Shortly after the conclusion of the record-breaking 2022 US Open, tennis legend Roger Federer—a former world No. 1 for 310 weeks and 20-time Grand Slam tournament singles champion who has won the Queens-based tournament five times (2004 through 2008)—announced his plans to retire following this year's Laver Cup in London.
Now 41 years old, the Swiss superstar had competed in the US Open since 1999, when he reached the second round of qualifying, through 2019, when he lost a five-set quarterfinal to Grigor Dimitrov.
"It's always a dream for somebody to come to New York somehow, because the city is so great," Federer said in 2005. "I came here as a junior first time in '98. I loved it. I thought I achieved everything I wanted, I made it to New York."
He later remarked: "I have great fans here in the States. I've had an unbelievable run here in this country, and I feel they really support me a lot. You know, I would like to thank them, because it's not the ordinary, you know, that they always support you being from somewhere else."
Here are photos of Federer at the US Open over two spectacular decades.
Roger Federer plays No. 12 seed Juan Carlo Ferrero of Spain at the 2000 US Open. He ultimately advances to the third round.
Federer serves to Lars Burgsmuller of Germany during the first round of the 2001 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The Swiss player wins the match 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, but loses the tournament in the fourth round.
Federer serves to Jiri Vanek of the Czech Republic during the 2002 US Open. The Swiss player reaches the fourth round of competition this year.
Federer returns a shot to David Nalbandian of Argentina during their Round 4 match at the 2003 US Open. For the third consecutive year, Federer exits during Round 4.
Now the top-ranked player in men's tennis, Federer celebrates match point over Lleyton Hewitt of Australia with a score of 6-0, 7-6(3), 6-0 at the 2004 US Open men's final. The win marks the Swiss' maiden US Open title.
Still No. 1 in the world (and seeded as such at the year's US Open), Roger Federer kisses the championship trophy after defeating Andre Agassi in the 2005 men's final, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(7-1), 6-1.
Federer wins the men's final against Andy Roddick at the 2006 US Open, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1—for his third consecutive US Open title.
Federer defeats Novak Djokovic of Serbia 7-6(4), 7-6(2), 6-4 in the men's singles final to win the 2007 US Open. The rivalry between the two players lasts 15 years and across 50 matches, with the Serb ultimately leading the head-to-head record 27-23 (13-6 in finals). From 2006 through 2021, Djokovic bests Federer in 11 of their 17 Grand Slam tournament-level meetings.
Federer defeats Andy Murray of the United Kingdom, 6-2, 7-5, 6-2, to win the 2008 US Open men's singles event. The victory marks Federer's fifth straight title in Queens.
Federer serves against Djokovic from Serbia during their semifinal match at the 2009 US Open. Federer wins 7-6(3), 7-5, 7-5, but loses to Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in the final.
Federer returns to Robin Soderling of Sweden during their quarterfinal at the 2010 US Open, winning in straight sets. Seeded second, Federer loses to Djokovic in a subsequent five-set semifinal.
Seeded third at the 2011 US Open, Federer falls to Djokovic again in the semifinals.
Federer reacts during his men's singles quarterfinal match against Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic at the 2012 US Open. Berdych takes the match 7-6(1), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Federer celebrates his match win over Adrian Mannarino of France at the 2013 US Open. He ultimately loses in the competition's fourth round for the first time since 2003.
Federer walks down a hallway at Arthur Ashe Stadium ahead of his semifinal against Marin Cilic of Croatia during the 2014 US Open. Cilic goes on to win the match and the title.
Making his last appearance in a US Open final, Federer loses to Djokovic during their 2015 match, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
After missing his first US Open since 1999 in 2016 due to knee surgery, Federer returns to Queens in 2017. He waves to the crowd after falling to Juan Martin del Potro in a men's singles quarterfinal match.
Federer in action against John Millman of Australia at the 2018 US Open during their Round 4 match. Federer ultimately loses 6-3, 7-5, 7-6(7), 7-6(3).
Federer walks off the court after losing to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in a quarterfinal match at the 2019 US Open. It is the last time Federer plays the US Open.
