Federer trying to play professional tennis again is ridiculous, the more I think about it

Jokervich

Jokervich

Hall of Fame
I was thinking the other day about Federer trying to stay a professional tennis player. He will be 41 years old by the time he returns. He could legitimately be the dad of many of the younger guys, that's how old he is compared to them. He has 20 slams, 100+ titles, 300+ weeks at number 1, which you would think is sufficient for anyone by his age. All his peers (Hewitt, Safin, Roddick etc.) have retired.

It somewhat made sense for Murray to make a return because he is only Djokovic's age. But Federer? The guy is basically middle aged at this point. In sporting terms, he is ancient. Any normal person would accept their time is up and retire.

All these reasons are why I think it's ridiculous that he is still trying to play on the main ATP tour again. If he wins a slam again or reaches top 5 in the rankings in his 40's, I will seriously question human biology lol.

What do you think?
 
in his last video he knows its a longshot himself he mentioned trying to get in another GS final
which i think is doable if all the stars align.. i think he did well at FO and getting to qtrs of W until
obviously something happened to his knee.. alot of the newer players are so inexperienced he has that
on them.. if berretini were to play a healthy 40 y.o. federer at wimbledon i wouldnt be so quick to pick
berretini for that one..
 
Tom Brady is in his 40s. :cool:

After what happened this year I’d be surprised as hell if Federer doesn’t decide to retire next year... as much as I love to watch him play, he showed signs of age (injury notwithstanding) in ‘21 so I doubt he’ll reach top 5 again.

It would be awesome and I’d be happy if he does, though!!! I’d love to see him whip the particularly bratty youngsters’ asses.
 
Jokervich said:
I was thinking the other day about Federer trying to stay a professional tennis player. He will be 41 years old by the time he returns. He could legitimately be the dad of many of the younger guys, that's how old he is compared to them. He has 20 slams, 100+ titles, 300+ weeks at number 1, which you would think is sufficient for anyone by his age. All his peers (Hewitt, Safin, Roddick etc.) have retired.

It somewhat made sense for Murray to make a return because he is only Djokovic's age. But Federer? The guy is basically middle aged at this point. In sporting terms, he is ancient. Any normal person would accept their time is up and retire.

All these reasons are why I think it's ridiculous that he is still trying to play on the main ATP tour again. If he wins a slam again or reaches top 5 in the rankings in his 40's, I will seriously question human biology lol.

What do you think?
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I have to agree. In his matches this year at the FO and Wimby, his defensive movement was terrible. Credit to him that he has the incredible racquet skills to play somewhat respectable defense with an assortment of slices and chops when his legs could barely get him to the ball. Unless his physios and Pierre Pagannani are able to achieve the rehab/training miracle of the century, yes I think he is done. I think he will just come back in a couple of tournaments next year, hopefully win a couple of rounds and call it day. Probably at Basel.
 
It is ridiculous. I think he knows deep down it's probably over but he is having a hard time accepting he needs to retire.
 
Jokervich said:
I was thinking the other day about Federer trying to stay a professional tennis player. He will be 41 years old by the time he returns. He could legitimately be the dad of many of the younger guys, that's how old he is compared to them. He has 20 slams, 100+ titles, 300+ weeks at number 1, which you would think is sufficient for anyone by his age. All his peers (Hewitt, Safin, Roddick etc.) have retired.

It somewhat made sense for Murray to make a return because he is only Djokovic's age. But Federer? The guy is basically middle aged at this point. In sporting terms, he is ancient. Any normal person would accept their time is up and retire.

All these reasons are why I think it's ridiculous that he is still trying to play on the main ATP tour again. If he wins a slam again or reaches top 5 in the rankings in his 40's, I will seriously question human biology lol.

What do you think?
Click to expand...

If he wants to play and have some fun why not? His achievements won’t go anywhere
 
Jonesy said:
This reminds me something about Fed's parents.
Click to expand...
You're cheating readers. Those nasty Fed parents hang around a lot of questionable people, not just their mug son.

6760b7fa733e23cac3ea851aabc6cfb0.jpg
 
Kralingen said:
Would we be saying that anyone else who made a FO 4R and Wimbledon QF while halfway injured should be retiring?

I think he wants to give it one last shot and his results even at this age show that he at least has a chance.
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think the question is if he can ever actually get healthy and maintain it long enough to actually do anything. On standalone form, the best he showed at Wimby may have been enough to get him into the final honestly, just that he had little chance for sustaining it over the course of several matches.
 
Yeah, he's done. His next injury will definitely be his last.

I do think he'll come back to play a couple of final tournaments, though. Really hope for a last 8 run at Wimbledon or something, but he would need a very good draw to make it happen.
 
You know what I think is ridiculous the more I think about it? @Jokervich
Your analysis LMAOOO

Seriously if he wants to play let him do it, can you imagine how much hard work the guy is doing to hope playing at a high level again? Tennis is his life, his passion, isn't it beautiful to see someone this dedicated for what he loves? You think he spends his days on the couch eating chips and drinking beers ? (spoiler alert : he doesn't)
And I am not even a Fed fan, but to dare saying what he is doing is ridiculous is beyond me. Has respect really bid farewell for hard working passionate folks? Jesus
 
He made the god damn QF of Wimbledon THIS year and was playing pretty damn well at the French before retiring. He's a freak of nature, hell Murray is playing well above himself in some matches too, he almost knocked out Tsitsipas at the US open this year which was absolutely unreal to think of. I want them both to retire but Federer was not as ridiculous as Murray with his hip. After the latest surgery tho i really do question what the deal is, we're going to see him retire next year at Wimbledon for sure.
 
Federer is following Murray. You can now make great headlines losing as an old trooper. Just as Krygios makes great headlines losing like a clown. I don't hear the ATP complaining!
 
I have a suspicion that Federer's long term Tennis future will be decided on his form when he returns, he's a competitor, he loves winning if he gets the taste of winning again then he will carry on longer potentially into 2023. I moan on about age but Federer isn't your typical 40 year old tennis player is he?

He has the tools and weaponry at his disposal to beat really solid players, you know he beat Norrie with ease at Wimbledon? Norrie won a masters and was an alternate at this years World Tour Finals.

I'll hold that flame for as long as he's prepared to play professional tennis, is it wishful thinking? Time will tell.
 
There are people as old/older than Federer still playing tennis. His 4R/QF results this year are what makes what he's doing crazy. Connors did what he did at 39, the world went gaga, and it become the stuff of sporting legend. I know that was a specific guy in a specific place and a very different time, but if Federer gets close to matching something like that at this point it would be pretty otherworldly.
 
big ted said:
in his defense doesnt every athlete want to play longer than what is practical,
whatever that means? they all want that one last taste of glory...
cant blame them in believing in themselves, thats how they became champions
to begin with ....
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Exactly. The only exception is Sampras. Pistol Pete is quite unique in this regard. Even Jordan got the itch and came back for that forgettable run with the Wizards.
 
ghostofMecir said:
Have you walked around in any middle class suburb in Western/Northern Europe or the U.S./Canada? Or in any Asian country? All the kids are taller than everyone else around including their parents.
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Is it unusual not to be taller than your dad? Because I am not:mad:
 
ibbi said:
There are people as old/older than Federer still playing tennis. His 4R/QF results this year are what makes what he's doing crazy. Connors did what he did at 39, the world went gaga, and it become the stuff of sporting legend. I know that was a specific guy in a specific place and a very different time, but if Federer gets close to matching something like that at this point it would be pretty otherworldly.
Click to expand...
I often wonder why. In 1985 the World record in the Marathon and World Cross Country Champs were won by a 38 year old and the World cycling Champs by another 38 year old. Yet Connors was suddenly viewed as freakish a few years later. It should have been expected by then.
 
ibbi said:
There are people as old/older than Federer still playing tennis. His 4R/QF results this year are what makes what he's doing crazy. Connors did what he did at 39, the world went gaga, and it become the stuff of sporting legend. I know that was a specific guy in a specific place and a very different time, but if Federer gets close to matching something like that at this point it would be pretty otherworldly.
Click to expand...

Federer literally outplayed both the World #1 and #2 a month shy of his 39th birthday and should have won Wimbledon, so he already has done more than Connors did in that run in 1991.

Bambooman said:
I often wonder why. In 1985 the World record in the Marathon and World Cross Country Champs were won by a 38 year old and the World cycling Champs by another 38 year old. Yet Connors was suddenly viewed as freakish a few years later. It should have been expected by then.
Click to expand...

Tennis requires explosive start-stop movement and change of direction in addition to stamina, so it’s a different animal. Same thing for basketball which is why you rarely see NBA players being impactful past 35 and even then it’s usually centers.
 
ghostofMecir said:
Federer literally outplayed both the World #1 and #2 a month shy of his 39th birthday and should have won Wimbledon, so he already has done more than Connors did in that run in 1991.



Tennis requires explosive start-stop movement and change of direction in addition to stamina, so it’s a different animal. Same thing for basketball which is why you rarely see NBA players being impactful past 35 and even then it’s usually centers.
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Sure but the first thing most mentioned was the stamina required by Connors to do what he did. That should have been the given part instead of the most remarkable part.

Most NBA players fall in the too big category so that's not surprising. If they were all able to be ideal tennis player size they might last longer.
 
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