After almost two decade at the top of tennis Roger Federer is set to hang up his racket after next weekend's Laver Cup.
The 41-year-old won the first of his 20 Grand Slam tournaments at Wimbledon in 2003. However, he is saying goodbye at the London event after a difficult few years battling injury.The Swiss star has been out of action since 2021 and has gone through triple knee surgery during his time off.
He wrote an emotional statement to fans last week announcing his retirement and tributes poured in for one of the very best athletes of all time. However, there are a host of other sporting greats who are also reaching the end of their careers and could follow him into retirement soon.
Tom Brady
Considered one of the greatest athletes to ever grace the NFL, at the age of 45 Tom Brady could have just started his final season in the game.
The quarterback, who is a seven-time Super Bowl champion, announced his retirement in February before making a shocking U-turn on his decision just 48 days later. According to the NFL Network, the 2022 season will be Brady’s last.
Brady who holds a host of NFL records hopes to have one last shot at the Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season, but has not ruled out continuing his career further.
“We're all not sure whether we're going to be here next year or not, that's the reality for every player, every coach, every parent," Brady said.
"You just never know. We should all take advantage of the opportunity that we have.”
Tiger Woods
An horrific car crash last year had many wondering if they had seen Tiger Woods on a golf course for the final time.
The 15-time major winner has been an icon in golf since winning the Masters in 1997. Back problems have plagued the latter years of Woods’ career while the February 2021 car crash, in which he almost lost a leg, left him wondering whether he would ever play at the highest level again.
He also said an emotional farewell to St Andrews this year with The Open not returning to the iconic course for at least another five years. Despite visibly suffering from a leg injury Woods has not called time on his career yet.
The 46-year-old said after The Open championship: "‘(We’re) just lucky enough, in our sport, to be able to play as long as we are able to play late into the 40s and especially on links golf courses like this, you can continue into your 50s."
Lewis Hamilton
Seven-time world F1 champion Lewis Hamilton says that he 'often' thinks about when he will retire from the sport, but is determined to achieve as much as he possibly can before that day arrives.
The 37-year-old won four consecutive drivers' championships before being controversially beaten last year by Max Verstappen on the final lap of the season. This season his Mercedes has not carried the same pace as Red Bull and Ferrari and he has been battling for podium positions instead of victories.
Hamilton's seven world championship titles currently matches Michael Schumacher's record, and many had tipped him to one day overtake that tally. The British driver has also accumulated 103 F1 race wins during his career and has a contract to drive for Mercedes until the end of the 2023 season.
Speaking last year Hamilton said: “That thought (retirement) often happens to me. It's like a wave. It comes and goes, there have been many occasions in the last four or five years when I didn't know if I still wanted to try, sacrifice myself with training at the expense of personal life.
Rafael Nadal
After winning two Grand Slam titles this year alone Rafael Nadal is still at the top of his game and looking to compete for more tournament success.
The 36-year-old Spaniard has won an all-time record 22 Grand Slam men's singles titles including this year's French and Australian Open titles. The pressure remains on Nadal with Novak Djokovic just one Grand Slam behind his record.
However, Nadal has hinted at having more important things in life away from the court with his wife Mery Perello pregnant. After his US Open exit earlier this month Nadal said he was taking a break from the game.
He said: "I have much more important things to attend to than tennis. It's been a few months a little difficult in every way, this is the reality. And from there, start again professionally speaking and, on a personal level, finish with something that is important in my life, which is having my first son and trust that everything will turn out well."
Jimmy Anderson
England test match star Jimmy Anderson will go down as one of the most iconic seam bowlers cricket has ever seen. Third on the all-time list of wicket-takers Anderson has taken 667 dismissals for England since his international debut in 2003.
The 40-year-old remains a key weapon for England despite being dropped earlier this year before being re-introduced by captain Ben Stokes. After being dropped after last winter's Ashes defeat Anderson considered his future in the game.
Fortunately for England he vowed to continue and starred in England's win over South Africa earlier this month.
"I'm pretty confident that I'm doing ok," said Anderson.
"I think the longer time went on the more I just wanted to play. I talked it through with my family and they saw it as I did. I've still got more to give the game whether it is Lancs or England. I've still got the ability to take wickets and I want to still do that."
Lebron James
Los Angeles Lakers icon Lebron James has already had a stellar career which has seen him win four NBA Championships titles and two Olympic Games gold medals.
He has also been named the NBA most valuable player on four occasions. James, aged 37, is in his 19th NBA season but shows no signs of slowing down or retirement.
While the sport has already given him plenty he hopes that the 'basketball gods' can grant him one final wish to play alongside his sons in the NBA.
His son Bronny James, age 17, currently plays as a point/shooting guard for Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, Bryce James is only 15, but has already shown talent as a budding basketball player and James dreams of prolonging his career to play in the NBA with both boys.
