"End of an era I guess" "Retirement match in Basel 2022" - Tennis fans react to Roger Federer dropping out of the ATP rankings after 25 years

Swiss tennis superstar Roger Federer is officially not a ranked player anymore. The last of his ranking points, which were from Wimbledon last year, have fallen off.

Federer has lost the 600 points he gained at SW19 in 2020, and will be an unranked player when he makes his comeback.

The Swiss maestro suffered a knee injury upon his return to action last year as he lost to Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets at Wimbledon. He has not played since, but has confirmed his return to competitive action later this year at the Laver Cup and the Swiss Indoors.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion, who turned pro in 1998, is unranked for the first time since 1997.

Tennis fans, as expected, have taken to Twitter to voice their displeasure and disappointment about the 20-time Grand Slam champion being an unranked player.

"End of an era I guess, tennis will miss one of the GOATs. Never know when the other 2 GOATs may leave sadly, will the end of tennis as I know it to be. Not gonna watch these nextgen bums compete with each other," one fan said.

During the Swiss' absence from the tour, his eternal rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have continued to amass Grand Slam titles. Nadal has moved two clear of Federer, while the Serb won his 21st at Wimbledon last week.

One fan lamented the fact that Federer was very close to a 21st Major title when he had two championship points against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon 2019.

"Enough already. And to think that he had match point on his racquet at Wimbledon a few years ago," the fan tweeted.

Another fan wrote about how Federer and Serena Williams are both unranked players at the moment.

"Federer is off the ATP rankings entirely, Serena is off the WTA singles rankings," the fan wrote.

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Roger Federer's impending return to action

Roger Federer in attendance at Wimbledon 2022.

Roger Federer's return to action is very much on the horizon. The Swiss maestro has announced his decision to play at the 2022 Swiss Indoors in October using a protected ranking.

The Basel event was last held in 2019, when Federer emerged victorious for the 10th time. Federer has also confirmed his participation at the Laver Cup in September.

The 40-year-old has been sporadically active on social media, teasing his recovery from a knee injury by posting Instagram videos. Roger Federer has also conducted interviews with news outlets, where he has suggested that he isn't ready to retire just yet and that a 2023 calendar is on the cards.