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Former NBA Champion Has a Three-Word Salute to Tennis Legend Roger Federer Upon Retirement

Published 09/24/2022, 8:15 AM EDT

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via Reuters

Tennis legend Roger Federer has retired from professional tennis. This is a heartbreaking moment not only for tennis fans but for the entire sporting world. Having undergone a series of knee surgeries, he made this decision at the age of 41. There were several social media posts from players and fans expressing their feelings. And former NBA champion Richard Jefferson paid a three-word tribute to Federer upon his retirement. 

In a series of pictures Federer shared on Twitter, he mentioned: I’ve done this thousands of times, but this one feels different. Thank you to everybody who’s coming tonight.” In response to this, Jefferson posted a message and said the following: So much respect…”

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The various achievements on and off the court by Roger Federer left fans in are of his journey to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time. The 20-time Grand Slam champion hung up his racket after playing his final professional match at the 2022 Laver Cup. The former world number one won 103 ATP singles titles over his career. 

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His match-ups with fellow tennis greats Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic always brought a lot of joy to tennis fans around the world. As their rivalry was legendary and the way they competed with each other almost cannot be described. 

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Almost two weeks have passed since American tennis legend Serena Williams’ retired after her third-round loss at the US Open. Fans have now lost two of the game’s greatest ever players in the span of less than a month. The legacy and achievements both leave behind will undoubtedly be remembered for a long time to come. 

“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,” commented Federer.

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Furthermore, he added: “But I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear.” In addition to Jefferson, other athletes and global sporting icons have also expressed their opinions on social media

The fact that two legendary players retired at roughly the same time is certainly hard to accept for fans. Despite the fact that it has been a while since fans last got to see Federer on the court, He last played at Wimbledon in July 2021.

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Do you think Roger Federer is the GOAT? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. 

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Written by:

Anshika Rai

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Anshika Rai is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. She is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication. Anshika has been following NBA for many years now.
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Edited by:

Veer Badani