Will most of us keep following tennis after the Big 3 retires?

[Sport]

I want to ask a specific question to everyone who has had interest in tennis for a long time.

Are there in TTW people who have been following tennis in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s? Did you ever think "I will stop watching tennis after Borg and McEnroe retire" or "I will lose interest in tennis after Sampras and Agassi retire".

I have read a lot of people here saying "I will stop watching tennis after Federer (or Nadal, or Djokovic) retires". But is that true? Maybe tennis is always addictive regardless of which players are active.

 

[jm1980]

I will probably still follow it, but not as actively. Unless a more likable player than Zverev emerges as a serious contender, that is

 

[boredone3456]

It seems like any time a top level player retires this question gets asked. Tennis has been around for over 100 years. After Federer and everyone else retires it will continue to be around. Federer Novak and Murray have all been out for intermittent periods of time over the last 3 years and the sport has gone on. Rafa has had periods of ups and downs and the sport has gone on. I would say if your interest in tennis is totally dependent on 1 or 2 players then you are not a serious fan.

 

[Standaa]

Not me

I will be rewatching their matches over and over again unless someone interesting and capable shows up

 

[Plamen1234]

It seems like any time a top level player retires this question gets asked. Tennis has been around for over 100 years. After Federer and everyone else retires it will continue to be around. Federer Novak and Murray have all been out for intermittent periods of time over the last 3 years and the sport has gone on. Rafa has had periods of ups and downs and the sport has gone on. I would say if your interest in tennis is totally dependent on 1 or 2 players then you are not a serious fan.

True.No player is bigger than the sport.New stars will appear

 

[Poisoned Slice]

I will stand with tennis.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

"Without tennis, I'd be easing my way through life."

 

[Badabing888]

Yes becaus my life is sad and empty without it

 

[Zeref]

Sure if Shapovalov steps up...

 

[Red Rick]

Yes becaus my life is sad and empty without it

My life is sad and empty without tennis

It's also sad and empty with tennis

But I know how to deal with problems in life. By drowning them in alcohol, one at a time.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

I’ll still watch from time to time but not as frequently and I won’t be nearly as passionate about it.

This is when we thank the tennis gods for allowing Fedalovic to exist in our lifetimes.

 

[tennisgurl]

For me, yes because I love tennis. Sure young guys and gals might not be breaking Serena and Roger Rafa records but game lives on..

 

[tenisdecente]

Yes I do, but not as a religion like right now. Tennis is boring outside the big3, plus Fognini and some other guys - the tour is terrible right now, so without them, I dont think I would watch a lot. We need new guys who makes us watch and enjoy tennis

 

[Standaa]

The biggest problem is that the second-tier players from 2005-2013 were ten times more interesting that the young upcoming top guys ( best of LostGen/NextGen)

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

i'll actually watch more tennis after one of the so-called 'big 3' retires

 

[Deleted member 743561]

i'll actually watch more tennis after one of the so-called 'big 3' retires

Tennis is coming home.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

i'll actually watch more tennis after one of the so-called 'big 3' retires

You’ll miss The Nadal when he’s gone.

Who else will you hate? No one else can fill that hole.

 

[aman92]

Unlikely I'll watch it regularly...maybe only catch the Grand Slams. It's going to leave a huge hole that's for sure

 

[TimHenmanATG]

I'm a tennis fan, not a sad little fanboi or fangurl - so yes, I will continue watching tennis after the Big 4 retire.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

I'm a tennis fan, not a sad little fanboi or fangurl - so yes, I will continue watching tennis after the Big 4 retire.

If you survived Tim retiring then this will be easy.

 

[CivicLx]

I'll probably always follow simply because I love tennis that much. Sure it will be disappointing the day that his holiness Roger retires and I'm dreading that day But really, the tour is always going to be full of guys/girls that can do what I only can dream of on the court so I'm always going to be a fan of the sport.

 

[clayqueen]

Federer, Djokovic and Murray can retire anytime they like my viewing habit won’ change but I will scale down when Rafa retires.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Federer, Djokovic and Murray can retire anytime they like but I will scale down when Rafa retires.

You're saying that Fed will outlast both Nadal and you?

 

[Elektra]

Yes but to me tennis is at it's lowest point right now. I think right now we at a stand still or stagnation in tennis where the sport needs new blood and new new stars. I don't mean the Big Four should retire but there needs to be new stars to make the sport exciting again and more profitable.

I also think that once the big four retires, personality needs to comeback to the sport. Personality and having different flair and style is what is missing in tennis. During the tennis golden years of the 70's and 80's what made it great was having different personalities.

Today tennis is too robotic and it does not value having a personality. Everything is too corporate. If tennis wants to go in the 21st century and compete with other sports they need to value personality aspect which lead to their rise back in the 70's and 80's.

The next generation is a colorful group and what I like about them is that they are not robots.

 

[TimHenmanATG]

If you survived Tim retiring then this will be easy.

I remember Henman handing Federer's derriere on a silver platter on numerous occasions.

It makes me smile when people on this forum talk about Federer as the GOAT, when he couldn't even beat Peakman.

 

[Red Rick]

I’ll still watch from time to time but not as frequently and I won’t be nearly as passionate about it.

This is when we thank the tennis gods for allowing Fedalovic to exist in our lifetimes.

So we thank Murray for Fedalovic?

 

[clayqueen]

You're saying that Fed will outlast both Nadal and you?

When did i say that?

 

[Deleted member 743561]

When did i say that?

When Nad leaves, you're out, right? Two birds, one stone.

 

[Tiki-Taka]

Maybe less frequently overall but I won't stop watching the biggest events. Tennis will always be a fun, special sport.

 

[vandre]

i followed it when the big four were in diapers. i'll follow it when they're in depends.

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

As long as MILOS is active I see no reason to stop following tennis.

 

[hoodjem]

Watched and played before them. Why stop when they do?

Tennis is a game, not about particular players.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

I will be watching it the rest of my life, unless the sport just dies and doesn't exist anymore...in that case, that is when I will stop watching.

 

[Red Rick]

I will be watching it the rest of my life, unless the sport just dies and doesn't exist anymore...in that case, that is when I will stop watching.

When the sport really dies is the time to pick up the racket and beat all Fred's record even though you're over the age of 90

 

[Deleted member 77403]

When the sport really dies is the time to pick up the racket and beat all Fred's record even though you're over the age of 90

Yeah...well, why the heck not?

 

[weelie]

My big three were Agassi, Chang and Edberg. I am not really watching those old Agassi - Sampras matches on repeat, although I do miss the Edberg style of tennis. Now Fed and Nadal grab my attention. Of course as I get older, I am maybe not able to find new idols, but I assume the sports men will only get better.

 

[speedysteve]

Tennis is perpetual. Single talents are not.

It's okay the oldies come out every now and then and shuffle off to rehabilitate after a surface or season, as a bit of extra interest for us.
Time waits for no man.

 

[TennisCJC]

I'll continue to watch but I'll miss Federer.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

You’ll miss The Nadal when he’s gone.

Who else will you hate? No one else can fill that hole.

i agree that it seems impossible that they ever invent something as hatable as the nadal
that being said, i enjoyed tennis way before this abomination joined the tour...

 

[Standaa]

i agree that it seems impossible that they ever invent something as hatable as the nadal
that being said, i enjoyed tennis way before this abomination joined the tour...

Come ooooon, Rafa is awesome

 

[Phoenix1983]

As a long-time objective tennis observer, I shall continue to observe as new talents come on to the scene.

(Of course, "talent" implies something more than the likes of Thiem, A. Zverev and Kokkinakis)

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Come ooooon, Rafa is awesome

I hear he is at his most awesomest when on his island.

He can play tennis there, no?

 

[Standaa]

I hear he is at his most awesomest when on his island.

He can play tennis there, no?

Sometimes he returns serves from his island

 

[NoleFam]

I was following it before the Big 3 and will be following it after they leave. No one is bigger than the game itself.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

I was following it before the Big 3 and will be following it after they leave. No one is bigger than the game itself.

Exactly.

 

[uscwang]

Not in the same way.
There may be another player as good as Fed/Nadal/Djokovic, or even two at the same time.
But all 3 together with contrasting styles and life stories? Probably not.

 

[MugOpponent]

I'll watch it but can't imagine there ever being a more exciting era or a player I enjoy being a fan as much as I am for Nadal.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Why hasn't the OP answered his own question, when he says "us" in the thread title?

 

[Towser83]

I'll still watch but maybe not as much, depends on who emerges. Tell you what a lot of people who hated certain member(s) of the big 3 just might appreciate them a bit more when they're gone. Seeing matches like AO17 final and the Wimbledon semi with Nadal and Nole, there are matches that are a bonus because who thought they'd all be playing this level in 2017/2018?

 

[True Fanerer]

Tough to say until it happens. It will be a sad day for sure. I always seem to find someone else to support or at least I have so far. Won't ever quite be the same would be my best guess. Really don't want to think about it to be honest. Maybe one of these guys wins me over like players in the past have. Just have to see.