It has been a crazy year for tennis! 2022 got off to a turbulent start in January with the diplomatic and legal wrangling over Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. The surprise decision by Ash Barty followed this, Australia's three-time grand-slam winner and WTA number 1, to retire from tennis at 25. Things have not settled down. Before the US Open, 23 grand slam winner Serena Williams announced her decision to leave tennis to focus on her family. All of this has meant tennis fans have been on a wild ride this year, and now news has dropped that Roger Federer will retire from professional tennis following the Laver Cup in London this weekend.  

Tennis experts, fans and professional players often rank Roger Federer as the GOAT ( greatest tennis player of all time ) due to his stunning title run, which includes Eight Wimbledon titles, meaning he holds the record for the most Gentlemen's Singles wins. Some commentators even say that Federer doesn’t play tennis; he is tennis. This is because Federer has such a versatile playing style - the Federer Forehand is considered the best in the business, and he has a lethal one-handed backhand too. 

Federer is not only one of the most decorated players, with 20 Grand Slam singles titles, but also a passionate humanitarian. The Roger Federer Foundation champions programmes in six southern African countries and Switzerland. The foundation’s mission statement is "I am tomorrow’s future", and their work concentrates on education and poverty relief.

In addition to his sporting brilliance and charity work, Roger Federer is, above all, the perfect ambassador for Switzerland, serving up likeability, humility, success and eloquence. Plus South Africa sees him as one of their own since his mum is South African, he holds a South African as well as a Swiss passport, he has enjoyed many holidays in Mzanzi and organises The Match In Africa charity events, which is a recurring set of fundraising tennis exhibition matches.

Tennis fans can own a little piece of Federer magic with The Roger Federer Official Commemorative Coin 2020.