Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer is to retire after next week's Laver Cup after admitting on Thursday his battles with a knee problem had forced him to call time on his historic career.

"The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event," he said in a statement posted on his Twitter account.

The 41-year-old winner of 20 Grand Slam titles has been out of action since a quarter-final loss at Wimbledon in 2021, after which he underwent his third knee surgery in 18 months.

His fellow tennis legend Serena Williams is all but certain not to play again after bowing out of the US Open in the third round this month.

Federer said that his body had effectively told him it was time to bring the curtain down.

"I've worked hard to return to full competitive form," he wrote.

"But I also know my body's capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear.

"I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1500 matches over 24 years.

"Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career."

Roger Federer fact file

Factfile on Roger Federer who announced on Thursday he will retire after next week's Laver Cup:

Name: Roger Federer

Date of birth: Aug 8, 1981

Place of birth: Basel, Switzerland

Turned pro: 1998

Family: Wife, Mirka Vavrinec (married April 11, 2009); father to two sets of twins: Myla and Charlene (born July 23, 2009) and Leo and Lenny (born May 6, 2014).

Career

Titles: 103

Grand Slam singles titles: 20 (Australian Open 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018; French Open 2009; Wimbledon 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017; US Open 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

ATP Tour Finals: 6 (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011)

Win/loss record: 1,251/275

Prize money: $130,594,339

Highest ranking: 1 (February 2004)

Year end world number one: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009

Weeks at world number one: 310

Other honours

Olympic Games: 2008 doubles gold medallist (with Stan Wawrinka)

Davis Cup: 2014 winner

Hopman Cup: 2001, 2018, 2019 winner