'Pavarotti singing Bob Dylan songs' - Mats Wilander lauds retiring tennis legend Roger Federer

Eurosport expert Mats Wilander has hailed tennis legend Roger Federer, saying watching the Swiss superstar was as if Pavarotti sung Bob Dylan songs. Federer 41, announced his retirement from tennis on Tuesday, with the upcoming Laver Cup to be the last professional event of his career. Ad For Wilander, himself a seven-time Grand Slam winner and a former number one, Federer changed the way tennis was perceived and in particular his athleticism forced the entire sport to evolve.

Tennis'My greatest victory' — Federer's career-defining moments2 HOURS AGO “My feeling about Roger not playing again or not being able to see him live again, in proper competitive matches, is very sad,” said Wilander in a chat for Eurosport about Federer’s announcement. “I was hoping that he might have another three or four events in him. But at the same time, I think when we see the level that the game has gone to in the last couple of years, maybe he realises and we should realise that it's nearly impossible to get back to that level as 40, 41 year old.

“So I guess yes, and of course, sad. But at the same time, I think I want to celebrate the fact that Roger Federer took our game to the very top of all sports, of professional athleticism, because Roger Federer was not only the greatest tennis player at a time of all time, he also was elected one of the greatest athletes in the world for a year or two. “And that never happened with the likes of Bjorn Borg, or Pete Sampras, or Rod Laver.