Juan Martin del Potro paid a touching tribute to Roger Federer as he feels the game will never be the same without the Swiss. On Thursday, Federer announced his plans to retire from tennis after next week’s Laver Cup. In the 2009 US Open final, del Potro defeated Federer to lift his first and lone Grand Slam title.
“I LOVE YOU, Roger. Thank you for everything you’ve done in tennis and with myself. Tennis world will never be the same without you,” del Potro wrote on Twitter.
💔😢. I LOVE YOU, Roger. Thank you for everything you’ve done in tennis and with myself.
Tennis world will never be the same without you. — Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) September 15, 2022
Federer follows del Potro into retirement
Earlier this year, del Potro retired from tennis after battling constant injuries over the years.
Federer, who hasn’t really played much over the last two and a half years, is also saying goodbye to professional tennis. “To my tennis family and beyond, of all the gifts that tennis has given me over the years, the greatest, without a doubt, has been the people I’ve met along the way: my friends, my competitors, and most of all the fans who give the sport its life.
Today, I want to share some news with all of you,” Federer said in his statement. “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 a full competitive form.
But I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear. I’m 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.
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.”