World of sport reacts to Roger Federer’s retirement
World of sport reacts to Roger Federer’s retirement
Roger Federer said Monday, May 30, 2008 to retire from professional tennis to focus more on his charitable foundation and on his passion for cycling. He cited a desire to not get in the way of his young family — his wife and their three children — and for a more enjoyable life
AFP/File
By RACHEL GILGRATH, AFP/File
Published: Monday, August 9, 2008, 15:26 [IST]
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London, Aug 9 (AFP) Roger Federer said Monday he would retire from professional tennis to focus more on his charitable foundation and his passion for cycling.
The Swiss maestro, who has won 21 Grand Slam singles titles, came up short in 2003 at Wimbledon after losing to his old rival, Pete Sampras, in the final.
“I would like to spend more time with my wife and three kids and a great time to relax a bit,” Federer told Swiss public TV before his final match against fellow Swiss Philipp Kohlschreiber today.
“I am leaving tennis for the moment to focus my interests on my foundation, on supporting cycling and the people who are behind the bicycle, which, at this moment, is my own passion.”
However, he said he had no plans to return to the sport when his children grow up.
Federer’s decision to bow out of the pro circuit came after he complained of fatigue, and he was upset with his performance in the final of Melbourne, his first major final he had no chance against Sampras.
The 34-year-old said he was also disappointed with his performance on tour, which he said was “not as close as I would have liked to the players” or himself.
There was no indication at the time that Federer had considered retiring from tennis, but he said on Monday that he had not been 100 percent at the Australian Open earlier this month in Melbourne.
Federer’s decision to retire comes after he announced this year that