The 2022 season will be remembered not only for the emergence of new talents, such as the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, but also for the big names of the men’s professional circuit, 10 in total, who said goodbye to tennis, Roger Federer distinguishing himself .

After a series of knee problems, the dreaded news of the Swiss star’s retirement came in mid-September when it was confirmed that Federer’s glittering career would come to an end at the Laver Cup in London that same month. of September. Professional since 1998, the Swiss has accumulated 1251 victories on the ATP circuit, won 103 titles including 20 Grand Slam titles.

After an emotional farewell match, in doubles alongside Rafael Nadal, Federer couldn’t hold back his tears and said the farewell was exactly as he had hoped and that he was happy, not sad.

If there’s one thing you watch today, do this.#WashCup 🇧🇷 @Roger Federer pic.twitter.com/Ks9JqEeR6B

— LaverCup (@LaverCup) September 23, 2022

The farewell match took place on February 23, a Friday, when he and Nadal had match point, but lost to American duo Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe 4/6, 7/6 (7-2) and 11-9.

Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro, former world number 4 and 2009 US Open champion, has drawn the list of celebrities who hung up their rackets in February. After undergoing four knee surgeries in recent years, Delpo decided to end his career in front of his fans at ATP 250 in Buenos Aires.

In an Argentine duel, Del Potro was eliminated by Federico Delbonis, in his debut, with partials of 6/1 and 6/3, crying a lot at match point. “I just want to be able to sleep without pain after two years. That’s what I want to do from tomorrow, because playing sports with the pain I have is very difficult,” he said at the time.

April marked the end of Spaniard Tommy Robredo’s career on the 18th at Barcelona, ​​where he played with an invitation and was beaten on his debut by compatriot Bernabe Zapata, by a 6-1 double. The former world number 5 has not played ATP since last year, when he competed in qualifying in Barcelona and was eliminated on his debut. His last main draw appearance was in 2019, when he was ranked 167th in the world and crashed in the first round of the ATP 250 in Gstaad.

On May 3, South African Kevin Anderson, another former world No. 5, announced his retirement via social networks. At 35, Anderson has 354 ATP Tour victories, most recently at the ATP 250 in Dallas in February this year, made 20 finals and won seven titles.

At Roland-Garros, on May 24, it was Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s turn to say goodbye to Norwegian Casper Ruud, who returned injured at the very end, by 6/7 (6-8), 7/6 ( 7-4), 6/2 and 7/6 (7-0). Tsonga left the circuit after 18 years, competing since 2005, having reached No. 5 in the world rankings and winning 18 titles, with the focus on two Masters 1000s, and runner-up at the Australian Open in 2008 .

In July, 38-year-old German Philipp Kohlschreiber stunned the tour shortly after winning his first Wimbledon qualifying match, saying it would be the last tournament of his long career. He stopped in the second qualifying round. Kohlschreiber reached 16th place exactly 10 years ago when he reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon, having won eight ATP-level trophies. “I had a great and wonderful career,” he said. Among his memorable victories, he knocked out Novak Djokovic in the third round of Roland Garros in 2009 and beat Rafael Nadal in Halle in 2012.

American Sam Querrey, former world number 11, has announced his retirement after the US Open. The 34-year-old had a quiet exit after a first-round singles loss to Ilya Ivashka and a doubles loss to partner Steve Johnson. “I accepted it and it was great,” Querrey said of his decision to retire. “The last six weeks have been very enjoyable.”

Towards the end of the year, more precisely on November 3, the Frenchman Gilles Simon, after two great victories at the Masters 1000 in Paris, was no match for Félix Auger-Aliassime, in a big phase. The Canadian won his 15th consecutive match and ended the career of the former world number 6 in 2009, with partials of 6/1 and 6/3. In the farewell campaign, the 37-year-old Frenchman beat former world number 1 Andy Murray and then ninth-ranked Taylor Fritz.

Thanks @atptour for the invitation to Turin, the setting and the ceremony. It’s an honor.
Mon @tsonga7 , we arrive together , and we share together. Happy to have shared all this with you 😘 pic.twitter.com/bsjnHNdqp0

—Gilles SIMON (@GillesSimon84) November 18, 2022

Earlier in October, Italy’s Andreas Seppi, once ranked 18th in the world at his peak, ended his career, highlighting the three singles titles he won: Eastbourne on grass in 2011 and the next two in 2012, on clay. in Belgrade and on the hard and indoor court in Moscow.

Finally, last December, Brazilian fans said goodbye to Bruno Soares from Minas Gerais. His last performance was in Belo Horizonte. The 40-year-old from Minas Gerais officially ended his long and successful career just after the US Open and invited his family and friends to an exhibition match at the Mineirinho gymnasium, as a preliminary to the exhibition of Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud. Soares and American Bob Bryan faced Marcelo Melo and Rafael Matos for 12 games. Soares, 40, is the owner of six Grand Slam titles in doubles, including three in mixed doubles, in addition to having reached number 2 in the specialty rankings.

“It was a gift to end his career like that”, says Bruno Soares

The double player bid farewell to the courts this Saturday with a victory alongside Marcelo Melo#BrunoSoares #Sneakers #bandsports pic.twitter.com/00qYVbheXI

— BandSports (@bandsports) November 27, 2022