Prediction: the big 3 will continue to play tennis until injury forces them to retire

[Jokervich]

This is my prediction. None of them will voluntarily retire in the way past players did, by setting a particular tournament for when they retire eg. Sampras, Roddick, Hewitt. They will all continue to play as long as they possibly can until injury prevents them playing any further. You can also include Murray in that too I guess.

Right now it looks like Federer is on his last legs but he is determined to go through with yet more knee surgeries, after recently going through a double knee surgery to prolong his career. Nadal never gives up so I don't see him retiring until his knees/foot completely give way and force him into retirement. Djokovic will be the same although he is currently injury free, although you never know when those elbows will cause him problems like they did a few years ago.

What do you think? Do you think this will happen or they will retire normally like other players do?

 

[MichaelNadal]

Nah, Nadal will definitely be ready to chill as soon as the passion is gone.

 

[Deleted member 771911]

Hardy much of a prediction considering one just hit 40 and the other two are in mid 30s.

 

[Jokervich]

Nah, Nadal will definitely be ready to chill as soon as the passion is gone.

The passion will always be there. Nadal has never suffered from motivational issues at all in his career. Heck he was putting his all into winning a 1st round match in Washington, a rather meaningless ATP 500 event, when he was injured!

Hardy much of a prediction considering one just hit 40 and the other two are in mid 30s.

Well it means none of them will retire in a normal way. It will be like Murray, where each one of them desperately tries to play through injury into their 40's and even 50's until they physically can't anymore.

 

[Deleted member 771911]

The passion will always be there. Nadal has never suffered from motivational issues at all in his career. Heck he was putting his all into winning a 1st round match in Washington, a rather meaningless ATP 500 event, when he was injured!

Well it means none of them will retire in a normal way. It will be like Murray, where each one of them desperately tries to play through injury into their 40's and even 50's until they physically can't anymore.

It would be bolder if you had say predicted it ten years ago. Lol.

 

[10S-Junkie]

If Djokovic stays injury free he will keep playing till he beats Margaret Courts' GS record or till his son is on the ATP tour...whichever happens first

 

[Mark-Touch]

Don't think so.
The BIG 3 got there not simply on their tennis skills.
Each have the requisite head skills that are required to be GOAT.

Those same head skills will tell them when it simply isn't worth it anymore.
None of the BIG 3 would be willing to sacrifice their legs or other body parts
and become a cripple for the rest of their lives just be in the record books
for x number of months/years.

 

[Mark-Touch]

Federer is in a particularly rough spot right now.
If his injuries are genuine (which they likely are) he can't afford to
be missing this much time away from the tour at his age.

If he somehow were able to return to play, he would be up against his age/body constraints,
plus match rustiness plus psychological issues that would surface.

If his injuries are not there or are not an issue, he still can't afford to be away from match
play at his age for an extended period of time.
It would be a mountain that even he would not be able to scale.

So needless to say, things are not looking good for Roger at all now in terms of returning to play.

 

[DjokoLand]

Fed is already gone if his injuries are too be believed. Nadal is obviously struggling at the moment.
Even Djokovic is a half part time player. He could win CYGS and not finish YE#1 shows how much he cares or plays Masters etc.
If they are fit and feel they can win slams they will play.