Tennis

N/A

Tag Type
League
Slug
tennis
Short Name
Tennis
Abbreviation
TYEN
Visible in Content Tool
On
Visible in Programming Tool
On
Featured
Off
Auto create Channel for this Tag
Off
Children
Women's Tennis
Men's Tennis
Primary Color
#40a14c
Secondary Color
#ffffff

USA's Frances Tiafoe Seals Team World's 1st Win over Team Europe in 2022 Laver Cup

Sep 25, 2022
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Players of Team World celebrate with the Laver Cup trophy during Day Three of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 25, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25: Players of Team World celebrate with the Laver Cup trophy during Day Three of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 25, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup)

Team World has clinched the 2022 Laver Cup with a 13-8 win over Team Europe thanks to a singles win by Frances Tiafoe on Sunday.

Tiafoe outlasted Stefanos Tsitsipas with a 1-6, 7-6 (11), 10-8 win, leading to an exuberant celebration from his teammates:

The team competition features six of the best European tennis players against six of the best from the rest of the world, battling in singles and doubles matches over a three-day period. Team Europe won each of the first four events, but Team World earned its first-ever win in 2022 thanks to a 3-0 record on the final day.

Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime and American Jack Sock teamed up for a doubles victory over Matteo Berrettini and Andy Murray, while Auger-Aliassime also beat Novak Djokovic in a singles match.

It continued a trend of younger players beating established stars after Tiafoe and Sock beat Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in Federer's last career match. It helped the team captained by John McEnroe come out on top.

"It's an unbelievable feeling," Tiafoe said after the win. "John McEnroe dropped a lot of F-bombs saying we can't lose again. Felix beat Novak today, and we all did it together. It wasn't just me."

Tiafoe continues to emerge as an elite young player after reaching the semifinals of the U.S. Open before losing to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Taylor Fritz joined Tiafoe and Sock as the United States representatives in the competition, while Auger-Aliassime, Australia's Alex de Minaur and Argentina's Diego Schwartzman filled out the rest of the world team.

Novak Djokovic: Roger Federer's Last Match Among 'Most Beautiful Moments' I've Seen

Sep 24, 2022
Team Europe's Novak Djokovic, right, listens to Roger Federer during a match against Team World's Frances Tiafoe on second day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 in London, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Team Europe's Novak Djokovic, right, listens to Roger Federer during a match against Team World's Frances Tiafoe on second day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 in London, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Roger Federer played the final tennis match of his career alongside Rafael Nadal in a doubles match in the Laver Cup at O2 Arena in London on Friday, and despite a loss to Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock, his exit from the game is a moment tennis fans will never forget.

Novak Djokovic, who had been one of Federer's toughest competitors and longtime friends, described the moment while speaking with reporters Saturday:

"One of the most beautiful moments I've ever experienced in my life. What got me the most emotional was when his children came up and I saw them tearing up. Sorry Roger, I don't want to tear you up again but it was a beautiful moment."

Djokovic and Federer faced each other 50 times, with Djokovic leading the head-to-head 27-23, including 13-6 in finals. They last met in the 2020 Australian Open, and Djokovic defeated Federer in the semifinals.

Federer announced he would be retiring from tennis on Sept. 15, revealing that the Laver Cup would mark his final event.

The 41-year-old retires with 20 Grand Slams and 103 singles titles. He competed in more than 1,500 career matches and holds the record for the most consecutive weeks ranked No. 1 in the world at 237 weeks.

Roger Federer Reflects on 'Perfect Journey' After Final Match with Rafael Nadal

Sep 24, 2022
Switzerland's Roger Federer playing with Spain's Rafael Nadal of Team Europe serves against USA's Jack Sock and USA's Frances Tiafoe of Team World during their 2022 Laver Cup men's doubles tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, early on September 24, 2022. - Roger Federer brings the curtain down on his spectacular career in a "super special" match alongside long-time rival Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in London on Friday. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Switzerland's Roger Federer playing with Spain's Rafael Nadal of Team Europe serves against USA's Jack Sock and USA's Frances Tiafoe of Team World during their 2022 Laver Cup men's doubles tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, early on September 24, 2022. - Roger Federer brings the curtain down on his spectacular career in a "super special" match alongside long-time rival Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in London on Friday. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Roger Federer's professional tennis career is over after he and Rafael Nadal fell in a Laver Cup doubles match to Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock in London on Friday evening.

The 20-time Grand Slam singles title winner, who announced his impending retirement Sept. 15, spoke on the court post-match and referenced his "perfect journey" in the sport.

Federer's remarkable resume includes eight Wimbledon titles, six Australian Open wins, five U.S. Open victories and the 2009 French Open crown. He also won gold in doubles during the 2008 Olympic Games in London.

The ATP ranked Federer at the No. 1 men's tennis player in the world for 310 weeks, including 237 consecutive weeks at one juncture. Federer was the world's No. 1 player at the end of the year five times.

The 41-year-old turned professional in 1998. Five years later, he won his first major at Wimbledon. That set off a dominant six-year stretch in which Federer won 14 majors from 2004-2009. He won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2004, 2006 and 2007 and made the French Open finals in the latter two years.

Federer's run of consistent major wins ended in 2010 after the Australian Open, but he enjoyed a great second act in 2017 and 2018 when he won the Australian Open twice and the 2017 Wimbledon. He also made the 2019 Wimbledon finals at the age of 38.

Federer's career is now over, but he will always stand as one of the game's greatest all-time players. He was the king of tennis for much of the 2000s, and now, the legend's career has come to a graceful close.

Roger Federer Loses Farewell Doubles Match with Rafael Nadal at 2022 Laver Cup

Sep 23, 2022
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe react during the doubles match between Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe of Team World and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe during Day One of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe react during the doubles match between Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe of Team World and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe during Day One of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup)

Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer played his final match alongside Rafael Nadal in the Laver Cup on Friday at O2 Arena in London, and the duo fell 6-4, 6(2)-7, 9-11 loss to American duo Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock.

Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, announced his retirement from professional tennis on Sept. 15, revealing the Laver Cup would mark his farewell from the sport. He said in a post on his social media accounts (h/t ESPN):

"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 recognize when it is time to end my competitive career."

Friday's match was full of excitement and felt like the whole world was watching.

After a back-and-forth battle with the first set tied 4-4, Federer and Nadal combined to win the next two games and claim the set. Federer played an easy volley to bring up set point and took charge with a forehand shot that was too hot for Sock to handle.

The second set came down to a tiebreak, and Tiafoe and Sock came out on top to force a third set, winning the tiebreak 7-6 (2) as Federer was forced into an error.

The third set saw a great battle between the two sides, but Tiafoe and Sock proved to be too much for Federer and Nadal.

Down 9-8, Tiafoe fought back to tie the set 9-9 before responding to a Federer serve with a thunderous forehand return winner to give the Americans a 10-9 lead. With match point and Sock serving, the two teams engaged in a lengthy rally before Sock ended the match with a forehand winner to the corner.

While Federer lost, he still goes down as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He competed in more than 1,500 matches, winning 103 singles titles and 20 Grand Slams in his storied career.

Federer is the second tennis great to enter retirement of late, joining Serena Williams, who retired after the US Open earlier this month.

Protester Lights Arm on Fire on Court During 2022 Laver Cup Match

Sep 23, 2022
A protester invades the court, appearing to set his arm alight during the singles game between Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas of Team Europe and Argentina's Diego Schwartzman of Team World at the 2022 Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in London on September 23, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
A protester invades the court, appearing to set his arm alight during the singles game between Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas of Team Europe and Argentina's Diego Schwartzman of Team World at the 2022 Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in London on September 23, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

A climate-change protester ran onto the court and lit their own arm on fire during a match at the 2022 Laver Cup in London on Friday.

Warning: The following image could be distressing to some readers.

https://twitter.com/epaphotos/status/1573332831287246850

According to Stuart Fraser of the Sunday Times, the protester was wearing a shirt that read, "End UK private jets," in an effort to bring awareness to the effect of air travel on climate change.

The incident occurred during a singles match between Team Europe's Stefanos Tsitsipas and Team World's Diego Schwartzman, causing the contest to be temporarily halted.

The match eventually resumed, and Tsitsipas made short work of Schwartzman, scoring a 6-2, 6-1, victory.

That win gave the heavily favored Team Europe a 2-0 lead overall after Norway's Casper Ruud defeated American Jack Sock 6-4, 5-7, 10-7, earlier in the day.

Two more matches are on tap Friday with Britain's Andy Murray facing Australia's Alex de Minaur in a singles match, followed by the doubles team of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer against Sock and Frances Tiafoe in Federer's final match of his career.

This year marks the fifth Laver Cup since its inception in 2017, and Team Europe is looking to move to a perfect 5-0. Last year marked the most dominant performance to date—a 14-1 win in Boston.

The 2022 Laver Cup will run through Sunday, with every match taking place at the O2 Arena in London.

Novak Djokovic: 2023 Australian Open Status 'Not in My Hands' amid Vaccination Status

Sep 22, 2022
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Novak Djokovic of Team Europe reacts during a Team Europe press conference ahead of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 22, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Novak Djokovic of Team Europe reacts during a Team Europe press conference ahead of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 22, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images for Laver Cup)

Novak Djokovic is still holding out hope he'll be able to play in the 2023 Australian Open despite his refusal to undergo COVID-19 vaccination.

"It's really not in my hands right now," Djokovic told reporters Thursday. "So I'm hoping I will get some positive news."

Djokovic was deported from Australia in January, with the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, and health minister, Greg Hunt, saying he had no "valid" excuse for a medical exemption (via the Guardian). He was also barred from playing in this year's U.S. Open because of his vaccination status.

The United States bars unvaccinated adults from entering the country in virtually all cases, though there are some exceptions. Djokovic does not qualify under any of the exceptions.

If Djokovic wants to clear his own path to play, the easiest answer remains for him to undergo vaccination. However, the Serb has maintained he will continue to refuse vaccination regardless of how it impacts his tennis career.

"I don't have any regrets. I mean, I do feel sad that I wasn't able to play [at the U.S. Open], but that was a decision that I made, and I knew what the consequences would be," Djokovic said. "So I accepted them, and that's it."

This week's Laver Cup is the first time Djokovic has played in a competitive tennis tournament since winning Wimbledon in July. His inability to play in tournaments has led to Djokovic dropping from No. 1 in the world to No. 7.

Rafael Nadal has also passed him on the all-time Grand Slams list, sitting one ahead with 22 championships.

Roger Federer to Play Doubles with Rafael Nadal in Final Match Before Retirement

Sep 22, 2022
Switzerland's Roger Federer (L) and Spain's Rafael Nadal share a laugh during a press conference for Team Europe ahead of the 2022 Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in London on September 22, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Switzerland's Roger Federer (L) and Spain's Rafael Nadal share a laugh during a press conference for Team Europe ahead of the 2022 Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in London on September 22, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Roger Federer got his wish: His final official match will be played alongside longtime friendly rival Rafael Nadal in the 2022 Laver Cup on Friday.

The tournament pairings were announced Thursday, with the two tennis icons set to play for Team Europe against the Team World tandem of Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock in doubles. Federer, who confirmed his retirement after this week's event, said Wednesday he was hoping to team up with Nadal.

"Of course, no doubt," Federer told reporters. "I think it could be quite a unique situation, if it were to happen. For as long as we battled together, having had always this respect for one another, our families, coaching teams, for us as well to go through a career we both have had, come out the other side and have a nice relationship, is maybe a great message to tennis and beyond. For that reason, it would be great, I don't know if it will happen, but it would be great."

Federer and Nadal have faced off 40 times in their legendary careers, and one of those encounters, the 2008 Wimbledon final, has a strong argument as the greatest tennis match ever played. Nadal won that memorable meeting and holds a 24-16 edge overall.

Despite frequently facing off on the sport's biggest stages, the relationship remained cordial.

"After all the amazing things that we share together on and off court, [to] be part of this historic moment, going to be something yeah, amazing and unforgettable for me," Nadal said Thursday. "And yeah, super excited, I hope I can have a good answer time, play at a decent level and hopefully together we can create a good moment and maybe win a match."

Federer didn't play any Grand Slam tournaments this year because of lingering knee problems, and he admitted Wednesday there's still a level of concern about his match readiness.

"So here I am, trying to prepare for one last doubles," he said. "We'll see how it is. I am nervous, because I haven't played for so long. I hope it goes well."

The 20-time Grand Slam champion will be replaced by Matteo Berrettini on the Team Europe roster after Friday's doubles match.

Other members of the European squad include Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

They'll battle a Team World group featuring Tiafoe, Sock, Taylor Fritz, Félix Auger-Aliassime, Diego Schwartzman and Alex de Minaur.

The tournament runs Friday through Sunday at the O2 Arena in London.

Roger Federer: 'Impossible' to Compare Careers of Me, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic

Sep 21, 2022
FILE - Serbia's Novak Djokovic, left, and Spain's Rafael Nadal look at each other as they pose for images prior to the final match of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, in this Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, file photo. When this year’s French Open starts Sunday, May 30, 2021, in Paris, Nadal will be seeking his 21st Grand Slam title to break a tie with Roger Federer for the men’s record, while Djokovic will try to close the gap with those two by earning his 19th.(AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
FILE - Serbia's Novak Djokovic, left, and Spain's Rafael Nadal look at each other as they pose for images prior to the final match of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, in this Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, file photo. When this year’s French Open starts Sunday, May 30, 2021, in Paris, Nadal will be seeking his 21st Grand Slam title to break a tie with Roger Federer for the men’s record, while Djokovic will try to close the gap with those two by earning his 19th.(AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

Roger Federer is clearly among the best players in men's tennis history, but he doesn't have a clear answer for the Greatest of All Time debate between him, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

"How can you compare?" Federer asked, per Howard Fendrich of the Associated Press. "What’s better? To win when you're old or when you're young? I have no idea, you know? Is it better to win on clay or grass? Don't know. Is it better to have super dominant years or come back from injury? I don't know. It really is impossible to grasp."

Federer long held the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles and earned his 20th at the 2018 Australian Open. His two rivals in the Big Three have since passed him, with Nadal currently having 22 and Djokovic sitting at 21.

The 41-year-old Federer announced his retirement last week after struggling with injuries over the past few years.

It helped reignite the arguments over the best ever, which Federer admitted was "a good conversation" and "definitely a fun debate."

All three could have been even more dominant if not for having to face each other during the same era. Twice in his career, Federer won three of the four majors with only a French Open Final loss to Nadal keeping him from the calendar Grand Slam.

Nadal has clearly been the best on clay, winning 14 times at Roland Garros, while Djokovic's nine wins at the Australian Open are also a record. Federer was the most dominant on grass, winning Wimbledon a record eight times.

Federer also had arguably the most impressive run earlier in his career, reaching 10 straight Slam finals while staying No. 1 for 237 straight weeks. Nadal and Djokovic still have enough accomplishments to continue the debate long after all of them retire.

"Everybody calling each other 'GOAT.' 'GOAT.' 'GOAT.' 'GOAT.' 'GOAT.' 'GOAT.' I'm like, Come on, OK? There cannot be possibly that many 'GOATs,'" Federer joked. "In Switzerland, we have a lot of them, but they're in the fields."

Novak Djokovic Honors Roger Federer with IG Post After Retirement Announcement

Sep 16, 2022
Swiss tennis player Roger Federer (R) and Serbia's Novak Djokovic take part in the Centre Court Centenary Ceremony, on the seventh day of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 3, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Adrian DENNIS has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Swiss tennis player Roger Federer] instead of [Swiss former tennis player Roger Federer]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Swiss tennis player Roger Federer (R) and Serbia's Novak Djokovic take part in the Centre Court Centenary Ceremony, on the seventh day of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 3, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Adrian DENNIS has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Swiss tennis player Roger Federer] instead of [Swiss former tennis player Roger Federer]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic honored Roger Federer with an Instagram post on Friday following his longtime on-court rival's retirement announcement on Thursday.

Djokovic (21 Grand Slam titles) and Federer (20) rank second and third on the all-time major championship list in men's tennis history behind only Rafael Nadal (22).

The superstars faced off 50 times on the ATP Tour during their decorated careers, with the final meeting coming at the 2020 Australian Open. Djokovic held a slight 27-23 advantage in those head-to-head meetings, including six wins over their last seven matchups.

Five of those clashes came in a Grand Slam final, three at Wimbledon and two in the US Open, with Djokovic winning four of those marquee matches.

"Obviously Roger is an icon of our sport and people around the world love him," Djokovic said in 2021. "They love watching him play, love seeing him around. He's very important for our sport on and off the court."

Injuries derailed the latter stages of Federer's career as he appeared in just three Grand Slam draws since the start of 2020. He still performed at a high level when healthy, reaching the 2020 Australian Open semifinals and 2021 Wimbledon quarterfinals.

His peak lasted nearly a decade, winning 17 of his 20 major titles between 2003 and 2012, and he probably would have won more during the second half of his career if not for the presence of two other dominant players in the same era, Djokovic and Nadal.

"I enjoy playing against him. I really feel like we get the best out of each other," Federer said about Djokovic in 2021. "We have different playing styles, [so] it almost depends on the day, which court we're playing on and how the matches have been leading up to that match."

The Swiss sensation's final official tournament will feature his Serbian counterpart as a teammate. Both players will represent Team Europe, alongside Nadal, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andy Murray, against Team World in the 2022 Laver Cup next week.

Team World features Taylor Fritz, Félix Auger-Aliassime, Diego Schwartzman, Frances Tiafoe, Alex de Minaur and Jack Sock.

It makes Team Europe a heavy favorite on paper and gives Federer a golden opportunity to end his Hall of Fame career with one more tournament title.

Serena Williams Congratulates Roger Federer on Retirement: 'Always Looked Up to You'

Sep 16, 2022
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 20: (L-R) Serena Williams of the United States speaks to Roger Federer of Switzerland during the ribbon cutting ceremony on the new Stadium Court at the Hard Rock Stadium, before the first match of the Miami Open on March 20, 2019 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 20: (L-R) Serena Williams of the United States speaks to Roger Federer of Switzerland during the ribbon cutting ceremony on the new Stadium Court at the Hard Rock Stadium, before the first match of the Miami Open on March 20, 2019 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

Roger Federer announced his intentions to retire after his next competition, becoming the second tennis legend to call it a career within the past few weeks.

Serena Williams, who retired after losing in the third round of the U.S. Open, offered kind words to Federer in a touching Instagram post.

"I have always looked up to you and admired you," Williams wrote. "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."

Williams continued: "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."

Unlike Williams, the Swiss superstar won't be ending his career at a Grand Slam. Federer, who turned 41 last month, announced that he will retire after participating in the Laver Cup, which takes place Sept. 23 to Sept. 25 in London. He cited injuries as the reason for his retirement.

"As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries," Federer said. "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."

Undoubtedly one of the greatest male tennis players of all time, Federer will finish his career with 20 Grand Slam singles titles, the third-most behind Rafael Nadal (22) and Novak Djokovic (21). Williams holds the all-time Open Era record with 23 major singles titles.

The retirements of both Federer and Williams represent the beginning of tennis' shift to the next generation of stars. The U.S. Open was won by two players early in their careers: 21-year-old Iga Świątek, who won her third career major, and 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, who won his first.

Subscribe to Tennis