When will Federer realistically retire?

[Alba Barragan]

Regarding the kids - They supposedly haven't shown any interest in the sport thus far, so I highly doubt they'll train to become professionals and compete in Slams against their father.

I partially agree with this. Roger has said plenty of times the girls aren't into tennis, and prefer sports like skiing or snowboarding, so that rules them out. The boys seem a bit more thrilled when playing, especially Leo (whom Roger is more close to and has said is more similar to him), and Roger hasn't been as reluctant when talking about them playing tennis as he was with the girls, but they're still very young, we can't tell. Either way, there's no way I can see him playing doubles with any of them.

 

[Zebrev]

I think his motivation is flagging. His interviews are very different now, he doesn't seem as energised as before, like the game doesn't give him the same thrill it used to. Perhaps it's the traveling.

 

[fedtennisphan]

I think his motivation is flagging. His interviews are very different now, he doesn't seem as energised as before, like the game doesn't give him the same thrill it used to. Perhaps it's the traveling.

More desperation.

 

[prairiegirl]

I remember him saying once that he would retire when his kids started school, but that time has come and gone. I expect he'll stop when he knows he can no longer win anything of importance. But, it would be better to go out on a high note then wait and exit the way McEnroe did who played lacklustre tennis for about five or six years before he gave up. We could go around on this one ad nauseum. No one knows and no one can predict.

A few days ago he said this:
“If the body allows me to play, my family allows me to play, if the success is still there, if I’m happy to travel, I will continue. But the four things have to work, if one of the four doesn’t work, it maybe the time to stop. But for now, it’s ok.” http://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/868129/Roger-Federer-retirement-News-Shanghai-Masters-career

 

[smoledman]

I remember him saying once that he would retire when his kids started school, but that time has come and gone. I expect he'll stop when he knows he can no longer win anything of importance. But, it would be better to go out on a high note then wait and exit the way McEnroe did who played lacklustre tennis for about five or six years before he gave up. We could go around on this one ad nauseum. No one knows and no one can predict.

A few days ago he said this:
“If the body allows me to play, my family allows me to play, if the success is still there, if I’m happy to travel, I will continue. But the four things have to work, if one of the four doesn’t work, it maybe the time to stop. But for now, it’s ok.” http://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/868129/Roger-Federer-retirement-News-Shanghai-Masters-career

After that answer I would hope the media would stop asking him about the R-thing for a while.

 

[Pyrolysis]

Bill Tilden !!!
Still dominating much younger men and boys until mid 40s

Afterwards too by some accounts

 

[smoledman]

When Federer retires, he will establish a chain of chicken restaurants that will serve as a cover for heroin operation. Los Pollos Hermanos.

 

[sbengte]

2020 probably. His career longetivity is unrivaled. And the way he keeps such a high level. Age 36 and he’s won 2 slams this year. Name me another 36 year old who’s done that.

He was actually one Nadalian-USO draw away from a 3 slam year !

 

[sbengte]

I partially agree with this. Roger has said plenty of times the girls aren't into tennis, and prefer sports like skiing or snowboarding, so that rules them out.

The boys seem a bit more thrilled when playing, especially Leo (whom Roger is more close to and has said is more similar to him), and Roger hasn't been as reluctant when talking about them playing tennis as he was with the girls, but they're still very young, we can't tell. Either way, there's no way I can see him playing doubles with any of them.

Dafuq did I just read ? Are you his family friend ?

 

[Alba Barragan]

Just because the girls take tennis classes doesn't mean they love it. Fed has given us plenty of clues that they prefer other sports and we should stop considering it as a possibility. In his own words:

“They don’t get so excited watching me play [...] And they don't necessarily love it the way I did. So that's why, for me, it's quite obvious that it's not going to happen. Who knows? They are going to tennis lessons because daddy says so because I think it's a good thing for them. I’d rather support them in another sport. Go see them be a super skier. That would be exciting.”

Dafuq did I just read ? Are you his family friend ?

No, but I can put 1 and 1 together. It's not like he has favoritism or anything, but there's clearly a pattern:

 

[sbengte]

Just because the girls take tennis classes doesn't mean they love it. Fed has given us plenty of clues that they prefer other sports and we should stop considering it as a possibility.

I never suggested they love tennis or that they'll potentially become tennis players. It was more of a tongue in cheek response, especially since someone said the daughter just needs to hold the racquet and stand and Fed will win the mixed doubles by himself.

No, but I can put 1 and 1 together. It's not like he has favoritism or anything, but there's clearly a pattern:

Aw come on. You are now quoting some random fan's comment on the internet drawing inferences from the order in which he took his children's names ? (Or is that your own twitter account ?) And some cherry picked pap pics ?

So are you telling me Charlene is her father's least favorite going by the above ? Tell me which kid does he love the least based on your research ?

@Charleneriva , is this true ? Poor you

 

[Alba Barragan]

Aw come on. You are now quoting some random fan's comment on the internet drawing inferences from the order in which he took his children's names ? (Or is that your own twitter account ?) And some cherry picked pap pics ?

So are you telling me Charlene is her father's least favorite going by the above ? Tell me which kid does he love the least based on your research ?

@Charleneriva , is this true ? Poor you

The fan comment doesn't matter (it's not my account by the way) and it isn't what I tried to share here but the quote from the article in which Roger says how Leo is the first one to come to him. He also said in other interview Leo is more like him, as in personality, but I can't find the original source. And those aren't 'cherry picked pics', what do I gain by doing that? You can go and look at the pics with him and the kids by yourself. I'm not saying he doesn't love his kids or he has a favorite, I'm just pointing that there are resembles between the two, which isn't something bad, no need to bash me for that My point is if there is a tiny chance that one of the Federer children becomes a tennis player, it's in one of the boys.

 

[sbengte]

but the quote from the article in which Roger says how Leo is the first one to come to him.

Doesn't matter who is saying it, you or that twitter account - the point is he just named all his children while saying they all come to him one by one and hence his time is occupied fully by them, and you are inferring things from the order in which they were named.

If you quote the similar personality thing or say which of the kids according to you is more likely to play tennis, that is fair. But your post came across like you were inferring which kid was the favorite reading too much between lines and pictures.

 

[Alba Barragan]

Doesn't matter who is saying it, you or that twitter account - the point is he just named all his children while saying they all come to him one by one and hence his time is occupied fully by them, and you are inferring things from the order in which they were named.

If you quote the similar personality thing or say which of the kids according to you is more likely to play tennis, that is fair. But your post came across like you were inferring which kid was the favorite reading too much between lines and pictures.

Well, I'm sorry if you understood it in that way, maybe my choice of words wasn't the best. It was never my intention to make it look like he has a favorite but more like the boys are the only hope we have to see another Federer on court, and Leo is the one with the highest chance of being that one.

 

[fedtennisphan]

Well, I'm sorry if you understood it in that way, maybe my choice of words wasn't the best. It was never my intention to make it look like he has a favorite but more like the boys are the only hope we have to see another Federer on court, and Leo is the one with the highest chance of being that one.

The point is his children will choose their own path in life. His children are not Federer. Federer’s sons are only 3. Strangers need to leave his children alone.

 

[kishnabe]

When there comes a gen that can actually beat the Grandpa Tour.

 

[BGod]

If you care about historical track record, you're better off betting Roger retires in 2024 shortly before turning 43 than 2020. Just set the bar real high.

Obviously Connors was a shell at 40 buy played real sparse and still made Halle Quarter at 42. Rosewall is the next guy up making the USO Final a few months before his 40th and making Aussie Semi at 42 and Quarter later that year at officially 43. So there you go, and given modern medicine why shouldn't Roger push it to 45?

I also love the idea of him playing Mixed Doubles with one of his daughters. McEnroe played doubles long after his singles career was over.

 

[MeatTornado]

If you care about historical track record, you're better off betting Roger retires in 2024 shortly before turning 43 than 2020. Just set the bar real high.

Obviously Connors was a shell at 40 buy played real sparse and still made Halle Quarter at 42. Rosewall is the next guy up making the USO Final a few months before his 40th and making Aussie Semi at 42 and Quarter later that year at officially 43. So there you go, and given modern medicine why shouldn't Roger push it to 45?

I also love the idea of him playing Mixed Doubles with one of his daughters. McEnroe played doubles long after his singles career was over.

Roger said he'd never play doubles after retiring from singles. As good as life on tour is, when he retires it'll be because he's finally had it and wants to finally just be home with his family. Playing doubles would mean he'd still have to travel.

And why shouldn't he push it to 45? Because the quarter-final of Halle isn't really an achievement befitting the greatest player of all time. At that point, there are better uses for his time.

 

[BGod]

Roger said he'd never play doubles after retiring from singles. As good as life on tour is, when he retires it'll be because he's finally had it and wants to finally just be home with his family. Playing doubles would mean he'd still have to travel.

And why shouldn't he push it to 45? Because the quarter-final of Halle isn't really an achievement befitting the greatest player of all time. At that point, there are better uses for his time.

Fair enough on skipping doubles.

With regards to pushing 45, I wasn't saying he follows Connors achievements in his later years, Jimbo didn't win much of anything past his mid 30s. The projections for Federer is that he'll absolutely be able to WIN if not seriously contend for 500 titles into his 40s.

 

[dgold44]

And how do we define retirment?

I have said this many times and very few humor me as it sounds outlandish - BUT, I think for all intents and purposes Federer will never truly retire.

Here's how I see it.

Fed plays through to 2020 for Basel and the Olympics. He still gets himself to the Semis or so of Wimbledon even in 2019 or 2020.

Those sorts of results help Fed to stay motivated and help to support the pillars of him continuing - Family Allows it, Body Allows it, Results are there, Competitive Fire is still there.

All of a sudden Federer is 1 year from being 40 and is pulled by that next goal of being Top 10-15ish at 40.

Once Fed is 40, his daughters will be 12 years old. By the time the better daughter is 15 she and Grandpa Fed can start to compete in Doubles at the Majors.

Fast forward another 4 or so years and he's doing the same thing with Leo or Lenny.

Fed will continue to do things like play relatively competitive singles Exo's with current stars, his peers Nadal, and maybe past Stars, while playing competitive mixed doubles and mens doubles on the main pro circuit especially at majors.

So in my opinion Federer playing meaningful, professional tennis is miles from being in the rearview mirror.

I could see Fed in his mid 50's playing with his mid 20's kids in main slam draws. Doing that math we have somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 years left of Fed at a professional level (36 years of age to 55ish)

Feel free to laugh. But this is what I believe will happen.

Federer is almost too in love of tennis for his own good (although I don't see what bad it does).

End of 2020 and Nadal maybe 2021

 

[D.Nalby12]

2020 or 21.

 

[D.Nalby12]

My pick is 2021 - 3 more seasons. Lots of Tennis.

 

[OldschoolKIaus]

After his second Golden Grand Slam 2024!

 

[Otacon]

Why should he retire ? He belongs to us selfish fans and we're not ready to let him go yet.

 

[Sentinel]

Roger said he'd never play doubles after retiring from singles

Then maybe he can become a chair empire after retiring from singles. Or ballkid.
He can demand to only chair matches on the centre court and evening sessions.

Then we can all argue how Novk/Nadl were umpiring a match midday on outer court while Fedr has got CC for the last 15 years in a row.

The drama will continue here

LOL. jk.

 

[icedevil0289]

Honestly he's pretty much gotten one foot out the door imo and I think with the kids getting older I get the feeling it will be very soon. I am hoping it is not this year but wouldnt be surprised either. Iirc he had mentioned he was taking 1 year at a time and didnt really plan out or plan for next year yet but who knows

 

[Nadal_Django]

The sooner the better.

 

[icedevil0289]

Dafuq did I just read ? Are you his family friend ?

I think the phrasing is wrong makes it seem like Leo is his favorite or that he favors him more or whatever but he had said in interviews that he is a daddy's boy iirc and when he comes home Leo is the first one to give him a hug

 

[icedevil0289]

I never suggested they love tennis or that they'll potentially become tennis players. It was more of a tongue in cheek response, especially since someone said the daughter just needs to hold the racquet and stand and Fed will win the mixed doubles by himself.




Aw come on. You are now quoting some random fan's comment on the internet drawing inferences from the order in which he took his children's names ? (Or is that your own twitter account ?) And some cherry picked pap pics ?

So are you telling me Charlene is her father's least favorite going by the above ? Tell me which kid does he love the least based on your research ?

@Charleneriva , is this true ? Poor you

Lmao to be honest the girls being older probably are not as dependent on him so it would make sense the boys run to him first. It also sounds like they troll him too which his hilarious. If not mistaken when he was getting one of his Atp awards or w/e they questioned it and was like isnt rafa no.1. Man speaking about retirement, cant believe we have watched his girls grow up

 

[Indigo]

Federer is amazing player. He is eternal. He wasn't dethroned by anyone in fact, no young player could dethrone Federer, not even Nadal and Djokovic despite his loses from them he continued winning, he wasn't simply destroyed and pushed into retirement. It's hard to see Federer retired. It's not possible. But I'm sure even one day when he is really retired he will be present on major tournaments or be coach to young stars so we will be seeing him for many more years...

 

[ChrisRF]

Roger said during the Australian Open draw ceremony that he will play as long as his body allows. He also said he admires those players like Rosewall and Connors who did the same and cannot understand the others who retire in their early 30s without injuries.

He explicitly said that for him being a tennis professional isn’t a job but was his dream from his childhood on and now is his biggest passion.

Another time he even said that also possible retirements of other big players cannot convince him to go as well, because he likes to play against anybody and especially the youngest players.

Federer is tennis and tennis is Federer.

 

[Nostradamus]

And how do we define retirment?

I have said this many times and very few humor me as it sounds outlandish - BUT, I think for all intents and purposes Federer will never truly retire.

Here's how I see it.

Fed plays through to 2020 for Basel and the Olympics. He still gets himself to the Semis or so of Wimbledon even in 2019 or 2020.

Those sorts of results help Fed to stay motivated and help to support the pillars of him continuing - Family Allows it, Body Allows it, Results are there, Competitive Fire is still there.

All of a sudden Federer is 1 year from being 40 and is pulled by that next goal of being Top 10-15ish at 40.

Once Fed is 40, his daughters will be 12 years old. By the time the better daughter is 15 she and Grandpa Fed can start to compete in Doubles at the Majors.

Fast forward another 4 or so years and he's doing the same thing with Leo or Lenny.

Fed will continue to do things like play relatively competitive singles Exo's with current stars, his peers Nadal, and maybe past Stars, while playing competitive mixed doubles and mens doubles on the main pro circuit especially at majors.

So in my opinion Federer playing meaningful, professional tennis is miles from being in the rearview mirror.

I could see Fed in his mid 50's playing with his mid 20's kids in main slam draws. Doing that math we have somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 years left of Fed at a professional level (36 years of age to 55ish)

Feel free to laugh. But this is what I believe will happen.

Federer is almost too in love of tennis for his own good (although I don't see what bad it does).

when he visibly loses 1/2-1 step, most likely he will not play anymore cause he won't be able to compete at top 10 level at that point. I believe his hands and eyes will be there still for many years to come but that's not enough in today's singles game. I supposed he could play doubles more and break many records there but I doubt he will do that.

 

[RF-18]

But you fail to mention Fed has way more mileage on him than Ivo. Roger's played almost 1200 professional matches, Ivo has played 350. That is a MASSIVE difference of wear and tear to the body.

Ivo has played 350 matches in his career?

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Please protect Feds kids. They deserve full privacy. They did not chose to be in the media.

 

[oldmanfan]

Roger said during the Australian Open draw ceremony that he will play as long as his body allows. He also said he admires those players like Rosewall and Connors who did the same and cannot understand the others who retire in their early 30s without injuries.

He explicitly said that for him being a tennis professional isn’t a job but was his dream from his childhood on and now is his biggest passion.

Another time he even said that also possible retirements of other big players cannot convince him to go as well, because he likes to play against anybody and especially the youngest players.

Federer is tennis and tennis is Federer.

Glad to hear you caught that too from Fed's draw ceremony. He'll play at least 2 more years imo, and I wouldn't even be surprised if he plays for 5yrs more. As long as he's happy doing the tennis, the longer the better .

Cynical fans will say it's PR talk, or even double talk, but they don't understand who Fedr is. Fed has always been frank, and this frankness of his has some people wrongly label him as arrogant. Plus, PR/double talk is a double-edged sword bc 'at the time' it will work, but if it's later revealed to be a lie, then it will backfire, and perhaps double the damage versus being honest in the first place. Fed is not dumb enough to do that.

The only thing that will 'abruptly' send him into retirement is a serious injury. Barring that, I think he'll give ample time for the tennis world to prepare. I mean, even if Fed is the dumbest guy in the world, he'd know that he's carrying the whole tennis world on his back, no? Thus, he should ease the tennis world into his retirement as he closes his pro-career, no?

For the time being, he ain't going nowhere fast .

 

[Dave1982]

Due to his Uniqlo sponsorship I can't realistically see him retiring before 2020 Olympics in Tokyo (pending serious injury) - not that I think he'd let a sponsorship dictate when he hangs up the racquet, but just think that this sponsorship increases likelihood of him playing till at least then.

Beyond that agree with other comments, will depend on form & family. It's been agreed for many years on these boards that Fed is unlikely to remain on tour if he's no longer competing for major titles & that no doubt remains true.

For me, end of 2020 at earliest, but provided he's still a threat, he'll keep playing.

 

[Pheasant]

I won’t predict Fed’s retirement, or any other player’s retirement. I don’t like predicting sad days. Similarly, I won’t participate in dead pools. They are too negative.

I hope that Fed will stay extremely healthy. I still cannot believe how good he is, given his age. Sure, I have yelled at the TV a few times. But at the end of the year, I realize that it’s a small miracle that Fed is playing at this high of a level at such an advanced age. What Fed has done as an old man has been nothing short of spectacular.

 

[heninfan99]

2021 will be his last year

 

[Druss]

Wimbledon 2031! The All-England Club will move the dates of the tournament forward one month to coincide with Roger's 50th birthday. He will lift his 12th Wimbledon title and the GOAT debate on TTW will finally come to an end. Djokovic, 8 years in retirement and the President of Serbia by then, after presenting the trophy to Fed, will proclaim the Swiss Maestro the GOAT himself.

 

[MajesticMoose]

He'll keep playing for as long as he feels he can compete and have a chance at grand slams or has a freak injury which ends it all. Whichever comes first.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Never

 

[Federev]

and if that happens when his daughters are 12/13 and he may be a couple of years from playing serious mixed doubles with them?

What then?

I reckon we'll see Fed hang around as an ambassador of the sport, raising money for Tsunami, Hurricane victims etc.,

The could always make a legends portion of the Laver Cup which could allow him to play in that in perpetuity.

love this!

 

[Tennis_Hands]

The sooner the better.

 

[Sport]

Wimbledon 2021 is my guess.

 

[BGod]

Roger said during the Australian Open draw ceremony that he will play as long as his body allows. He also said he admires those players like Rosewall and Connors who did the same and cannot understand the others who retire in their early 30s without injuries.

He explicitly said that for him being a tennis professional isn’t a job but was his dream from his childhood on and now is his biggest passion.

Another time he even said that also possible retirements of other big players cannot convince him to go as well, because he likes to play against anybody and especially the youngest players.

Federer is tennis and tennis is Federer.

All about the ranking. I don't think he'd relish having tough draws at #17 again.

Agassi in 05 was ranked #7. Then his rank plummeted in 06. Now I keep forgetting if his back just made things impossible but that was him.

Connors was ranked 14th at 37, then a year off then 49 and 84.

Rosewall was #2 at 40!!! For a few months. Then he got YE #12 at 43. If I had to guess I'd say Roger wants to stick inside the Top 8 so his path to quarters is more secured and then he just plays his luck.

 

[tudwell]

But you fail to mention Fed has way more mileage on him than Ivo. Roger's played almost 1200 professional matches, Ivo has played 350. That is a MASSIVE difference of wear and tear to the body.

Actually he's played nearly 700 matches, and that's not including Challengers and qualifiers, where he's spent a lot more time than Fed. But I agree Fed likely won't be able to keep going in quite the same way Karlovic is. If Fed's movement or ground game declines any more, he'll really start being out of contention of big titles. He's got a higher bar than Karlovic, I'm sure, and also doesn't have the serve to fall back on (as great as it is, it's not Karlovic's), so I don't think he'd be content to just occasionally fight for a 250 title here and there with 50% win-loss ratio on the year.

 

[tudwell]

Whenever he starts losing to Nadal, again, repeatedly.

Which at the rate he is going, could be nevererererer . . .

True. Federer doesn't play clay and Nadal doesn't play outside of clay. The perfect rivalry.

 

[DSH]

It will be difficult even for him to be competitive in tournaments at the best of 5 sets after the next wimbledon.
his longevity has been monumental only comparable to rosewall in the open era, but when premature defeats appear in the big tournaments, will he still be motivated to continue playing?
for now, everything is a path of roses, but if the next gen takes the final step his chances of winning another gs will have definitely ended.

 

[Zardoz7/12]

Where will Federer retire?

Wimbledon, Basel?

 

[abmk]