Best tournament to retire for the top 4?

tennis_pro · Oct 3, 2012

At first glance, one could think that the best venue to retire (at least for the top 4) is Wimbledon. Then realized that almost none of the all-time greats I can think of ended their careers at the biggest tournament in tennis.

Sampras, Agassi, Roddick (not an all-time but is fresh in memory) all retired at the US Open, Agassi and Roddick announced it before the tournament.

Safin, Edberg retired in Bercy which pretty much means that they retired at the end of the season (Safin had some success in the Paris Masters so more understandably so). Lendl, Mcenroe did as well (not sure about Mc). Connors slugged it out in minor tournament until 1996 when he was 44. Borg virtually retired after 1981 but kept on playing from time to time until 1983 and then came back in the early 90's.

Only Becker said goodbye at Wimbledon (if my memory serves me) which back in 1999.

Looking now at present times we got Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray. Where do you think they should hang up their racquets?

Hood_Man · Oct 3, 2012

I think Fed will do it at Basel. No sense in him doing it at Wimbledon when he has his own home tournament near the end of the season.

The Bawss · Oct 3, 2012

For Federer I think Basel is too much of a small tournament for a legend like him to retire at, so Wimbledon is probably the most fitting (also is special as: first slam, 5-slams ina row tie with Borg, 7-slam total tie with Sampras and it's where he broke the weeks at #1 record). Djokovic should retire at the Australian Open, but then again, who retires at the beginning of a season?
Nadal for sure should be the FO or Monaco as they are his pet tournaments.

tennis_pro · Oct 3, 2012

The Bawss said:
For Federer I think Basel is too much of a small tournament for a legend like him to retire at, so Wimbledon is probably the most fitting (also is special as: first slam, 5-slams ina row tie with Borg, 7-slam total tie with Sampras and it's where he broke the weeks at #1 record). Djokovic should retire at the Australian Open, but then again, who retires at the beginning of a season?
Nadal for sure should be the FO or Monaco as they are his pet tournaments.

There goes another idea for a thread. Should Federer announce that he's retiring before a particular tournament?

rodrigoamaral · Oct 3, 2012

I would have to say at the US Open.. NYC= Media central and the last GS of the year..

Prisoner of Birth · Oct 3, 2012

Federer - I really wish I could witness his retirement NOW (I want him to play for another 5 years, even if he loses every match, but I wish I could see his retirement ceremony, it'll be EPIC) and I'll be disappointed if it happens anywhere other than at Wimbledon (first Slam, 15th Slam to overtake Sampras, and possibly his last Slam as well).

Nadal - No question, has to be at the French Open. I'm just hoping he gets the chance to retire on his own terms.

Djokovic - No idea. I doubt he'd want to retire at the Australian Open, even considering his success there. But if he wins 2 more AOs and becomes the leading AO winner, it'd probably be most fitting he retires there.

Murray - Wimbledon, obviously. Only guy in the top 4 lucky enough to have a Slam in his own Country (of Citizenship). He may even have won a Wimbledon by that time. Either way, he's got that win over Federer which won him the Olympic Gold. Very fitting.

Prisoner of Birth · Oct 3, 2012

tennis_pro said:
There goes another idea for a thread. Should Federer announce that he's retiring before a particular tournament?

That's his choice, it'll be okay either way. But he must announce it before his last match (if he knows for sure which that is).

pound cat · Oct 3, 2012

Federer will retire in Dubai. Then he will have juat a 5 minute drive to his Dubai residence.

AnotherTennisProdigy · Oct 3, 2012

Federer- Wimbledon for poetic reasons, how can it not be this one? It all started on Centre Court so it would make sense to end it there. His upset of Pete that sparked the beginning, his first slam, his 15th slam, it only seems fit that he end there as well.

Nadal- I wouldn't pick the French Open to retire for him, even though its his "pet slam" the French seem to like Federer more than him (a little ironic). Maybe Madrid if they change it back to red clay, I'm sure the king of clay wouldn't want his last match on blue clay. Maybe Monte Carlo?

Djokovic- Australian or US open. His first and best slam is the Aussie and he's had special moments at the USO.

Murray- Wimbledon, where else? Best way to close the career of Great Britain's hero, chaser of the constantly mentioned Fred Perry of 1936.

vive le beau jeu ! · Oct 3, 2012

wimbledon 2012 would be perfect for the nadal.
time to focus on poker or golf...

smoledman · Oct 3, 2012

The World should build a special 1-million seat stadium in the clouds. There Roger Federer shall play his final tournament.

smoledman · Oct 3, 2012

pound cat said:
Federer will retire in Dubai. Then he will have juat a 5 minute drive to his Dubai residence.

Yes then Federer can drive his stable of sports cars(Mercedes, Aston Martin) to his hearts content on very straight freeways with no speed limits. Enjoy the VIP lifestyle 24/7, waited on by the Dubai slave class. How could it get any better?

Hood_Man · Oct 3, 2012

I understand the enormous significance of Wimbledon to Federer and his career, but considering it's in the middle of the season, don't you guys think he'd want to carry on just a few months more? Hang up his racquet in Basel in front of his home crowd, where almost every single person in the arena would be one of his countrymen and cheering for him alone?

He's enormously popular at Wimbledon, of course he is, but the crowd could never be as supportive as one made up of people from his home town.

His last Wimbledon will be a tearjerking moment for sure, but Britain is still a foreign country to him.

Prisoner of Birth · Oct 3, 2012

Hood_Man said:
I understand the enormous significance of Wimbledon to Federer and his career, but considering it's in the middle of the season, don't you guys think he'd want to carry on just a few months more? Hang up his racquet in Basel in front of his home crowd, where almost every single person in the arena would be one of his countrymen and cheering for him alone?

He's enormously popular at Wimbledon, of course he is, but the crowd could never be as supportive as one made up of people from his home town.

His last Wimbledon will be a tearjerking moment for sure, but Britain is still a foreign country to him.

Not disputing for one second that he'll have better support at Basel. But it just feels too small a place for such a grand occasion. It will get nowhere near the same attention or coverage as it would if it happened at Wimbledon. I'm sure Federer would like to play his last competitive match at home but the draw of playing at "the biggest stage in the World" will be too much to resist even for him. The Wimbledon Center Court is literally the home of Tennis. It'd be just as special for Federer to retire there as it would be for it to have housed Federer's final competitive match.

Zarfot Z · Oct 3, 2012

Prisoner of Birth said:
Not disputing for one second that he'll have better support at Basel. But it just feels too small a place for such a grand occasion. It will get nowhere near the same attention or coverage as it would if it happened at Wimbledon. I'm sure Federer would like to play his last competitive match at home but the draw of playing at "the biggest stage in the World" will be too much to resist even for him. The Wimbledon Center Court is literally the home of Tennis. It'd be just as special for Federer to retire there as it would be for it to have housed Federer's final competitive match.

Exactly the reason why Federer should retire at Basel. He gets to preserve his status as the most humble tennis player of all time.

jaggy · Oct 3, 2012

Cincy should be the climax for all the greats

Prisoner of Birth · Oct 3, 2012

Zarfot Z said:
Exactly the reason why Federer should retire at Basel. He gets to preserve his status as the most humble tennis player of all time.

Federer is many things but humble he's not.

Hood_Man · Oct 3, 2012

Prisoner of Birth said:
Not disputing for one second that he'll have better support at Basel. But it just feels too small a place for such a grand occasion. It will get nowhere near the same attention or coverage as it would if it happened at Wimbledon. I'm sure Federer would like to play his last competitive match at home but the draw of playing at "the biggest stage in the World" will be too much to resist even for him. The Wimbledon Center Court is literally the home of Tennis. It'd be just as special for Federer to retire there as it would be for it to have housed Federer's final competitive match.

He could do both. His last Wimbledon won't end with a handshake at the net, there'll be plenty of clapping and cheering from the crowd followed by an interview with Sue Barker. It'll be a huge occasion.

And then he gets to do the same thing in Basel

Zarfot Z · Oct 3, 2012

Prisoner of Birth said:
Federer is many things but humble he's not.

The media and general population seem to think so, and I have a feeling Fed likes it that way.

Prisoner of Birth · Oct 3, 2012

Zarfot Z said:
The media and general population seem to think so, and I have a feeling Fed likes it that way.

The media likes him and writes he's humble. The general population is ignorant in general. Federer sure likes it that way but that won't change a thing. Even the most humble player will want a big ceremony if they've had Federer's career.

Prisoner of Birth · Oct 3, 2012

Hood_Man said:
He could do both. His last Wimbledon won't end with a handshake at the net, there'll be plenty of clapping and cheering from the crowd followed by an interview with Sue Barker. It'll be a huge occasion.

And then he gets to do the same thing in Basel

But he won't get 2 ceremonies

Zarfot Z · Oct 3, 2012

Prisoner of Birth said:
The media likes him and writes he's humble. The general population is ignorant in general. Federer sure likes it that way but that won't change a thing. Even the most humble player will want a big ceremony if they've had Federer's career.

Retiring at Basel doesn't necessarily mean you can't have a big ceremony to go with it.

If anything, retiring at Basel will send even bigger shockwaves throughout the tennis universe, since everyone would be assuming that Federer would retire at Wimbledon, the scene of his greatest successes.

Prisoner of Birth · Oct 3, 2012

Zarfot Z said:
Retiring at Basel doesn't necessarily mean you can't have a big ceremony to go with it.

If anything, retiring at Basel will send even bigger shockwaves throughout the tennis universe, since everyone would be assuming that Federer would retire at Wimbledon, the scene of his greatest successes.

I'm not sure I understand that logic.

Basically my argument is that the greatest player of all time should retire at the greatest stage of them all. Especially if it's a choice, which it probably will be.

Mainad · Oct 3, 2012

tennis_pro said:
Only Becker said goodbye at Wimbledon (if my memory serves me) which back in 1999.

Steffi Graf also retired at Wimbledon after losing in the 1999 final to Lindsay Davenport.

tennis_pro said:
Looking now at present times we got Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray. Where do you think they should hang up their racquets?

Ideally, at the places where each has had most of their successes. For Federer this is clearly Wimbledon and for Nadal it is obviously Roland Garros or maybe Monte Carlo. However each of them might prefer to say their final farewells at their favourite home tournaments ie. Basel for Federer and Barcelona for Nadal.

For Djokovic and Murray it is a bit too early to say which will be their most successful tournaments but, going with the home tournament scenario, it would be Belgrade for Djokovic and Wimbledon or Queens for Murray.

smoledman · Oct 3, 2012

Very #humble.

smoledman · Oct 3, 2012

More humility.

Prisoner of Birth · Oct 3, 2012

But I wonder who plays Federer in his last match. Easiest way to have a place in Tennis history (whether they win or lose).

Zarfot Z · Oct 3, 2012

Prisoner of Birth said:
I'm not sure I understand that logic.

Basically my argument is that the greatest player of all time should retire at the greatest stage of them all. Especially if it's a choice, which it probably will be.

You're probably right, but for me, Federer's hometown seems the perfect place for him to end his career.

I guess it's a matter of opinion.

Prisoner of Birth · Oct 3, 2012

smoledman said:
Very #humble.

He's missing the "17".

AnotherTennisProdigy · Oct 3, 2012

Greatness vs. Humbleness

smoledman · Oct 3, 2012

#humble BULL

smoledman · Oct 3, 2012

782169-bernard-tomic-after-losing-to-roger-federer-at-the-australian-open.jpg

smoledman · Oct 3, 2012

WHAT ME RETIRE???????????

Evan77 · Oct 3, 2012

Basel is too small for Fed's enormous ego, and Fed is many things but saying that he is humble is just hilarious (watch his press conferences and read his interviews). The USO would be probably the most appropriate for him because of the atmosphere plus he is loved there.

Murray will probably retire at Wimbledon.
Rafa in Paris, it is his playground and it would make sense to retire on clay.

Djokovic might chose Rod Laver arena to retire because of his enormous success in Melbourne. New York would be cool too.

Now, I'm thinking, Murray, who is only one day older than Djokovic might want to retire at the same time as Djoko at the same tournament. That would be fun to watch.

smoledman · Oct 3, 2012

Evan77 said:
Basel is too small for Fed's enormous ego, and Fed is many things but saying that he is humble is just hilarious (watch his press conferences and read his interviews). The USO would be probably the most appropriate for him because of the atmosphere plus he is loved there.

Murray will probably retire at Wimbledon.
Rafa in Paris, it is his playground and it would make sense to retire on clay.

Djokovic might chose Rod Laver arena to retire because of his enormous success in Melbourne. New York would be cool too.

Now, I'm thinking, Murray, who is only one day older than Djokovic might want to retire at the same time as Djoko at the same tournament. That would be fun to watch.

Fed's ego is so big, you'd need an aircraft hangar to fit in.

veroniquem · Oct 3, 2012

Fed should do it at Wimbledon, Rafa at RG and Djoko at AO.

Hood_Man · Oct 3, 2012

smoledman said:
Fed's ego is so big, you'd need an aircraft hangar to fit in.

Fed's ego is so enormous that it took a small group of renegade space pilots, flying through narrow trenches on its surface, and firing proton torpedo's into its exhaust port, to deflate it.

kOaMaster · Oct 3, 2012

Federer should do it in Basel of course. That is where his tennis career started.

plus, it would take too much attention from anyone else at a tournament like wimbledon - where I actually prefer to watch tennis. in basel, the tennis is nice of course too, but half the tournament is about him participating.

dangalak · Oct 4, 2012

AnotherTennisProdigy said:
Federer- Wimbledon for poetic reasons, how can it not be this one?

Basel.

Also, Madrid was just as slippery as it has been in the past. Blue, red, nobody should care.

dangalak · Oct 4, 2012

Evan77 said:
Basel is too small for Fed's enormous ego, and Fed is many things but saying that he is humble is just hilarious (watch his press conferences and read his interviews).

Only meanspirited people, who can't live without hating on people more successful than them, would consider him arrogant.

But please, show us his "press conferences and interviews" that show how terrible a human being he is.

kOaMaster · Oct 4, 2012

I think novak could also consider a davis cup home match.

The Bawss · Oct 4, 2012

dangalak said:
Only meanspirited people, who can't live without hating on people more successful than them, would consider him arrogant.

But please, show us his "press conferences and interviews" that show how terrible a human being he is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGxawB9iPts

The Bawss · Oct 4, 2012

Evan77 said:
Basel is too small for Fed's enormous ego, and Fed is many things but saying that he is humble is just hilarious (watch his press conferences and read his interviews). The USO would be probably the most appropriate for him because of the atmosphere plus he is loved there.

Murray will probably retire at Wimbledon.
Rafa in Paris, it is his playground and it would make sense to retire on clay.

Djokovic might chose Rod Laver arena to retire because of his enormous success in Melbourne. New York would be cool too.

Now, I'm thinking, Murray, who is only one day older than Djokovic might want to retire at the same time as Djoko at the same tournament. That would be fun to watch.

Is this you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJAAKHY5r94

Dark Magician · Oct 4, 2012

When Fed retires i will be in the same condition i was in when i watched this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZNU9hoRfRc
Emotional!!

dangalak · Oct 4, 2012

The Bawss said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGxawB9iPts

Well it's true. It's not like he sold his sould to the devil. :lol:

Best tournament to retire for the top 4?

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