ATPTour.com’s annual season-in-review collection appears again at 2022’s greatest matches, largest upsets, most dramatic comebacks and extra. Immediately, we recap a few of 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 residence soil, whereas others saved their closing outing for the Grand Slam stage.
Former Prime 5 stars Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Kevin Anderson and Tommy Robredo had been amongst these to log off this season, together with former doubles World No. 2 Bruno Soares. ATPTour.com appears on the careers of all these males and extra who known as time on their taking part in careers this 12 months.
Philipp Kohlschreiber (Profession Excessive: No. 6 singles)
“I actually didn’t plan to announce it… It was simply that day I felt, ‘OK, it’s time.’”
One of the crucial constant careers in ATP Tour historical past got here to an finish considerably spontaneously in June when Kohlschreiber received his first-round qualifying match at Wimbledon after which promptly revealed it will be his closing match. The German star notched 478 wins throughout 20 seasons on Tour, lifted eight tour-level crowns, and was a continuing presence within the Prime 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings between March 2006 and February 2021 (a lot of which was spent within the Prime 50).
“I can cease and say I had a good time,” Kohlschreiber, who listed lifting the trophy 3 times at residence in Munich amongst his profession highlights, later instructed ATPTour.com. “I didn’t overdo it. I’m going away with a giant smile.” Learn Tribute.
Ken Skupski (Profession Excessive: No. 44 doubles)
Additionally 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 closing look at his residence 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 anticipate it’ll proceed to offer me lots extra sooner or later,” Skupski wrote within the put up saying his retirement. “I wish 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.”
Regardless of calling time on his profession, Skupski stays a well-recognized 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 received alongside Neal, together with his sole ATP 500 trophy in Acapulco in 2021. Learn Extra.
Sam Querrey (Profession Excessive: 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 in style determine throughout his 16-year profession on Tour. That didn’t cease the American changing into a critical presence on courtroom, nonetheless. His large 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 capability to go toe-to-toe with the perfect on the earth, and on the most important phases. The Californian earned 23 victories in opposition to Prime 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 instructed ATPTour.com throughout his closing 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.” Learn Tribute.
Bruno Soares (Profession Excessive: No. 2 doubles)
After calling time on his time as an expert participant on the US Open, Soares can replicate on some of the illustrious careers within the latest historical past of ATP Tour doubles.
Having received 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 blended doubles. A lot 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 instructed ATPTour.com after his closing match alongside Murray on the US Open. “The game is in my blood. It’s in my DNA… I’ve been attempting to offer again my complete profession, however now could be the actual time after I’m going to have just a little bit extra time to offer again. I’m by no means going to say goodbye to tennis.” Learn Tribute.
Roger Federer” />
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Roger Federer (Profession Excessive: No. 1 singles)
One of many biggest gamers the ATP Tour has ever seen and a real international sporting icon, Federer’s storied profession ended on an emotional evening in London at September’s Laver Cup. The Swiss took to the doubles courtroom for Workforce Europe alongside fellow ATP Tour legend Rafael Nadal, a becoming finish to a profession during which he produced a few of the most scintillating tennis the game has ever seen.
Amongst 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 in style wherever he went, the Swiss was voted Followers’ Favorite within the annual ATP Awards for 19 consecutive years from 2003 to 2021.
“I need to thanks all from the underside of my coronary heart,” wrote Federer on the finish of his letter saying his retirement. “To everybody around the globe 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 go away you.” Learn Tributes.
Andreas Seppi (Profession Excessive: No. 18 singles)
Usually 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 Prime 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. But after bringing his skilled taking part in profession to a detailed in October, the Italian was simply pleased to have spent 20 years doing a job that he beloved.
“I’d have signed instantly if someone would have instructed me, ‘You could possibly play till the age of 38’,” Seppi instructed 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. Maybe most notably, the Italian competed in a outstanding 66 consecutive Grand Slam essential attracts from Wimbledon in 2005 via this 12 months’s Australian Open, the third-longest streak in historical past. Learn Tribute.
Gilles Simon (Profession Excessive: 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 offer his 20-year profession one magical closing flourish.
Simon received 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. Regardless of his capability to nonetheless compete with the perfect and his undoubted continued love for the sport, the 37-year-old Frenchman was grateful to have the ability to select his residence ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Paris to carry his life on Tour to a detailed.
“I simply really feel so fortunate to have been a tennis participant,” Simon instructed ATPTour.com after the ultimate match of his profession within the French capital. “It is what I’ve all the time wished to be. I used to be an expert tennis participant for a very long time, and that is why I used to be fortunate twice, and I may cease after I wished, and so I’ve been fortunate 3 times.” Learn Tribute.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga” />
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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Profession Excessive: No. 5 singles)
The previous World No. 5 Tsonga known as time on his 18-year profession at Roland Garros, bringing his joyful recreation to the followers in his residence nation one closing time. Paris was additionally the setting for his first ATP Masters 1000 title, which he received in 2008 on his technique to qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals for the primary time.
The 6-foot-2 Frenchman masterfully mixed energy and athleticism in his recreation, which — coupled along with his knack for leisure — earned him followers throughout the globe.
Whereas accidents impacted the later phases of his profession, Tsonga spent greater than a decade contained in the Prime 20 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in his prime. He’s considered one of three gamers to defeat Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic whereas they had been World No. 1, and can be considered one of three to defeat the legendary trio on the majors. Learn Tribute.
Kevin Anderson (Profession Excessive: 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 delivery, in 2011.
Regardless of battling accidents all through his profession, Anderson made his largest splash in his later years on the ATP Tour, reaching the US Open closing in 2017 and the Wimbledon closing in 2018. By ending at No. 6 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 2018, Anderson (then 32) grew to become the second-oldest participant to complete within the year-end Prime 10 for the primary time since 1973.
Anderson additionally left his mark off the courtroom, profitable the 2018 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award and spending years on the ATP Participant Council, most not too long ago as its president. Learn Tribute.
Tommy Robredo” />
High quality Sport Pictures/Barcelona Open Banc Sabadelle
Tommy Robredo (Profession Excessive: No. 5 singles)
One of many longest careers in ATP Tour historical past got here to a detailed 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 recreation’s high degree and received 12 ATP Tour titles earlier than retiring weeks shy of his fortieth birthday. Certainly 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 received three Davis Cups in his nation’s colors. Learn Tribute.
Frederik Nielsen (Profession Excessive: No. 17 doubles)
Denmark’s Nielsen, who received the 2012 Wimbledon doubles title alongside Jonathan Marray, closed the ebook 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 likewise counts his qualification for the 2012 Australian Open singles essential 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 staff along with his work as a nationwide coach on the Danish Tennis Federation. Learn Tribute.
Rogerio Dutra Silva (Profession Excessive: 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 received his lone tour-level title on residence soil, profitable 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. Learn Tribute.
Juan Martin del Potro (Profession Excessive: No. 3 singles)
Del Potro gave his many followers around the globe — and notably these in his residence nation of Argentina — one closing 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 damage 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 closing — 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 Rating of World No. 3. Del Potro additionally progressed to a second US Open closing that 12 months, in what turned out to be his penultimate Grand Slam look.
Along with 4 Nitto ATP Finals showings, together with a run to the title match in 2009, del Potro can be a two-time Olympic medalist, profitable singles bronze in 2012 (London) and silver in 2016 (Rio de Janeiro). Learn Tribute.
Sergiy Stakhovsky (Profession Excessive: 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 Prime 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. Learn Extra.
David Marrero (Profession Excessive: 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 (Profession Excessive: No. 29 singles)
Isreael’s Sela completed contained in the Prime 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 received 23 ATP Challenger Tour titles. By reaching the fourth spherical at Wimbledon in 2009, he grew to become the primary Israeli to achieve that stage at a serious since Amos Mansdorf on the 1992 Australian Open.
Jonathan Erlich (Profession Excessive: No. 5 doubles)
Erlich claimed 22 tour-level doubles titles in an extended 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 received 4 titles collectively in 2006 and one other two in 2008, on the Australian Open and Indian Wells. Ehrlic additionally received the 2010 Queen’s Membership title with Novak Djokovic.
Marc Lopez (Profession Excessive: No. 3 doubles)
Lopez stated adios to the Tour in Madrid after teaming up with fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. He closed his profession as some of the embellished doubles gamers in trendy 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 Video games in Rio de Janeiro (with Rafael Nadal, whom he now coaches). Learn Tribute.
Additionally Retiring In 2022: Blaz Kavcic, Dominic Inglot, Go Soeda (Learn Tribute), Nicholas Monroe, Ruben Bemelmans, Stephane Robert, Tobias Kamke, Yannick Maden
Learn extra from our Better of 2022 collection.