Roger Federer: Watch the GOAT in the 1998 Wimbledon Boys’ final

Roger Federer called time on his glittering 24-year professional tennis career today. Watch him here at Wimbledon in 1998 as a junior.

Roger Federer: Watch the GOAT in the 1998 Wimbledon Boys’ final

41-year-old Roger Federer has announced his retirement from competitive tennis after struggling through injury in the last three years.

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Wimbledon was Federer’s favourite tournament and he obviously has fond memories of it. He collected eight of his 20 Grand Slam titles on the grass courts at SW19, but it all began for him as a junior back in 1998.

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Here is a 16-year-old Roger Federer contesting and winning the 1998 Wimbledon Boys Final. Video: YouTube.

I am 41 years old, I have played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years,” Federer said in an audio clip posted on social media. “Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamed and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career.”

Roger Federer on his retirement
Roger Federer
Roger Federer winning the 2003 Wimbledon title, his first of eight. Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP.

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Federer walks away from tennis a stellar competitive records: 103 ATP singles titles, 20 Grand Slam singles titles and 310 weeks ranked No. 1. Will there ever be another player quite like Roger Federer? Probably not.

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While we’re here, who’s the greatest tennis player in the history of the game? Is it Federer, Nadal, Djokovic or perhaps somebody else?