ATPTour.com’s annual season-in-review collection seems to be again at 2022’s greatest matches, greatest upsets, most dramatic comebacks and extra. Today, we recap among the most notable participant retirements from the 12 months.
From Juan Martin del Potro‘s Buenos Aires farewell in February to Roger Federer’s Laver Cup send-off in September, the 2022 ATP Tour season noticed the shut of many storied careers. Some gamers bowed out on house soil, whereas others saved their ultimate outing for the Grand Slam stage.
Former Top 5 stars Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Kevin Anderson and Tommy Robredo had been amongst these to log out this season, together with former doubles World No. 2 Bruno Soares. ATPTour.com seems to be on the careers of all these males and extra who referred to as time on their taking part in careers this 12 months.
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Philipp Kohlschreiber (Career High: No. 6 singles)
“I actually didn’t plan to announce it… It was simply that day I felt, ‘OK, it’s time.’”
One of essentially the most constant careers in ATP Tour historical past got here to an finish considerably spontaneously in June when Kohlschreiber gained his first-round qualifying match at Wimbledon after which promptly revealed it might be his ultimate match. The German star notched 478 wins throughout 20 seasons on Tour, lifted eight tour-level crowns, and was a relentless presence within the Top 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings between March 2006 and February 2021 (a lot of which was spent within the Top 50).
“I can cease and say I had a good time,” Kohlschreiber, who listed lifting the trophy 3 times at house in Munich amongst his profession highlights, later informed ATPTour.com. “I didn’t overdo it. I am going away with a giant smile.” Read Tribute.
Ken Skupski (Career High: No. 44 doubles)
Also taking to courtroom as an expert for the ultimate time at Wimbledon was British doubles star Skupski. The seven-time ATP Tour titlist teamed up with countryman Jonny O’Mara for his 14th and ultimate look at his house Grand Slam, the place a third-round defeat ended a profession during which he claimed 141 tour-level doubles wins.
“Tennis has given me a lot through the years and I count on it’s going to proceed to provide me lots extra sooner or later,” Skupski wrote in the post announcing his retirement. “I want to thank everybody who has helped and supported me alongside the way in which. I’ve made some wonderful mates, competed with many wonderful gamers and shared the courtroom with some legends of the sport.”
Despite calling time on his profession, Skupski stays a well-known face on Tour as coach of his youthful brother, the joint-No. 1 within the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings Neal Skupski. Three of Ken’s tour-level crowns had been gained alongside Neal, together with his sole ATP 500 trophy in Acapulco in 2021. Read More.
Sam Querrey (Career High: No. 11 singles)
Described by his buddy Steve Johnson as somebody who “all the time had a smile”, 10-time tour-level titlist Querrey was a massively widespread determine throughout his 16-year profession on Tour. That didn’t cease the American turning into a critical presence on courtroom, nevertheless. His enormous serve and highly effective groundstrokes helped him attain a career-high No. 11 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 2018.
Querrey was famend for his capacity to go toe-to-toe with one of the best on this planet, and on the largest phases. The Californian earned 23 victories towards Top 10 opponents in his profession, defeating Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka twice every, and in 2017 he reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
“I really feel I used to be fairly constant through the years,” Querrey informed ATPTour.com throughout his ultimate occasion, the 2022 US Open. “I solely missed a few majors over a 17-year run. I used to be a fairly good big-match participant. I really feel like the higher the opponent, the higher I performed and had some nice wins.” Read Tribute.
Bruno Soares (Career High: No. 2 doubles)
After calling time on his time as an expert participant on the US Open, Soares can mirror on one of the illustrious careers within the latest historical past of ATP Tour doubles.
Having gained his first ATP Tour doubles title in 2008, the Brazilian went on to win 35 tour-level males’s doubles titles and 6 Grand Slam trophies — three in males’s doubles and three in combined doubles. Much of his success got here throughout two stints taking part in with Briton Jamie Murray. The pair claimed 12 tour-level titles, together with main victories on the Australian Open and the US Open, and completed 2016 because the year-end No. 1 duo.
“Tennis is my life,” Soares informed ATPTour.com after his ultimate match alongside Murray on the US Open. “The sport is in my blood. It’s in my DNA… I’ve been making an attempt to provide again my entire profession, however now’s the actual time after I’m going to have a bit of bit extra time to provide again. I’m by no means going to say goodbye to tennis.” Read Tribute.
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Roger Federer (Career High: No. 1 singles)
One of the best gamers the ATP Tour has ever seen and a real world sporting icon, Federer’s storied profession ended on an emotional night time in London at September’s Laver Cup. The Swiss took to the doubles courtroom for Team Europe alongside fellow ATP Tour legend Rafael Nadal, a becoming finish to a profession during which he produced among the most scintillating tennis the game has ever seen.
Among Federer’s profession achievements had been 310 weeks spent at World No. 1 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, together with a document 237 consecutive weeks from 2 February 2004 till 18 August 2008, and 103 tour-level titles together with 20 Grand Slam crowns. Immensely widespread wherever he went, the Swiss was voted Fans’ Favourite within the annual ATP Awards for 19 consecutive years from 2003 to 2021.
“I wish to thanks all from the underside of my coronary heart,” wrote Federer on the finish of his letter asserting his retirement. “To everybody all over the world who has helped make the desires of a younger Swiss ball child come true… To the sport of tennis: I like you and can by no means depart you.” Read Tributes.
Andreas Seppi (Career High: No. 18 singles)
Often cited as one of many hardest-working professionals on Tour, Seppi’s profession numbers make spectacular studying — three ATP Tour titles, 386 tour-level match wins and 15 consecutive years (2005-19) ending contained in the Top 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Yet after bringing his skilled taking part in profession to an in depth in October, the Italian was simply comfortable to have spent 20 years doing a job that he cherished.
“I’d have signed instantly if any person would have informed me, ‘You may play till the age of 38’,” Seppi informed ATPTour.com. “I really feel actually blessed that I may do that for such a very long time.”
Opponents that Seppi defeated on Tour included Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and Daniil Medvedev, however it’s his longevity on the high of the sport that stands out. Perhaps most notably, the Italian competed in a outstanding 66 consecutive Grand Slam foremost attracts from Wimbledon in 2005 via this 12 months’s Australian Open, the third-longest streak in historical past. Read Tribute.
Gilles Simon (Career High: No. 6)
Dubbed ‘a professor on the tennis courtroom’ by his countryman Benjamin Bonzi, Simon was famend on Tour for his elite tennis mind. It remained as sharp as ever proper till the ultimate match of his profession, November’s Rolex Paris Masters, the place he battled previous highly effective opponents in Andy Murray and Taylor Fritz to provide his 20-year profession one magical ultimate flourish.
Simon gained 504 tour-level matches and 14 ATP Tour titles in a standout profession that noticed him rise to a career-high No. 6 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 2009. Despite his capacity to nonetheless compete with one of the best and his undoubted continued love for the sport, the 37-year-old Frenchman was grateful to have the ability to select his house ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Paris to carry his life on Tour to an in depth.
“I just feel so lucky to have been a tennis player,” Simon told ATPTour.com after the final match of his career in the French capital. “It’s what I have always wanted to be. I was a professional tennis player for a long time, and that’s why I was lucky twice, and I could stop when I wanted, and so I have been lucky three times.” Read Tribute.
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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Career High: No. 5 singles)
The former World No. 5 Tsonga referred to as time on his 18-year profession at Roland Garros, bringing his joyful sport to the followers in his house nation one ultimate time. Paris was additionally the setting for his first ATP Masters 1000 title, which he gained in 2008 on his strategy to qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals for the primary time.
The 6-foot-2 Frenchman masterfully mixed energy and athleticism in his sport, which — coupled along with his knack for leisure — earned him followers throughout the globe.
While accidents impacted the later phases of his profession, Tsonga spent greater than a decade contained in the Top 20 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in his prime. He is one among three gamers to defeat Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic whereas they had been World No. 1, and can also be one among three to defeat the legendary trio on the majors. Read Tribute.
Kevin Anderson (Career High: No. 5 singles)
A seven-time ATP Tour champion and two-time Grand Slam finalist, Anderson performed greater than 600 tour-level matches in his profession, which ended this 12 months in Miami — not removed from his South Florida residence. In a pleasant little bit of symmetry, the South African lifted his first tour-level title in Johannesburg, the town of his start, in 2011.
Despite battling accidents all through his profession, Anderson made his greatest splash in his later years on the ATP Tour, reaching the US Open ultimate in 2017 and the Wimbledon ultimate in 2018. By ending at No. 6 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 2018, Anderson (then 32) turned the second-oldest participant to complete within the year-end Top 10 for the primary time since 1973.
Anderson additionally left his mark off the courtroom, successful the 2018 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award and spending years on the ATP Player Council, most not too long ago as its president. Read Tribute.
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Tommy Robredo (Career High: No. 5 singles)
One of the longest careers in ATP Tour historical past got here to an in depth in April as Spain’s Robredo hung up his racquet in Barcelona, on the similar match the place earned his first win.
Robredo spent 23 years on the sport’s high degree and gained 12 ATP Tour titles earlier than retiring weeks shy of his fortieth birthday. One of his standout seasons got here in 2006, when reached a career-high of No. 5 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and competed on the Nitto ATP Finals.
Robredo’s 533 tour-level wins are sixth-most amongst Spaniards. That determine contains 37 victories at Roland Garros, the place he reached 5 quarter-finals. He additionally gained three Davis Cups in his nation’s colors. Read Tribute.
Frederik Nielsen (Career High: No. 17 doubles)
Denmark’s Nielsen, who gained the 2012 Wimbledon doubles title alongside Jonathan Marray, closed the guide on his profession one decade later on the 2022 Australian Open. The three-time tour-level titlist reached a profession excessive of World No. 17 and in addition counts his qualification for the 2012 Australian Open singles foremost draw amongst his profession highlights.
A Davis Cup stalwart for Denmark, Nielsen performed in 45 ties between 2003 and 2021. Following his 20-year profession, he now captains his nation’s crew along with his work as a nationwide coach on the Danish Tennis Federation. Read Tribute.
Rogerio Dutra Silva (Career High: No. 63 singles, No. 84 doubles)
Dutra Silva ended his 19-year profession in Rio de Janeiro in February. The Brazilian paired with countryman Orlando Luz on the ATP 500 occasion, bowing out in entrance of a full crowd filled with household and mates.
He additionally gained his lone tour-level title on house soil, successful the doubles crown in his hometown of Sao Paulo in 2017 with countryman Andre Sa. In singles, Dutra Silva reached 4 ATP Tour quarter-finals and notched 5 Grand Slam main-draw wins, together with two from two units down.
The 38-year-old hopes to return to the ATP Tour as a coach after taking a while off. Read Tribute.
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Juan Martin del Potro (Career High: No. 3 singles)
Del Potro gave his many followers all over the world — and significantly these in his house nation of Argentina — one ultimate present as he performed his first match since 2019 in Buenos Aires this February. His retirement at age 33 got here after a few years of harm struggles, although he remained a larger-than-life determine on the ATP Tour even throughout his time away.
Del Potro’s embellished profession is highlighted by a US Open triumph in 2009 — when he ended Roger Federer’s five-year title reign within the ultimate — amongst 22 tour-level titles. His most up-to-date trophy got here in Indian Wells throughout a 2018 season during which he reached a career-high ATP Ranking of World No. 3. Del Potro additionally progressed to a second US Open ultimate that 12 months, in what turned out to be his penultimate Grand Slam look.
In addition to 4 Nitto ATP Finals showings, together with a run to the title match in 2009, del Potro can also be a two-time Olympic medalist, successful singles bronze in 2012 (London) and silver in 2016 (Rio de Janeiro). Read Tribute.
Sergiy Stakhovsky (Career High: No. 31 singles, 33 doubles)
Ukraine’s Stakhovsky retired from tennis in January as he took up arms in his nation’s conflict effort. The 36-year-old reached the Top 40 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in each singles and doubles, claiming 4 tour-level titles in every self-discipline with an ideal 8-0 document in finals.
Stakhovksy’s most memorable singles win got here at Wimbledon in 2013, when — because the World No. 116 — he shocked defending champion Roger Federer within the second spherical. He closed the curtains on his profession following this 12 months’s Australian Open. Read More.
David Marrero (Career High: No. 5 doubles)
Marrero had a standout doubles profession, highlighted by his run to the Nitto ATP Finals title in 2013 alongside Fernando Verdasco. The Spaniard, who climbed as excessive as No. 5 within the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings, lifted 14 tour-level trophies in his profession, together with an ATP Masters 1000 triumph in 2015 in Rome with Pablo Cuevas.
Dudi Sela (Career High: No. 29 singles)
Isreael’s Sela completed contained in the Top 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 10 of 11 seasons from 2007-17, reaching his profession excessive of No. 29 in 2009. Sela reached two ATP Tour finals and gained 23 ATP Challenger Tour titles. By reaching the fourth spherical at Wimbledon in 2009, he turned the primary Israeli to succeed in that stage at a significant since Amos Mansdorf on the 1992 Australian Open.
Jonathan Erlich (Career High: No. 5 doubles)
Erlich claimed 22 tour-level doubles titles in a protracted and profitable profession that started in 1996. The Buenos Aires-born Israeli, who compiled 415 tour-level wins, loved a lot of his success alongside countryman Andy Ram. The pair gained 4 titles collectively in 2006 and one other two in 2008, on the Australian Open and Indian Wells. Ehrlic additionally gained the 2010 Queen’s Club title with Novak Djokovic.
Marc Lopez (Career High: No. 3 doubles)
Lopez stated adios to the Tour in Madrid after teaming up with fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. He closed his profession as one of the embellished doubles gamers in fashionable tennis, with a complete of 14 titles to his title, together with the 2012 Nitto ATP Finals crown (with Marcel Granolelrs), the 2016 Roland Garros title (with Feliciano Lopez) and the gold medal from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (with Rafael Nadal, whom he now coaches). Read Tribute.
Also Retiring In 2022: Blaz Kavcic, Dominic Inglot, Go Soeda (Read Tribute), Nicholas Monroe, Ruben Bemelmans, Stephane Robert, Tobias Kamke, Yannick Maden