Retirement Watch: One Down, Three To Go - But WHEN?

when

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G.O.A.T.
When will all members of The Big Three drop off and officially draw their era to a close?

To be clear...

Your poll vote should be the year in which the last player remaining finally retires. So if you think it's Nadal 2019, Federer 2026 and Djokovic 2027 the vote would be...


wait for it...













2027
 
Last edited:
TheMaestro1990

TheMaestro1990

Hall of Fame
Federer Basel 2020.
Nadal career ending injury like Murray. Can happen at any time. At latest I think he will retire in 2022.
Djokovic, somewhere between 2023-2025. AO or WTF.
 
BGod

BGod

G.O.A.T.
I said from the very beginning it's gonna be Novak.

For reference on past eras, Agassi retired in 06 well past everyone but he also started very early (16). Connors retired technically after 1995 surpassing Lendl who was his successor and of course McEnroe. It seems like one guy goes way past the others.

My guess for Fed is his contract for Basel ends this year but Tokyo Olympics are next year and he's got a Japanese sponsor. So you know it's not going to be this year but next at the earliest, barring something unforeseen. I do feel Roger wants all the record but I know he pretends to be above that. So I think he'll legitimately try for Connors' 109 and to do so seems to mean 3 more years. So I say he calls it quits at 40 in 2021.

Then we're off to Nadal and Djokovic. I have legitimately called for Nadal to retire twice now in 2012 and 2016 so I can't win with this guy. I remain convinced had he not won any Slams in 2017 he would indeed be retired as of this writing. So I don't see him winning any this year but do see him coming back and getting the French in 2020. So to be safe I think 2022 but he's not retiring 1 back of Roger unless he can't move so I don't know but still saying 2022.

I think Novak plays till 2025. He'll be 38 then and have outlasted all his peers by a healthy margin.
 
underground

underground

G.O.A.T.
Nadal would soon retreat to clay and grass only in the next few years (he kind of has already in 2018). Fed to retire soon but not imminent. Novak’s last.
 
Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
Nadal's fitness is always uncertain, Federer is ageing but still surprisingly fit. Djokovic is the only one who is as fit as he has ever been and now has the supreme opportunity to sweep the field and catch up on the other 2's Slam totals. Only some enterprising NextGenner can stop him but has any of them got what it takes? The jury is still out.
 
BGod

BGod

G.O.A.T.
Mainad said:
Nadal's fitness is always uncertain, Federer is ageing but still surprisingly fit. Djokovic is the only one who is as fit as he has ever been and now has the supreme opportunity to sweep the field and catch up on the other 2's Slam totals. Only some enterprising NextGenner can stop him but has any of them got what it takes? The jury is still out.
Click to expand...

You know what? I was on the fence but just put $10 on Novak to get the Calendar at 23-1. I know, those are better odds than Wawrinka to win the AO.
 
Towny

Towny

Hall of Fame
Djokovic will almost certainly be the last man standing. I doubt Fed is staying later then 2020. Wouldn't surprise me if Nadal goes at a similar time or maybe a bit later. Very difficult to predict when Djokovic will actually go. Probably 2021-2023. I'll say 2022 if I have to pick a year. He'll be 35 then and I doubt he'll play more than 4 more years from now
 
BGod

BGod

G.O.A.T.
Wawrinka at 2 years older coming back from double knee surgery. When is his expiry date? I'm starting to think he can make at least 3 more years. Probably got the same doc as Fed.
 
BGod

BGod

G.O.A.T.
TheAssassin said:
Voted 2023 - Djokovic. Finding it harder to predict the venue.
Click to expand...

My guess would be WTF. He has a lot of success in Paris and WTF so he'll just end it there. Obviously having a nice break and playing one last time in Australia is a legitimate option but it's not like his home country and he's won plenty elsewhere so just doing the year-long tour and ending it that way seems promising. Plus to end it at WTF means he's still competitive, which is probably how he'd want to go out and playing Best of 3 matches gives him a better shot to end on top like Sampras.
 
TheAssassin

TheAssassin

Legend
BGod said:
My guess would be WTF. He has a lot of success in Paris and WTF so he'll just end it there. Obviously having a nice break and playing one last time in Australia is a legitimate option but it's not like his home country and he's won plenty elsewhere so just doing the year-long tour and ending it that way seems promising. Plus to end it at WTF means he's still competitive, which is probably how he'd want to go out and playing Best of 3 matches gives him a better shot to end on top like Sampras.
Click to expand...
Would be quite something just participating at WTF at 36 years of age. Not expecting him or anyone to match Sampras' ending style in a long time though.
 
BGod

BGod

G.O.A.T.
TheAssassin said:
Would be quite something just participating at WTF at 36 years of age. Not expecting him or anyone to match Sampras' ending style in a long time though.
Click to expand...

Sampras could have kept playing. He really could have but he thought his 14 Slam mark was safer than safe and had serious issues losing badly at Slams so he saw his opportunity and took it. Roger could have easily done the same after 2012 Wimbledon and 2017 Wimbledon but he chooses not to. Hard to say which type Novak is. If he goes up on Roger he just might call it a career because he'll too see the opportunity and feel WAY more confident that his record is safe.
 
TripleATeam

TripleATeam

G.O.A.T.
2025 for Djokovic. Either at the AO or at the end of the season. Plays freely for a few years after his rivals fade away.

My guesses:
Federer 2020 Basel/End of Season
Nadal 2022 RG
Djokovic 2025 AO
 
upchuck

upchuck

Hall of Fame
Federer may retire this year, but certainly won't play beyond 2020.
Then Nadal will go.
I could see Djokovic having a surprise retirement but I suspect he'll stick around longer than the other two.
 
D

Deleted member 688153

Guest
If Fed keeps getting results he won't retire, unless he gets seriously injured. 2-3 years, on that basis.
Nadal is looking more and more like succumbing to his injuries. Once the clay results go down it's over. 2-3 years.
Djokovic may well retire after his next major slump, if not when the results just dry up. 3-4 years.
 
BGod

BGod

G.O.A.T.
upchuck said:
Federer may retire this year, but certainly won't play beyond 2020.
Click to expand...

All you need to do is look up old threads from around 2010-2012 asking about Federer and literally nobody was seriously considering him playing past 2016 as that was the marker because of the Olympics. Then when he had the bounce back in 2014-2015 some started thinking he might pull a Connors and play to 40.

So at this point where he's won 3 Slams in 2 years, nothing is a certainty and if he's playing, albeit sparingly in 2023 I won't be shocked.
 
upchuck

upchuck

Hall of Fame
BGod said:
All you need to do is look up old threads from around 2010-2012 asking about Federer and literally nobody was seriously considering him playing past 2016 as that was the marker because of the Olympics. Then when he had the bounce back in 2014-2015 some started thinking he might pull a Connors and play to 40.

So at this point where he's won 3 Slams in 2 years, nothing is a certainty and if he's playing, albeit sparingly in 2023 I won't be shocked.
Click to expand...
It was just several weeks ago he couldn't say he would be playing next year. He said he will talk with his family about playing another year. That language was new for him and suggested the end is near.
 
BGod

BGod

G.O.A.T.
upchuck said:
It was just several weeks ago he couldn't say he would be playing next year. He said he will talk with his family about playing another year. That language was new for him and suggested the end is near.
Click to expand...

And did this happen before or after he talked about playing Barcelona??? :-D
 
maratha_warrior

maratha_warrior

Hall of Fame
Djokovic wont play long after Fedal retirement .. In my opinion ,he enjoys the competition more than he enjoys playing tennis ..
Once Fedal are gone , Djoker will find it difficult to motivate himself ..
I just hope Fedal plays at least 2-3 more years ...
 
oldmanfan

oldmanfan

Legend
upchuck said:
It was just several weeks ago he couldn't say he would be playing next year. He said he will talk with his family about playing another year. That language was new for him and suggested the end is near.
Click to expand...

The bolded means you've been a bit behind in regards to this news. Federer has been in this 'one year plan' mode since his comeback in 2017. He clarified and confirmed this and said that there is no new information than before.

He clarified that here, at 4:29s:

@BGod
 
titoelcolombiano

titoelcolombiano

Legend
Fed will be next in 2020 (Basel) closely followed by Rafa in 2021 either after the USO or maybe some random place due to injury like Muzz :confused: and Djoker in 2022 or 2023
 
Deon Sanders

Deon Sanders

Legend
Roger doesnt have really have a timeline because there is no need right now

When he stops being able to make the QFs of majors or go to the weekend in 1000s it may be time to talk about it because at that point what is there left to do

Going to put in a full year this year at the worst
 
T

Tennis_Hands

Banned
The thing with Federer is that, unless he gets seriously injured, he is just too capable to not continue getting deep in the Majors at least.

He obviously likes the life on tour, so I guess the expectation is that either loss of ability to maintain high level during the long periods between the Majors, or pressure from Mirka/family obligations, might be the decisive element for when that will happen.

Otherwise I can see him playing doubles/mixed doubles a la Hingis just to hang around in a more meaningful way, but only for the fun factor, and not as an extension of his singles career.

:cool:
 
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D

dgold44

G.O.A.T.
Federer after 2020 Olympics
Nadal maybe 2 yrs

Djoker I don’t know ????
Djoker could still win slams for another 5 yrs , it’s about desire
 
joekapa

joekapa

Legend
dgold44 said:
Federer after 2020 Olympics
Nadal maybe 2 yrs

Djoker I don’t know ????
Djoker could still win slams for another 5 yrs , it’s about desire
Click to expand...
The chickens will come home to roost for Djoker, sooner than later.
People talk about Federer's longevity, but don't realise that Nadal and Djoker had a harder time winning their slams, than Federer did at the start of his career. This will take a bigger toll on their bodies, than it did on Federer.
 
D

dgold44

G.O.A.T.
joekapa said:
The chickens will come home to roost for Djoker, sooner than later.
People talk about Federer's longevity, but don't realise that Nadal and Djoker had a harder time winning their slams, than Federer did at the start of his career. This will take a bigger toll on their bodies, than it did on Federer.
Click to expand...

Djoker is about desire and he could easily win 6 slams in just 2 yrs to tie fed
 
D

dgold44

G.O.A.T.
Nadal with the non stop injuries will never win a slam on non clay again unless he gets a super easy draw like Fed did last yr
 
Indigo

Indigo

Professional
Djokovic said his only goal now is to surpass Federer in number of GSs. Seems he is determined and has a plan and man with a plan is the most dangerous. So Novak to retire the last and with the most GS titles.
 
The Fedfather

The Fedfather

Legend
It's difficult to predict something like this accurately in such a physical sport like tennis. There's always a possibility of injuries that can mess with a player's results if not outright end it, and at a more advanced age that could be a big push for the player to retire.

The very positive thing though is that Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic all look happy and motivated. We probably got a few more years with the Big 3. I hope so much they will be able to go out on their terms.
 
chjtennis

chjtennis

G.O.A.T.
I predicted Murray would be the first one to retire of the big 4, judging by the nature of his injury. This just makes it even clearer that we should appreciate that Fed, Nad and Djok are still around. I think Nadal could be the next one, followed by Fed and Djok, but they probably will all retire around the same time.
 
Yugram

Yugram

Legend
My guess will be:

Federer – late 2020

Nadal – somewhere in 2024, maybe after Olympics

Djokovic – late 2025

But you'll never know. Anything can happen. We should hope they'll stay in tennis as long as possible cause for many of us they became tennis.
 
Last edited:
Red Rick

Red Rick

Bionic Poster
Almost everything for Federer points to 2020 right now.

Nadal and Djokovic are hard to predict.

Nadal simply because he could well switch to an almost completely clay only schedule which still makes him a threat at RG, and Djokovic simply because he's physically held up very well so far.
 
oldmanfan

oldmanfan

Legend
Yugram said:
My guess will be:

Federer – late 2020

Nadal – somewhere in 2024, maybe after Olympics

Djokovic – late 2025

But you'll never know. Anything can happen. We should hope they'll stay in tennis as long as possible cause for many of us they became tennis.
Click to expand...

First, you're entitled to your opinion, so don't take this the wrong way. Still, I find your predictions a bid unrealistic.

Fed retiring in 2020 is your most plausible prediction, but I think he'll retire even later.

Nadal retiring in 2024... really? 2019 just started, so you do realize that 2024 will make Nadal retiring in 6yrs, when he's nearing 39yrs old? This is Nadal we're talking about, a guy whose playstyle had many people thinking that he won't last past 25-26yrs old. Sure, they were badly wrong, but you're suggesting Nadal retiring at ~39yrs old. Possible, but highly improbable. MuryGOAT just announced that he's retiring in a few months at most, and he's 1yr younger than Nadal and both play attritional tennis.

Djokovic retiring in 2025... this is more likely than Nadal retiring in 2024, but still, really? He'll ALSO be nearing ~39yrs old by 2025. His game is a bit more efficient that MuryGOAT, but Andy will be retiring in a few months, and Djokovic/Murray are of the same age. Again, possible but highly improbable that Djokovic will retire in 2025.

It's your opinion though. Carry on. ;)
 
Yugram

Yugram

Legend
oldmanfan said:
First, you're entitled to your opinion, so don't take this the wrong way. Still, I find your predictions a bid unrealistic.

Fed retiring in 2020 is your most plausible prediction, but I think he'll retire even later.

Nadal retiring in 2024... really? 2019 just started, so you do realize that 2024 will make Nadal retiring in 6yrs, when he's nearing 39yrs old? This is Nadal we're talking about, a guy whose playstyle had many people thinking that he won't last past 25-26yrs old. Sure, they were badly wrong, but you're suggesting Nadal retiring at ~39yrs old. Possible, but highly improbable. MuryGOAT just announced that he's retiring in a few months at most, and he's 1yr younger than Nadal while both play attritional tennis.

Djokovic retiring in 2025... this is more likely than Nadal retiring in 2024, but still, really? He'll ALSO be nearing ~39yrs old by 2025. His game is a bit more efficient that MuryGOAT, but Andy will be retiring in a few months, and Djokovic/Murray are of the same age. Again, possible but highly improbable that Djokovic will retire in 2025.

It's your opinion though. Carry on. ;)
Click to expand...
Well, not 39 yrs old. Nadal is 32.5 right now and Djokovic 31.5, so I believe they will retire about 37.5. Djoko said he want to play till he is 40, and Rafa... you just described it all "had many people thinking that he won't last past 25-26yrs old. Sure, they were badly wrong".

If Federer could last till 37.5, then Djokodal can too.
 
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G.O.A.T.
Yugram said:
Well, not 39 yrs old. Nadal is 32.5 right now and Djokovic 31.5, so I believe they will retire about 37.5. Djoko said he want to play till he is 40, and Rafa... you just described it all "had many people thinking that he won't last past 25-26yrs old. Sure, they were badly wrong".
If Federer could last till 37.5, then Djokodal can too.
Click to expand...


If they decline though and some of the next gen prove to be truly special, they can be forced out of the game (except for Nadal because he could be mutilated everywhere else and still have a shot at RG).
 
Zardoz7/12

Zardoz7/12

Hall of Fame
Djokovic will be the last one standing if he's body holds up. Remember those 3 are nowhere near their "primes" yet are better than 99% of the tour currently, it's either a testament at how great those three are or how bad the tour is, could be a mix of both.
 
Yugram

Yugram

Legend
-NN- said:
If they decline though and some of the next gen prove to be truly special, they can be forced out of the game (except for Nadal because he could be mutilated everywhere else and still have a shot at RG).
Click to expand...
Of course it can happen, but we were expecting same thing from LostGen when they were about the same age as Tsitsipas, Zverev and Coric are now. Not only they didn’t improve with years, but even rolled back.
 
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