2 Arena. Federer revealed that after a three-year struggle with injuries, his body was sending him signals to quit the sport. However, he promised that he will continue to play the sport but it will not be at a competitive level at the ATP Tour or at Grand Slams.
“As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries. I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form. But I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear. I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1500 matches over 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognise when it is time to end my competitive career.
“The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in Grand Slams or on the tour,” said Federer in his statement.
The Swiss Tennis legend’s promises might come true soon as a report by ESPN has suggested that Real Madrid want to host an exhibition match between Federer and long-time rival Rafael Nadal at the renovated Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in front of a crowd of 80,000 people. This will break the current record for the biggest capacity in a Tennis game by almost double.
The Santiago Bernabeu has been under renovation since 2020 but Real Madrid returned to play at the stadium from last year despite work going around the playing arena after spending 1.5 years away from the stadium. The work is expected to be fully completed. Recently, it was revealed that the iconic stadium will have the capability to b e converted into a multi-sport arena.
Nadal is a boyhood Real Madrid fan and is often spotted at the club’s matches when he is in Madrid. In fact, during his victorious French Open campaign this year, Nadal visited the Parc des Princes to see the Las Blancos lift their 14th Champions League title after beating Liverpool in the summit clash.
