BGod
G.O.A.T.
We constantly talk about fairytale sendoffs but what about the absolute worst ways barring injury you could see for Big 3 to retire?
I think with Fed it would be not retiring at Wimbledon or Basel and obviously in an early round beatdown. Something like Miami after losing early at AO and IW and a long enough time before WImbledon. As I don't think he'd retire after a bad outting at Stuttgart or Halle, he'd obviously play Wimbledon regardless. Given the Laver Cup I also don't see him retiring after an embarrassing USO loss and he'd already be close enough to Basel.
For Nadal I could see a late season collapse and him deciding not to engage in the following season. Having his last match be on clay whatever the result wouldn't be the worst outcome in my mind. Again if we're taking out injury I think logistically it would have to be a late season drubbing, perhaps at Shanghai or Paris but even a poor RR match at the WTF. I would throw in a sizable gap from him last winning the French, so like 2023 or later if he couldn't win one anymore.
With Novak considering the all-court presence it's difficult which would be the worst but I'm going with sudden retirement given how he'd carry an aura at every event unless he went over a year without winning anything. He's had his inconsistencies and upsets. Also given the hate he receives I feel for him the worst way to go out would be losing in finals in close matches. Suppose he wasn't the reigning champion at any Slam and then made the USO and AO Final back to back losing both in close fashion. After the AO loss he decides not to play clay and announces his retirement. It would be a strong end but for him I think anything short of leaving drained would be a disappointment. Like he's still close to contending but after a couple close Finals losses he just retires being the GOAT but without a Sampras finish and with everyone happy he lost those finals. Think of a reverse Fed in 2014-2015.
For reference on other career finales I feel were somewhat sad:
Rafter losing back to back Wimbledon finals, then loses back to back USO warm ups to Pavel in 3 and Kuerten 3,1, loses at R16 to Sampras in 4 where he just looked tired mustering a tiebreak set and goes 0-3 at the WTF without winning a single set. To boot he started the year losing in the AO SF after up 2-1 against Agassi. Overall a really solid but really heartbreaking year for Pat.
Roddick, loses to Ferrer early at Wimbledon, Delpo in a winnable match at USO after losing opening round of Cincy to Chardy. None of those last few matches were fun to watch with his best victory by far beating Fed at Miami in 3 sets and like with Haas just felt like Roger didn't care and was almost gifting it as a farewell present.
Safin having a losing record in his last season and overall disappointment. Even at Moscow where he beats #1 seed Davydenko in the opening round he then loses to Korolev in straights to call it a day. Yes he made Semifinals of Petersburg just after losing to Stakhovsky but that was a lesser tournament and I didn't care to watch.
I think with Fed it would be not retiring at Wimbledon or Basel and obviously in an early round beatdown. Something like Miami after losing early at AO and IW and a long enough time before WImbledon. As I don't think he'd retire after a bad outting at Stuttgart or Halle, he'd obviously play Wimbledon regardless. Given the Laver Cup I also don't see him retiring after an embarrassing USO loss and he'd already be close enough to Basel.
For Nadal I could see a late season collapse and him deciding not to engage in the following season. Having his last match be on clay whatever the result wouldn't be the worst outcome in my mind. Again if we're taking out injury I think logistically it would have to be a late season drubbing, perhaps at Shanghai or Paris but even a poor RR match at the WTF. I would throw in a sizable gap from him last winning the French, so like 2023 or later if he couldn't win one anymore.
With Novak considering the all-court presence it's difficult which would be the worst but I'm going with sudden retirement given how he'd carry an aura at every event unless he went over a year without winning anything. He's had his inconsistencies and upsets. Also given the hate he receives I feel for him the worst way to go out would be losing in finals in close matches. Suppose he wasn't the reigning champion at any Slam and then made the USO and AO Final back to back losing both in close fashion. After the AO loss he decides not to play clay and announces his retirement. It would be a strong end but for him I think anything short of leaving drained would be a disappointment. Like he's still close to contending but after a couple close Finals losses he just retires being the GOAT but without a Sampras finish and with everyone happy he lost those finals. Think of a reverse Fed in 2014-2015.
For reference on other career finales I feel were somewhat sad:
Rafter losing back to back Wimbledon finals, then loses back to back USO warm ups to Pavel in 3 and Kuerten 3,1, loses at R16 to Sampras in 4 where he just looked tired mustering a tiebreak set and goes 0-3 at the WTF without winning a single set. To boot he started the year losing in the AO SF after up 2-1 against Agassi. Overall a really solid but really heartbreaking year for Pat.
Roddick, loses to Ferrer early at Wimbledon, Delpo in a winnable match at USO after losing opening round of Cincy to Chardy. None of those last few matches were fun to watch with his best victory by far beating Fed at Miami in 3 sets and like with Haas just felt like Roger didn't care and was almost gifting it as a farewell present.
Safin having a losing record in his last season and overall disappointment. Even at Moscow where he beats #1 seed Davydenko in the opening round he then loses to Korolev in straights to call it a day. Yes he made Semifinals of Petersburg just after losing to Stakhovsky but that was a lesser tournament and I didn't care to watch.
