Roger Federer, Serena Williams departures bring sport into twilight of golden era
Roger Federer joined Serena Williams in bringing down the curtain on an illustrious career, tennis moved ever closer to the end of a golden era. Williams' emotional goodbye at the US Open earlier this month was followed by Federer's announcement on Thursday that next week's Laver Cup in London would be his last professional outing.
Both players had taken their sport to new levels and been proclaimed the best to ever wield a racket, with 43 Grand Slam singles titles between them.
1/11Roger Federer's ten landmark matchesShow Captions<p>Ten landmark matches from the 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer's career.</p><p>A 19-year-old Federer announced himself to the world by ending Pete Sampras's 31-match winning streak at Wimbledon in the fourth round.<br /></p><p>Federer defeated towering Australian Mark Philippoussis to win his first Grand Slam title, becoming the first Swiss men's singles champion at the tournament.<br /></p><p>Federer thrashed Australian Lleyton Hewitt 6-0, 7-6(3), 6-0 in the final for his first US Open title.<br /></p><p>Rafael Nadal ended Federer's bid for a sixth straight Wimbledon title with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7 victory in a final that lasted nearly five hours.<br /></p><p>Nadal denied Federer a record-equalling 14th Grand Slam singles crown at the Australian Open with a 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-2 victory in a pulsating final.<br /></p><p>Federer lifted the trophy at Roland Garros for the first time after defeating Robin Soderling 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-4 and completed the career Grand Slam.<br /></p><p>Federer was denied a record eighth Wimbledon title when Djokovic defeated him 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4 in a gripping final at the All England Club.<br /></p><p>Federer clinched his first.
