What age will the top players retire?

[musicalmedic81]

It seems that most pros are either getting out of the game or starting to go downhill around age 30. Just out of curiosity, how long do you think the current top players will stick around before retiring? Things to consider would be what age they turned pro, playing style, injury prone, etc. Here's my guesses:

Federer-31- This could be give or take depending on how Fed adjusts his game from this point. If he continues to decline steadily out of the top 20 and further down, he may go out before 31. But I'd give him atleast 4 more years given he continues to stay fit. His game is pretty low impact as far as harshness on the joints goes.

Nadal-29- As much as I like Nadal, i dont see how his body is going to be able to maintain the beating he gives it day in and day out for another 10 years. He plays such a high impact game and already has bad knees at 22. Im estimating Nadal plays 7 more years if his knees dont go out before then.

Djokovic-33- I expect the Djoker to hang around till his early thirties.

Ferrer-32
Davydenko-36- strikes me as a guy that would hang around a little longer than most

Andy Murray-30ish- he started so young, unless he's still at the top in 9 years there really wont be much more for him to accomplish.

James Blake-39- This might seem crazy to some of you, but James did not really have a steady year on tour until 2003, was out for most of 2004, then 2005 had his breakthrough year at age 26. I think Blakes prime is still ahead of him, he's still as quick around the court at almost 29 as ever. I see James hanging around for another 10 years.

Andy Roddick-34 if the shoulder stays healthy, 29 if it doesnt. nuff said about that.

 

[flyer]

I'd say Nadal might retire even earlier than 29, and there is absolutely no way Blake will play until he is 39, even if he wanted to he just wouldn't be good enough

 

[Eviscerator]

It will be interesting to see how your predictions hold up over time.

 

[beedlejuice22]

I don't think Andy Murray will last until he's 30. He seems like a dabbler to me. I think he'll try a bunch of different things in his life.

 

[Alexio92]

I agree with davydenko, if he is wise he will copy what agassi did.

 

[musicalmedic81]

I'd say Nadal might retire even earlier than 29, and there is absolutely no way Blake will play until he is 39, even if he wanted to he just wouldn't be good enough

I didnt say Blake would still be a top player at 39, I just think that Blake's fitness in his late 30s would be like most guys in their late 20s. Part of that is because Blake really didnt start grinding on the tour till he was 25 so his body hasnt taken the beating that most other pros had taken by the time they were 25. I think he could play that long if he wanted to, but he's already made more money than he'll ever need so who knows how long he'll play.

 

[bagung]

federer at 28 max....
nadal at 28 too...
djokovic max 30....

 

[Murray_Maniac]

Federer: 27 or 28 (wont be as fun w/o winning the big ones, in the footsteps of Borg )

Nadal: 26 or 27 because his health is really on the decline

Roddick shouldnt last that much longer because of his shoulder & relationships.

Djokovic & Murray should be out in their early 30's since I dont see any health issuses or fighting spirit to really stay on the tour

Yea, I could really see Ferrer & Davydenko staying for a while because their fighters.

No way Blake will be on tour til he's 39. He'll want to pound it like he does today, & he'll realize that his body wont allow for that.

 

[superstition]

Don't forget the WTA where players have retired in their mid twenties, saying their bodies are falling apart.

 

[tennis-hero]

Fed's game can last into his 30's

his style allows for it

Nadal's body cant handle this punishment (no one could) he's too physical, but he has to be to win. i expect a serious decline from nadal at age 25, maybe 26.... he'll probably stay around though, maybe win 1 GS between 25-30

joker maybe 31, 32...

murray will be playing in his 30s, thats because i dont see another brit coming along with half the talent murray has, so he will carry the british hopes at wimbledon all the way to the semis lol

 

[samprasbackhand]

I can see Karlovic playing well into his 30's

 

[CyBorg]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Roger last into his mid-30s. This is rare and he's had mono this year, but you don't really see him get hurt and his finesse game takes me back to Rosewall's smooth transition into his 30s.

Nadal will be done at around 25. Either that or on and off with injuries. I think.

 

[daddy]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Roger last into his mid-30s. This is rare and he's had mono this year, but you don't really see him get hurt and his finesse game takes me back to Rosewall's smooth transition into his 30s.

Nadal will be done at around 25. Either that or on and off with injuries. I think.

I do respect your opinion but this is not really a tennis matter, we go by what we feel here so I disagree. I think that Federer's game depends very much on his movement and he is getting slower. I do not think he will stay for much longer if he does not win a lot as it's just no fun and he does not stike me as such guy. Rafa - well, he can not maintain this for years to come, he will either change the style or go out mid 20's. As for the others :

Roddick - I do firmly believe he'll retire when he is not able to seriously challange for slams, as for example this whole year is about the USO in his mind. Serve is the key, when it gets weaker, he'll go out, I give him few more years.

Davydenko, Ferrer, yes grinders, yes possibly will play until 33 - 35. Not with that much succes though.

Murray - I have a dilema here and I really can not tell. He seems to have potential to play for a long time but I have no clue.

Djokovic also, he's got the slim built and will gain in terms of strenght and endurance but I dont know how strong will his drive to play be latter on given his succes as a very young player.

I feel Gasquet will go out early as he's fragile and will not wait for long to call it quits, possibly 27, 28 latest as he's been under constant media pressure from early childhood and will not wait long to be done with it, especially if he's not that good as the age go by.

Some of the guys may switch to doubles latter on as they all love tennis and doubles come with much less pressure yet still provide them with playing the game they like, something probably Bjorkman and Santoro did to certain extent.

 

[guernica1]

I do respect your opinion but this is not really a tennis matter, we go by what we feel here so I disagree. I think that Federer's game depends very much on his movement and he is getting slower. I do not think he will stay for much longer if he does not win a lot as it's just no fun and he does not stike me as such guy. Rafa - well, he can not maintain this for years to come, he will either change the style or go out mid 20's. As for the others :

Roddick - I do firmly believe he'll retire when he is not able to seriously challange for slams, as for example this whole year is about the USO in his mind. Serve is the key, when it gets weaker, he'll go out, I give him few more years.

Davydenko, Ferrer, yes grinders, yes possibly will play until 33 - 35. Not with that much succes though.

Murray - I have a dilema here and I really can not tell. He seems to have potential to play for a long time but I have no clue.

Djokovic also, he's got the slim built and will gain in terms of strenght and endurance but I dont know how strong will his drive to play be latter on given his succes as a very young player.

I feel Gasquet will go out early as he's fragile and will not wait for long to call it quits, possibly 27, 28 latest as he's been under constant media pressure from early childhood and will not wait long to be done with it, especially if he's not that good as the age go by.

Some of the guys may switch to doubles latter on as they all love tennis and doubles come with much less pressure yet still provide them with playing the game they like, something probably Bjorkman and Santoro did to certain extent.

Murray had knee problems a few years ago that prevented him from playing juniors for a while, and continues to have lingering knee pain.