The 41-year-old ace, taking the court one final time at the Laver Cup, is undoubtedly tennis’ greatest of all-time—off the court, at least.
Roger Federer said on social media last week that he was ready to retire, and now the fateful day is here: The 41-year-old tennis legend will take the court for the final time as a professional on Friday alongside Rafael Nadal in a doubles match in London at the Laver Cup, the international team tournament he cofounded in 2017.
Federer, who has been sidelined by a knee injury since reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals in July 2021, is among the most accomplished players in the history of the sport when judged by his on-court exploits. Off the court, however, there’s no debate: Federer is tennis’ greatest of all-time, and one of the most financially successful athletes ever, regardless of sport.
Here are some of the top accomplishments of Federer’s storied career, as a tennis player and as a businessman.
16: The number of consecutive years Federer has ranked as tennis’ highest-paid player. He made $90 million over the past 12 months before taxes and agents’ fees, according to Forbes estimates.
20: Federer’s Grand Slam singles titles, the third-most ever by a man, after Rafael Nadal’s 22 and Novak Djokovic’s 21. (Pete Sampras is fourth with 14.) From 2005 to 2007, he reached ten straight major finals, part of a stretch in which he made 18 of 19. Federer holds the record at Wimbledon with eight men’s singles titles and also won an Olympic silver medal in singles in 2012 and a gold in doubles in 2008, plus the 2014 Davis Cup.
