41-year-old has won 20 Grand Slams, including eight Wimbledon titles. Last week, he announced he will retire after playing his final tournament this weekend.
FILE PHOTO: Roger Federer of Switzerland cries as he receives his trophy after winning the men’s final against Robin Soderling of Sweden at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris June 7, 2009. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo
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Roger Federer pictured following his French Open win in 2009
Tennis great Roger Federer has revealed his knee injury is to blame for his retirement, saying he “stopped believing” after playing Wimbledon last year.
The 20-time grand slam champion announced he would be making his final professional appearance at the Laver Cup in London on Friday, where he will play one last doubles match.
Italian Matteo Berrettini, the first alternate for the team tournament, will then take Federer’s place over the weekend.
His retirement comes after he lost to Hubert Hurkacz in last year’s Wimbledon quarter-finals, and as he has continued to battle with an ongoing knee problem.
“The last three years have been tough, to say the least,” the 41-year-old told BBC Breakfast.
“I knew I was on very thin ice for the last year, ever since I played Wimbledon. I tried to come back, but there was a limit to what I could do. And I stopped believing in it, to be honest.”
The Swiss national said he “very quickly” realised his career was coming to an end following a scan a few months ago.
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