Roger Federer, regarded by many as the greatest male player to wield a tennis racket and who took the sport to new heights during a career spanning more than two decades, will retire after next week's Laver Cup in London.
The 41-year-old Swiss, who won 20 Grand Slam singles titles and re-defined a sport with his artistry and grace, broke the news fans across the world have long dreaded in a lengthy statement on Thursday.
A knee injury meant he has not played a match since losing at last year's Wimbledon, although many still hoped he could come back for one last golden farewell.
But he said his age had finally caught up with him.
"As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries," Federer said in an 845-word statement posted on social media.
"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's 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."
The likely end of Serena Williams' tennis career following her emotional US Open exit earlier this month and Federer's announcement leaves the sport staring at the beginning of the end of the its golden era.
Federer, who dominated men's tennis for several years after winning his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003 and who forged thrilling rivalries with Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, has been troubled by injuries in recent years.
He has undergone three knee operations in the last two years and his last competitive match was a quarter-final defeat against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz at the 2021 Wimbledon.
Federer had offered some hope to his legions of fans when he said he planned to return to the tour after teaming up with long-time rival and friend Nadal to play doubles at the Laver Cup in London next week.
He had also planned to play at the Swiss indoors tournament at home in Basel. But he will sign off in London, the city where his unique ability to strike a tennis ball first captivated the tennis world and beyond.
"I wish this day would have never come. It's a sad day for me personally and for sports around the world," Nadal, who has eclipsed Federer by winning 22 Grand Slam titles, wrote on Twitter. "It's been a pleasure but also an honour and privilege to share all these years with you, living so many amazing moments on and off the court.
"We will have many more moments to share together in the future, there are still lots of things to do.
"I'll see you in London."
'Special talent'
Federer, who has two sets of twins with wife Mirka who he met at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and married in 2009, said his decision to retire was bittersweet.
"But at the same time, there's so much to celebrate. I consider myself one of the most fortunate people on earth," Federer, whose on court earnings totalled $130 million, said.
"I was given a special talent to play tennis, and I did it at a level that I never imagined, for much longer than I ever thought possible."
Federer was always regarded as a prodigiously talented youngster having first picked up a racket in Basel and won the Wimbledon junior title in 1998.
Three years later he beat American great Pete Sampras on his way to the quarter-finals at the All England Club and it seemed only a matter of time before his breakthrough came.
In 2003 he outclassed Mark Philippoussis on Wimbledon's Centre Court to begin a Grand Slam collection that many thought would never be matched, although he now stands third on the men's all-time list behind Nadal and Djokovic (21).
Federer went on to win seven more Wimbledon titles, claimed five US Open titles, six Australian crowns and a single French Open achieved in 2009 to complete his career Slam.
He also holds the record for 237 consecutive weeks as world number one and the only omission from his glittering CV is an Olympic singles gold medal, losing to Sir Andy Murray in the 2012 final, although he did win the doubles in 2008.
Transcended sport
His last Grand Slam title came at the 2018 Australian Open, aged 36, making him the oldest world number one in the history of the ATP rankings. The following year he lost the Wimbledon final to Djokovic after holding match points.
Federer ended with 103 career titles, second to Jimmy Connors, reached 157 finals and stacked up a head-spinning array of records. The statistics cannot do justice, however, to an iconic player who was the closest thing to tennis royalty and who transcended the world of sport.
Tributes poured in after Federer's announcement.
"You changed the game #RForever" the men's ATP posted on Twitter, while women's great Billie Jean King described him as the "champion of champions".
"He has the most complete game of his generation and captured the hearts of sports fans around the world with an amazing quickness on the court and powerful tennis mind," the American trailblazer said.
Serena Williams, who won 23 Grand Slams said: "I wanted to find the perfect way to say this, as you so eloquently put this game to rest - perfectly done, just like your career.
"I have always looked up to you and admired you. Our paths were always so similar, so much the same. You inspired countless millions and millions of people - including me - and we will never forget.
"I applaud you and look forward to all that you do in the future. Welcome to the retirement club. And thank you for being you."
Rod Laver, the Australian great who won an unprecedented 198 singles titles and is the only player male or female to win a calendar Grand Slam twice, simply said: "Thank you for everything Roger. See you soon. Rocket."
Wimbledon, where Federer's eight titles is a record, summed up the sentiment perfectly.
"Where do we begin?" it said on its Twitter account. "It's been a privilege to witness your journey and see you become a champion in every sense of the word.
"We will so miss the sight of you gracing our courts, but all we can say for now is thank you, for the memories and joy you have given to so many."
Landmark matches
Ten landmark matches from the 20-times Grand Slam champion's career:
2001 - WIMBLEDON VICTORY OVER SAMPRAS
A 19-year-old Federer announced himself to the world by ending Pete Sampras's 31-match winning streak at Wimbledon in the fourth round. Before that defeat, Sampras had lost just once in eight years at the All England club, amassing a record-equalling seven men's crowns between 1993 and 2000.
2003 - WIMBLEDON FINAL AGAINST PHILIPPOUSSIS
Federer defeated towering Australian Mark Philippoussis to win his first Grand Slam title, becoming the first Swiss men's singles champion at the tournament.
2004 - US OPEN FINAL AGAINST HEWITT
Federer thrashed Australian Lleyton Hewitt 6-0 7-6(3) 6-0 in the final for his first US Open title. His victory at Flushing Meadows came after triumphs at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, making him the first man since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three majors in a season.
2008 - WIMBLEDON FINAL AGAINST NADAL
Rafa Nadal ended Federer's bid for a sixth straight Wimbledon title with a 6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(8) 9-7 victory in a final that lasted nearly five hours.
There were two rain interruptions and the contest finished in fading light, bringing to an end Federer's streak of 65 straight wins at Wimbledon and his hopes of surpassing Bjorn Borg's five consecutive titles.
2009 - AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINAL AGAINST NADAL
Nadal denied Federer a record-equalling 14th Grand Slam singles crown at the Australian Open with a 7-5 3-6 7-6(3) 3-6 6-2 victory in a pulsating final on the blue hardcourt in Melbourne.
2009 - FRENCH OPEN FINAL WIN AGAINST SODERLING
Federer lifted the trophy at Roland Garros for the first time after defeating Robin Soderling 6-1 7-6(1) 6-4. The Swiss had lost three consecutive finals to Nadal at the claycourt Grand Slam before facing Soderling, who had helpfully ousted the Spaniard in the fourth round.
With the win, Federer completed the career Grand Slam and equalled Sampras's record of 14 major crowns.
2014 - WIMBLEDON FINAL AGAINST DJOKOVIC
Federer was denied a record eighth Wimbledon title when Djokovic defeated him 6-7(7) 6-4 7-6(4) 5-7 6-4 in a gripping final at the All England Club. In a stirring fightback, the Swiss forced a fifth set after trailing 5-2 in the fourth, but could not make it count in the end.
2017 - AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINAL AGAINST NADAL
Returning from a six-month injury layoff, Federer clinched his first Grand Slam title in four-and-a-half years with a thrilling 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 win over Nadal.
At 35, Federer became the oldest player to claim a major title since Australia's Ken Rosewall won at Melbourne Park in 1972 at the age of 37.
2018 - AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINAL AGAINST CILIC
Six months after defeating Marin Cilic in the Wimbledon final, Federer beat the Croat again to claim a sixth Australian Open title.
He became only the fourth player after Margaret Court, Serena Williams and Steffi Graf to win 20 or more Grand Slam singles titles, while also equalling Rod Laver's record of four majors after the age of 30.
2019 - WIMBLEDON FINAL AGAINST DJOKOVIC
Federer had two championship points on his serve but still lost 7-6(5) 1-6 7-6(4) 4-6 13-12(3) in a tiebreaker after the longest singles final in Wimbledon history. It was to be his last Grand Slam final.
