If Federer were to retire right now

[edberg505]

I've been thinking about this for a little recently. Especially since all these ridiculous post keep popping up about "Federer should retire", "The Federer era is over", if Federer were to retire right this moment how many people would be happy about it. I can tell you right this moment if he were to retire immediately I think I'd be done watching tennis just like when Pete retired. It just wouldn't be interesting anymore. I wonder if this is what some of the people who start these threads want. I suppose if he did retire then the boards would be a little less pugilistic.

 

[Atherton2003]

I wouldn't mind either way - if Fed retires or not - I'd still watch tennis as long as Rafa is playing.

 

[certifiedjatt]

i think the poster above and even your own post answers your somewhat rhetorical question. you said you stopped watching tennis when pete retired; but you're still watching it now...... there's always someone else...

still, all this talk about him retiring is incredibly stupid. it has absolutely no basis whatsoever.

 

[babbette]

question-what age did Sampras win his last slam?

 

[Oui c'est moi.]

31?

Unless that was rhetorical...

 

[edberg505]

i think the poster above and even your own post answers your somewhat rhetorical question. you said you stopped watching tennis when pete retired; but you're still watching it now...... there's always someone else...

still, all this talk about him retiring is incredibly stupid. it has absolutely no basis whatsoever.

Yeah, I'm only watching it now because I like watching Federer play. I mean some of the things that he can do on the court are nothing short of spectacular. Sure if someone comes along again with the same sort of style as either one of these players I'd start watching again, but it probably wouldn't be as much as I watch it right now; that much is for sure.

 

[Floridafan34]

why are people telling him to retire now that 1 person, one sole individual, can beat him on a regular basis? Give it a rest he will be here for a while...

 

[edberg505]

why are people telling him to retire now that 1 person, one sole individual, can beat him on a regular basis? Give it a rest he will be here for a while...

Just out of curiosity, did you even bother to read my post?

 

[NikeWilson]

i think it's definitely crossed Federer's mind. he gave everything he had in the Wimbledon final, and still came up short. and as nature takes it's course(and age slows him down), it won't get any easier from now on.
plus, you've got young improving players such as Nadal and Djokovic already taking over.
it might be wise for Fed to retire now, save face, and venture into some other business type of career. his run is over. it's inevitable. it happens to all the great players. but they all had to face the reality, and throw in the towel, and walk away.
as sad as it is.

 

[Floridafan34]

Just out of curiosity, did you even bother to read my post?

my post was directed at the people who believe he should retire right now, and from reading your post i dont believe you fall in that category.

thanks for your concern though

 

[flyer]

i would be quite upset if he retired just because i feel like the game would be cheated, we wouldnt get a conclusion to the rivalry and we would never truly know what would have been, but if he did (which he wouldnt) thats his right

 

[edberg505]

my post was directed at the people who believe he should retire right now, and from reading your post i dont believe you fall in that category.

thanks for your concern though

ah, gotcha.

 

[tennis-hero]

when sampras retired there was such a hole left in tennis

if fed goes then it will be just as bad.

i think henin retired because she knew she was never going to be as good as the williams sisters, but with fed its all mental, even if he only 80% of what he used to be, he is still good enough to win on any surface

 

[babbette]

31?

Unless that was rhetorical...

no no, it wasn't rhetorical. I was truly wondering. Just goes to show we shouldn't really call anyone the greates of all time until the career is officially over.:?

Commentators just go with the moment. they get on my nerves.

 

[gj011]

I've been thinking about this for a little recently. Especially since all these ridiculous post keep popping up about "Federer should retire", "The Federer era is over", if Federer were to retire right this moment how many people would be happy about it. I can tell you right this moment if he were to retire immediately I think I'd be done watching tennis just like when Pete retired. It just wouldn't be interesting anymore. I wonder if this is what some of the people who start these threads want. I suppose if he did retire then the boards would be a little less pugilistic.

 

[edberg505]

when sampras retired there was such a hole left in tennis

if fed goes then it will be just as bad.

i think henin retired because she knew she was never going to be as good as the williams sisters, but with fed its all mental, even if he only 80% of what he used to be, he is still good enough to win on any surface

I would also think it would be similar to what happened to basketball when Jordan retired. I was not the biggest M. Jordan fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I admit that I really didn't care much for basketball after he left the game.

 

[Deleted member 25923]

And Agassi won his last one in 2003, at age 33!

It would be a very sad for tennis and IMO, it wouldn't save face. It would show a lack of heart from Fed, just like Borg and Henin.

 

[edberg505]

I don't get it. But I love the picture though.

 

[gj011]

The game is much bigger than any player. People that say "I will not watch the tennis/basketball/... after Federer/Jordan/... retire" are bandwagon fairweather fantards. Not real fans.

 

[flyer]

when sampras retired there was such a hole left in tennis

if fed goes then it will be just as bad.

i think henin retired because she knew she was never going to be as good as the williams sisters, but with fed its all mental, even if he only 80% of what he used to be, he is still good enough to win on any surface

80%? win what? surly not slams considering his current competition

 

[hoodjem]

Tennis is tennis. The game lives on.

 

[edberg505]

The game is much bigger than any player. People that say "I will not watch the tennis/basketball/... after Federer/Jordan/... retire" are bandwagon fairweather fantards. Not real fans.

Oh quite the contrary I am a huge tennis fan but I'm just saying I wouldn't watch it as much as I am watching it right this moment. I'd probably watch Tsonga play as I like his game and Mahut, but are these guys on tv as much as Federer, Nadal and Djokovic? Nope, not even close. I've been playing tennis since I was 9. I've done the junior thing, I've taught it, I played for college and I played league. So, I'm pretty sure I can't be called a fair weather fan. Now maybe these words can be used with some other people here but me, nah I'm far from it.

 

[ronalditop]

if federer retires, tennis would became so boring and i would not watch it anymore (except for gasquet matches, of course)

 

[Oui c'est moi.]

no no, it wasn't rhetorical. I was truly wondering. Just goes to show we shouldn't really call anyone the greates of all time until the career is officially over.:?

Yep. Nail on head.

 

[remcob]

when sampras retired there was such a hole left in tennis

if fed goes then it will be just as bad.

i think henin retired because she knew she was never going to be as good as the williams sisters, but with fed its all mental, even if he only 80% of what he used to be, he is still good enough to win on any surface

Henin retired because she knew she was never going to be as good as the williams sisters? She beat them over and over again the last years (both of them in US Open 2007).
I think the Williams were screaming of joy when she retired.

 

[beedlejuice22]

I am not a fan of Federer's in any way shape or form but I think tennis and I would miss the rivalry and being able to say that there are three people who could win a major. A year ago when there were only two people who could win it was kind of boring and the rest of the field seemed almost pointless. Federer definetly keeps it more interesting.

 

[TheTruth]

If Federer were to retire right now...

someone else would take his place.

 

[River Jude]

I hope he doesn't retire and I don't think he will. I don't think he has any reason to. A lot of tennis players have gone on playing into their early 30s; Federer obviously can't be expected to maintain his high level of play indefinitely but I don't think he needs to be thinking about retiring yet. Although the choice is up to him and if he really wanted to retire, that would be fine.

Professionally I don't think he's at a place right now where he needs to retire.

Personally - who knows? Maybe he'd like to, but I doubt he'll retire anytime soon.

 

[TheTruth]

I think the post is a hypothetical one, but the issue of retirement should be the last thing on his mind. I think people are overreacting to what is a lull in Federer's career.

 

[zagor]

No one is bigger than tennis itself,Fed himself said that as well.If Fed were to retire I would be sad as he's my favourite player of all time and I wouldn't watch tennis as much as I do now but I would still watch it as I love the sport and have other favourite players on tour besides Fed.Of the young emerging players I very much like to watch Gulbis and Tsonga play for example.

 

[saremile]

The game is much bigger than any player. People that say "I will not watch the tennis/basketball/... after Federer/Jordan/... retire" are bandwagon fairweather fantards. Not real fans.

Come on i doubt you don't have a player that you enjoy watching more than any other player. I started watching tennis and eventually play tennis because of Fed. He is my favorite player. And i admit, if he retires now, i would probably not watch men's tennis for a while. But eventually i'll tune back in. I don't know how you got into tennis. Perhaps you dad taught you, or in my situation, you saw somebody you like and started tennis. Anyway, my point is there is a reason you started tennis, and for most people, they like a particular player. And if that player were to not play, he/she would not tune in to tennis. For a little while anyway.

 

[gj011]

Come on i doubt you don't have a player that you enjoy watching more than any other player. I started watching tennis and eventually play tennis because of Fed. He is my favorite player. And i admit, if he retires now, i would probably not watch men's tennis for a while. But eventually i'll tune back in. I don't know how you got into tennis. Perhaps you dad taught you, or in my situation, you saw somebody you like and started tennis. Anyway, my point is there is a reason you started tennis, and for most people, they like a particular player. And if that player were to not play, he/she would not tune in to tennis. For a little while anyway.

Yes, since I am from Serbia I follow Serbian players, but I didn't start with tennis two years ago and will not stop watching it when this "serbian boom" is over. I started with tennis in mid 80's and I am with it since then. I always had favorite players, but never stopped watching tennis when some of them retired. The only exception when I was disappointed and fed up with pro tennis was when Monika Seles was stabbed. But that didn't last long.

 

[taffymoon]

i think it's definitely crossed Federer's mind. he gave everything he had in the Wimbledon final, and still came up short. and as nature takes it's course(and age slows him down), it won't get any easier from now on.
.

Sorry, don't agree. I think he thought about how good it would be to come back next time and beat that kid!

 

[veroniquem]

I am totally enamored with Rafa but I watched tennis before him and I will definitely watch after him too. Every generation has exciting players whose progression is fun to follow! About Fed I think he shoud play until after 30 unless he starts losing in the first rounds.