How do they stay motivated?

[irishbanger]

I'm somewhat new to tennis (2 1/2 years) and have a question for you old timers. I love watching Federer play but am worried that he is so much better than the competition that he will get bored and just quit. Did anyone have any concerns about some of the other greats of the past like Sampras? At least he had a foil in Agassi. How will Federer stay motivated?

 

[Phil]

You have to ask HIM. Only Fed can answer that accurately, although I'm sure some people on this board will attempt to speak for him.

 

[Morpheus]

Why do you care? Others will come and take his place. And watch it with that "old timers" bit; maybe use "experience" instead?

 

[irishbanger]

You guys need to lighten up a little. Nothing about this post should be met with an undercurrent of anger.

 

[dander]

yeah, no anger on the board from "experienced" old timers!!

 

[Morpheus]

There was no anger in my post. I guess you couldn't read my tone of voice. Sorry. Next time I'll use one of those silly emoticons :shock:

I still don't understand why one would worry about a top player fading early, unless, of course, she looked like Anna :wink:

As an old-timer: Borg left the game prematurely and he was my favorite player. I quickly forgot him, though, as other great players emerged. Don't worry, there will be other Federers and, unfortunately, other Roddicks (oops, my bias is showing again).

 

[joe sch]

Borg left the game prematurely in his late twenties with only a half dozen or so slam titles. For many of todays greats, this would be an ultimate achievment ! Hopefully, Fed can achieve this much ? He would then be considered one the games best and not an underachiever like Bjorn :wink:

 

[edge]

Borg left because he was very rich and couldn't stand losing to McEnroe. Early burnout usually comes from losing after being a winner and not from winning. I sense that Hinga's early departure has something to do with losing to the Sistas after dominating for a period. Even Sampras cashed in his chips after losing for 2 years. He went out on top. I would suspect that this is Agassi's last year when he realizes that he can no longer win a slam. Just my $.02.

 

[polakosaur]

money

 

[Morpheus]

It's not the money.

Borg had a reclusive life. He was by nature an introvert and had no social life. He never received an education. Tennis was it for him. And, he had no where to go but down given his dominance (with only McEnroe to challenge him).

Pure and simple, he burned out. (Sorta how I felt after college, but on a different scale.)

 

[Kobble]

Edge, don't confuse burnout with sore losers. Hingis was a primadonna, and incidently quite when she actually had hungry competition. I am glad that whole brat pack is getting the quitter bug. To the quitters, cheers! I have noticed that most introverts that quite after success see the future very clearly, and when the surprises are over they find another means to entertain themselves. Hell is repetition. Once an intelligent introvert sees that in the given activity, it is usually over. Federer may quite inside of 5 years depending on the rest of the tours ability to adapt. I think he is getting a kick out of watching these guys squirm right now, but I think it may get old sooner than most expect. I believe he may be at a mental level that few people ever achieve. Borg may be the only one in the history of tennis that shares the same mindset as Federer. For now, I will just enjoy him beating up on some of those idiots like Roddick, Hewitt, Blake, and Philippoussis.

 

[dander]

kobble, you rule
if roddie keeps losing like this, p-wack might try to defect to switzerland and start courting the fed

 

[Phil]

Irishbanger wrote:

You guys need to lighten up a little. Nothing about this post should be met with an undercurrent of anger.

There's no anger in my post-possibly, you're just too thin-skinned.

 

[Morpheus]

Kobble, there is a spell check feature. I encourage you to use it.

 

[boris becker 1]

there is always someone bigger, younger better that comes along that is the nature of sport

 

[pound cat]

Initially it's the winning. Then when you've made enough money, it's wanting more money. Then you keep on playing because you can't think of anything to do in retirement. Then you start to play in the senior's circuit. Then you become a tennis commentator if anyone will hire you. Failing that you sell real estate.

 

[Phoenix1983]

Initially it's the winning. Then when you've made enough money, it's wanting more money. Then you keep on playing because you can't think of anything to do in retirement. Then you start to play in the senior's circuit. Then you become a tennis commentator if anyone will hire you. Failing that you sell real estate.

Federer might now be at the stage highlighted in bold above