Tennis legend Roger Federer announced on Thursday that he will retire from the sport at the age of 41 after next week’s Laver Cup following a trophy-laden career
Roger Federer took his family to every one of his tennis tournaments because he refused to sleep without his wife.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner is set to retire from the sport next week after announcing on Thursday that the Laver Cup will be the final tournament of his career. He will walk away from professional tennis at the age of 41, having turned pro 24 years ago in 1998 and won over £110million in prize money according to the ATP’s prize money leaders list.
Throughout his career, Federer has been supported by his wife Mirka, whom he met at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
READ MORE: Roger Federer to retire as tennis great thanks fans for ‘unbelievable’ journey
Speaking to the Sunday Times in 2018, he revealed that she and their two sets of twins travel with him to each of his tournaments as he just won’t sleep without his wife by his side.
“I refuse to leave the bed with my wife,” he explained. “We always wanted to have kids, but my dream was to be with [her] and not in another bedroom on another floor. I’d rather sleep with kids screaming than away from my wife.”
Federer also takes his children’s nanny and teacher on tour with him. The Swiss tennis legend met his wife, who is also a former WTA player, when they both represented Switzerland at the Olympic Games in Sydney 22 years ago.
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Roger Federer
Roger Federer met his wife Mirka at the Sydney Olympics in 2000
They went on to tie the knot in 2009 before Mirka gave birth to twin girls later that same year. The couple had a second set of twins, this time boys, in 2014.
Federer announced his impending retirement on Thursday in a lengthy statement posted to his social media channels, where he thanked fans for supporting him on his “unbelievable” journey.
During his career, the former world number one has won all four Grand Slams, including Wimbledon on a record eight occasions. He is also a two-time Olympic medallist, winning silver in the men’s singles in 2012 and gold in the men’s doubles alongside Stan Wawrinka in 2008.
His final event will see him play for Team Europe alongside fellow greats Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the Laver Cup in London next week.
