Will Age Or Ranking Retire Fed

chatt_town

Hall of Fame
I'm just wondering what will eventually tell Fed it's time to hang them up. Would he stop playing if his ranking fell to say 7 or 8th in the world? As he gets older he is probably going to play fewer tourneys and i would think his ranking would fall. I just wonder would hang around and try to win majors as say the number 8 or 9 guy or would he hang them up because it's an embarrassment to be outside the top 4....or do you all think if he has say 2 or 3 in the next couple of years where he gets put out before the quarters would make him retire.
 

Mick3391

Professional
I'm just wondering what will eventually tell Fed it's time to hang them up. Would he stop playing if his ranking fell to say 7 or 8th in the world? As he gets older he is probably going to play fewer tourneys and i would think his ranking would fall. I just wonder would hang around and try to win majors as say the number 8 or 9 guy or would he hang them up because it's an embarrassment to be outside the top 4....or do you all think if he has say 2 or 3 in the next couple of years where he gets put out before the quarters would make him retire.

Fed reminds me of the old boxers, always going on too long. Since you are asking for opinions, I think he'll keep playing long past his prime, he just loves it, I mean he cries when he wins, cries when he loses, that's passion.

Plus he's making a fortune with his sponsors, and he might have a few slams in him. Who knows, maybe he'll remake himself like Agassi and pull out 5 more GS's!
 

wangs78

Legend
He'll play through 2016.

I say this because I think he's going to keep playing as long as he can regularly make SF berths at the Slams. As long as he can maintain his top 4 ranking, that should not be a problem and with Nadal such a big question mark right now I think the odds of either Tsonga, Delpo or Berdych pushing him out of the top 4 are very slim. So he'll be making SFs through 2014, I think. Then let's say his level drops in 2015 (he'll be 33ish) and fails to make a SF berth. He'll then announce that 2016 will be his farewell year and he'll play one last time in the Olympics.
 
Last edited:

timnz

Legend
Really?

Fed reminds me of the old boxers, always going on too long. QUOTE]

Really? Wasn't he number 1 in the world recently as 2 to 3 months ago? Isn't he the reigning Wimbledon champion? Has his ranking fallen hugely...last I checked he was number 2.
 
J

JRAJ1988

Guest
Federer is a one-off there will never be another and I wouldn't consider myself and avid fan but when he retires there will be more tears shed by a lot of fans regardless of who you support.
 

Bloodshed

Professional
Once his love and passion is gone and knows he cannot beat the Djokovics, Murrays or Nadal despite playing his best tennis, that's the day he will call it quits.

2016 would be a good time but I wouldn't be surprised if he retires before that.
 

ark_28

Legend
I am not a Federer fan but I admire his tennis and have a lot of respect for what he has done for our sport!

We will miss him when he has gone so really should treasure every match he has left!
 

Mick3391

Professional
Fed reminds me of the old boxers, always going on too long. QUOTE]

Really? Wasn't he number 1 in the world recently as 2 to 3 months ago? Isn't he the reigning Wimbledon champion? Has his ranking fallen hugely...last I checked he was number 2.

You misunderstand, I'm Feds biggest fan. However I've noticed that he doesn't have as much gas in the tank anymore. He played FLAWLESS up until Tsonga, and he should have would have beat Murray or anyone if he was "On", meaning his serve and consistancy.

We have to be honest, he's lost a step. This doesn't mean he can't go on and win more slams!
 
Once his love and passion is gone and knows he cannot beat the Djokovics, Murrays or Nadal despite playing his best tennis, that's the day he will call it quits.

2016 would be a good time but I wouldn't be surprised if he retires before that.

well it's only three years away, not that far from now, not to mention he wants to play that Rio Olympics so Fed will still have fire...frankly I think the fire keeps burning till the end. Fed is tennis.
 

Bloodshed

Professional
well it's only three years away, not that far from now, not to mention he wants to play that Rio Olympics so Fed will still have fire...frankly I think the fire keeps burning till the end. Fed is tennis.

I know it's only 3 years away but alot can happen in that 3 year. I'm going my gut feeling and 2016 is the year he retires.

Just expect the unexpected if it unfortunately happens.
 

Homeboy Hotel

Hall of Fame
Frustration will retire Federer

Once he loses to all 3 players at all 4 slams in a repeated fashion, he will call it quits. Which will be around 2016.

That's already happened at AO
Murray has yet to (meet) beat him at RG.
Djokovic is yet to beat him at SW19
Murray/Nadal is yet to beat him at USO.
 

kishnabe

Talk Tennis Guru
Rather not a contemplate a depressing matter.....when he retires whether it be tomorrow or 6 year later it would suck.

Don't know when.....I hope after 2015.
 
I know it's only 3 years away but alot can happen in that 3 year. I'm going my gut feeling and 2016 is the year he retires.

Just expect the unexpected if it unfortunately happens.

oh yeah I think this is the consensus answer. 2016 being his last hurrah.
 
Frustration will retire Federer

Once he loses to all 3 players at all 4 slams in a repeated fashion, he will call it quits. Which will be around 2016.

That's already happened at AO
Murray has yet to (meet) beat him at RG.
Djokovic is yet to beat him at SW19
Murray/Nadal is yet to beat him at USO.

If Federer can gut it out till 2016, it won't be Djokovic, Murray and Nadal that he has to worry about. It will be Tomic or some other new guy that is the top player.
 

timnz

Legend
You misunderstand, I'm Feds biggest fan. However I've noticed that he doesn't have as much gas in the tank anymore. He played FLAWLESS up until Tsonga, and he should have would have beat Murray or anyone if he was "On", meaning his serve and consistancy.

We have to be honest, he's lost a step. This doesn't mean he can't go on and win more slams!

I think that Federer's main problem is tennis officialdom. As long as they continue in their plans to make the courts as slow as possible then he will struggle. They have largely succeeded - probably only a handful of tennis championships now are on Medium or faster surface.
 

Mick3391

Professional
I think that Federer's main problem is tennis officialdom. As long as they continue in their plans to make the courts as slow as possible then he will struggle. They have largely succeeded - probably only a handful of tennis championships now are on Medium or faster surface.

I know that, have thought of that also. But watch close if you don't already. Sometimes, for example at the Olympics against Murray, sometimes he comes out and has no serve, racks up unforced errors, it's very frustrating and sad, he's either on or not, when he's not he plays like a tired player, I've said that for along time, you can tell right away, his serve will be mediocre, hit the net, hit long, shank. In other words, he plays great, but not the Fed of '06. Go watch a video of him back then, he was insane, never missed anything, just a robot machine.

I mean we have to be honest or no one will take us serious, I agree if the courts were faster he'd still be kicking butt, but they are not faster, and he's slowed. If he can get through a easy draw, and play for example like he did against anyone but the last two at the AO, he'll win more GS's, he's still got it big time, more natural talent than anyone, but not when tired.
 

mariecon

Hall of Fame
I think he'll still be in the top 10 when he retires. Which is totally respectable. He's not stupid. He'll be able to tell if his ranking will fall drastically and will call it quits before that happens. But I agree he'll try to play till the Rio Olympics.
 

Mick3391

Professional
I think he'll still be in the top 10 when he retires. Which is totally respectable. He's not stupid. He'll be able to tell if his ranking will fall drastically and will call it quits before that happens. But I agree he'll try to play till the Rio Olympics.

No one has a clue if he can make it until any particular date. There's an old saying in sports, "He got old overnight", it happens. If he drops off and starts losing consistantly to journeyman, he may keep going, he has a ton of faith in himself, but no one can pick a date, he may say "don't have it anymore" tomorrow for all we know.
 
No one has a clue if he can make it until any particular date. There's an old saying in sports, "He got old overnight", it happens. If he drops off and starts losing consistantly to journeyman, he may keep going, he has a ton of faith in himself, but no one can pick a date, he may say "don't have it anymore" tomorrow for all we know.

I honestly think he'll atleast keep going until he believes he can't win Grand Slams anymore. Which, no matter what, won't be until 2014 Wimbledon atleast.
 

pjonesy

Professional
I honestly think he'll atleast keep going until he believes he can't win Grand Slams anymore. Which, no matter what, won't be until 2014 Wimbledon atleast.

Agree 100%. The only issue is whether or not Federer can recognize that he can't compete anymore. I imagine that if he had a season like Sampras did in 2002(Before US Open win), he might be too proud to finish the season. Which is really not a bad thing. I can't feel too sorry for a player with 17 Grand Slam Singles Titles.
 
Agree 100%. The only issue is whether or not Federer can recognize that he can't compete anymore. I imagine that if he had a season like Sampras did in 2002(Before US Open win), he might be too proud to finish the season. Which is really not a bad thing. I can't feel too sorry for a player with 17 Grand Slam Singles Titles.

I think he would. Sampras was making USO finals so if Federer had made a final in the previous year's USO, he'd try his luck in the next one, too.
 

NEW_BORN

Hall of Fame
If Fed makes it to the end of 2015, then surely he would stick around for the Olympics in Rio. I mean he's not gonna play another 3 years only to retire a months out from his last remaining goal.
If he's going to retire it will either be end of 2014 or end of 2016. I can't see him playing past that point.
 

Mick3391

Professional
I honestly think he'll atleast keep going until he believes he can't win Grand Slams anymore. Which, no matter what, won't be until 2014 Wimbledon atleast.

Hope you are right! Hope he goes on for 6 more years, my son has NO INTEREST in watching Tennis aside from Fed, no one, no matter how good they are. When Fed leaves, the air will be sucked out of Tennis.

But yea there will be another monster come out, there always is.
 
The other possibility is injury. Likely the back, but I wouldn't rule out something else, either.

If he had a severe injury issue, he might decide to play one final farewell tournament (probably the next Wimbledon available). I think he wants to go out in the right atmosphere, with people knowing he's going to retire when it's over.
 

BorisBeckerFan

Professional
I don't know what will retire him but in my eyes he's been retired for a long time. I would say since he's been retired since he shortened his take back on the forehand. The last several slams he's won have all been bonuses, icing, etc. What ever he wins in the future is just a punctuation mark on a very good story. This maybe the longest goodbye in sports history. Who knows when he'll hang them up and may do it with an additional slam to boot or 2 to boot. Nadal is still the favorite in my eyes at the French even if he not at full health but if he's off by too much then Fed has as good a chance as any and good a chance at the next 2 Wimbledons. A hard court slam may be a tough ask for him at this point but it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility. It's good for retirees to have a part time job even if they have no financial concerns.
 
The other possibility is injury. Likely the back, but I wouldn't rule out something else, either.

If he had a severe injury issue, he might decide to play one final farewell tournament (probably the next Wimbledon available). I think he wants to go out in the right atmosphere, with people knowing he's going to retire when it's over.

I'm pretty sure he's gonna retire at Wimbledon. If not, perhaps the WTF. I don't see it happening anywhere else, not even Basel.
 
I don't know what will retire him but in my eyes he's been retired for a long time. I would say since he's been retired since he shortened his take back on the forehand. The last several slams he's won have all been bonuses, icing, etc. What ever he wins in the future is just a punctuation mark on a very good story. This maybe the longest goodbye in sports history. Who knows when he'll hang them up and may do it with an additional slam to boot or 2 to boot. Nadal is still the favorite in my eyes at the French even if he not at full health but if he's off by too much then Fed has as good a chance as any and good a chance at the next 2 Wimbledons. A hard court slam may be a tough ask for him at this point but it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility. It's good for retirees to have a part time job even if they have no financial concerns.

i_dont_even_cat.jpg
 
I don't know what will retire him but in my eyes he's been retired for a long time. I would say since he's been retired since he shortened his take back on the forehand. The last several slams he's won have all been bonuses, icing, etc. What ever he wins in the future is just a punctuation mark on a very good story. This maybe the longest goodbye in sports history. Who knows when he'll hang them up and may do it with an additional slam to boot or 2 to boot. Nadal is still the favorite in my eyes at the French even if he not at full health but if he's off by too much then Fed has as good a chance as any and good a chance at the next 2 Wimbledons. A hard court slam may be a tough ask for him at this point but it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility. It's good for retirees to have a part time job even if they have no financial concerns.

A paragraph of Shakespearean proportions right here
 

Talker

Hall of Fame
If they do quicken up the courts Fed will have a better chance.

Though he can still last for hours, the endurance probably will have more of a detrimental effect than loss of skills.
 

ctoth666

Banned
I hope in some ways that Federer leaves the game sooner rather than later. After watching the sometimes appalling grinding style prevail as winning tennis I think it's too much bother, honestly. Federer is not going to go out in a semi or final and play the kind of grueling style he needs to in order to beat Djokovic or Murray, and he knows it. Of course, if he keeps himself in the mix, he's bound to get an opportunity once in a while, but the question is: is it worth it? And with Nadal returning, that would make three guys he's not going to beat most of the time.

Maybe he could play a "full" doubles schedule instead? Or maybe he could really prep himself for Wimbledon, like skip the French Open or something, and make that the focus of his entire year. I don't know.
 

Relinquis

Hall of Fame
the guy won a slam less than 12 months ago and is making semis, at the very least. as long as he's playing at this level we should be thankful that he is still on tour.
 

pjonesy

Professional
I think he would. Sampras was making USO finals so if Federer had made a final in the previous year's USO, he'd try his luck in the next one, too.

That is a fair point, but what if Sampras had NOT made the US Open final, the previous year? What if he didn't win it in 2002? My point is, the US Open win salvaged Sampras' season and capped his career perfectly. It was completely unexpected. Previous to that, Sampras' season was horrible by his standards. Just wondering if Federer would have too much pride to quit or would the reality of his demise as a competitive player lead him to bow out gracefully on a losing note? Or would that not even be a consideration?
 
Last edited:

Jaitock1991

Hall of Fame
Hmmm.. Considering how rediculously pathetic the coming generation is, AND how physical Rafa's and Murkovic's games are, I would really advice him to keep playing for quite a while yet.

Seriously. It's no impossibilty that the mentioned players' bodies will break down sooner than Roger's will, despite the fact that Roger is 5 years older. And if that happens, Fed could easilly turn back to being the superior #1 again, aged 36-37 for quite a few more years, and end up in the high 20s, slam counting wise. Maybe I'm just dreaming. Haha....
 

Le Master

Professional
Seriously. It's no impossibilty that the mentioned players' bodies will break down sooner than Roger's will, despite the fact that Roger is 5 years older. And if that happens, Fed could easilly turn back to being the superior #1 again, aged 36-37 for quite a few more years, and end up in the high 20s, slam counting wise. Maybe I'm just dreaming. Haha....
Well, you do have a point. That age difference can be negligible when it comes to those of different physical lifestyles. Someone healthy like Roger, who is very easy on his joints and in great cardiovascular shape, is likely in a better position than guys 5+ years his junior who lead much more demanding physical lifestyles. Businessmen who work in offices often look younger and move much better than hard laboring construction workers ten years younger. (My uncle is in the latter group and looks like he can be the father of many men his age.) I don't doubt for a second that if many younger players put their heads on Roger's body, they'd feel more spry and youthful.
 

mental midget

Hall of Fame
i don't think the #2 player in the world and current wimbledon champion is in a huge rush to retire. barring injury, he'll probably hang around until the kids go to school and being on tour means being away from the family too often on a consistent basis. which means, what, like 2 or 3 more years? maybe he'll switch to an abbreviated schedule, isn't there some exemption after a certain age with regards to the mandatory # of tournaments a player is obligated to play?
 
Top