"I felt so blessed to have taken that photo, perhaps the most precious of mine, with him at the Beijing Games, which I will cherish for a lifetime."

After playing 1,526 matches over 24 years on the pro circuit, Federer has won 103 singles titles, including 20 majors (only behind Rafael Nadal's 22 and Novak Djokovic's 21), stayed as men's No 1 for a record 237 consecutive weeks and won an Olympic gold medal in doubles with compatriot Stan Wawrinka at Beijing 2008.

After sharing the limelight with Nadal and Djokovic as the sport's fabled 'Big Three' for over a decade, injuries blighted Federer's career over the last few years. He underwent two knee surgeries in 2020 and a third after he was defeated by Hubert Hurkacz in the 2021 Wimbledon quarterfinals－his last competitive match to date.

Acknowledging that his body had sent a clear message to stop, Federer posted a statement on Instagram on Thursday to confirm the decision that everyone knew would come but hoped never would.

"I thought I would still have the chance (to watch him play live). But time waits for no one. An era has come to an end," China's women's world No 37 Zheng Qinwen wrote on Weibo.

"Federer represents a marvelous generation. The way he played has made tennis a graceful and charming sport that totally beguiled me," said Zheng, who at 19 years old has become one of China's brightest stars after enjoying impressive runs at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open this year, her first season on the pro circuit.

"All those exciting moments that he created will forever hold a special place in the hearts of tennis fans around the world. Appreciate everything that he's done for the sport."