Roger Federer to retire as tennis great thanks fans for 'unbelievable' journey

dailystar.co.uk:

Tennis legend Roger Federer has announced that he's to retire from the sport, at the age of 41.The Swiss star broke the news on social media on Thursday afternoon, thanking fans for the "unbelievable journey" he's been on throughout his 24-year career.He revealed that injures and recent fitness troubles made him realise that "it is time to end", and that he will play his final ever match at next week's Laver Cup in London.Federer will go down as one of the all time greats of the game after winning 20 Grand Slam singles titles, including eight Wimbledon titles - more than any other player in history.READ MORE: Roger Federer took almost four days to recover from drunken night after US Open win"As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries," Federer wrote in a heartfelt statement. "I 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 … I must now recognise when it is time to end my competitive career.

This is a bittersweet decision, because I will miss everything the tour has given me. But at the same time, there is so much to celebrate."Federer described himself as "one of the most fortunate people on Earth" and thanked his wife Mirka, almost always seen at courtside for his matches, for "living through ever minute with me", and signed off by saying: "To the game of tennis: I love you and will never leave you."Sum up Roger Federer in one word for us in the comments section below.Federer was arguably the central pillar of what many view as the greatest ever generation of men's tennis.