When Will Federer Retire?

Question

Coming from a strong fan, I was rooting for him as soon as he beat Sampras in 01. But he's done.

No way in h**l can you look at his MASSIVE downslide in ATP tournaments outside of Slams and say he's still going to make it out.

The only question is, how much longer will he play? I now seriously doubt it will be till 2012.

2010 maybe.

Answer 1

Well I can't believe we are all betting against Roger but I think this has been on the cards all year.

I predicted before this years French that he would retire after the Aussie Open 2010.

Physically with the way Roger plays he could play until his mid-30s.

However, The question really is why does Federer play now-Does he play to be no.1? or does he play for the love of the game?

Obviously he wants both but would he seriously want to go out slidding down the rankings?

In a competitive sport I cannot see it. Justine Henin quit whilst she was ahead. Had she not retired already the same probably would have happened to her this time next year

I think Roger thought he could hold off Rafa for another year or two and is rather suprised by his massive strides.

Really, To answer your question, It depends on what is his main reason why Federer plays-To be the best? Or because he loves it?

Personally, I think because he has been at the top for so long I think now he plays to break the records and to be the best as opposed to playing because he loves it. If I am right then what it comes down to is does he believe he will get that Grand Slam record and still be the no.1? With the way he is playing he doesn't look like he really believes anymore. Nadal has got under his skin. It is probably just as well that he lost because could you imagine if he then lost to Nadal on hard courts right now? Considering he has been knocked off his throne at his fortress Wimbledon and ofcourse after the French final.

But then again I am not Federer and only he will know what his main cause is.

Answer 2

Are you serious? To ponder retirement sounds like a fool.  He made it to 2 grand slam finals. Who else can say that? He won a tournament while having full blown mono. He got to the semis of a Grand Slam (AO) while having mono. Mono sucks big time. I hope NAdal and Djoker get it so they can have a taste of chinese medicine. China sux.

That was the beginning of the downslide, as you call it. Then he got into a slump.

It didn't help that they slowed the Wimbledon courts down which helped Nadal get to the final in the first place. That's why I love hard court season. Its at least a bit more fair to see the players real talent.

Well lets see what happens in 09. He needs to regroup. He should watch all of his old matches. He should get pep talks and get his confidence back. He probably needs a differnt coach.

Answer 3

hopefully until he surpasses Sampras'  14 grand slams

Answer 4

I definitely agree with you. I don't think he'll last until 2012. The losses are taking a serious mental toll on him and he won't be able to keep it up. It's possible Federer's reign is all but over now. I honestly don't know that we'll see much of Roger after the US Open, because he needs a serious mental and physical break from tennis.  

Answer 5

another 2 yrs

Answer 6

He will play till he thinks he can win No. 15 or 2012, whichever comes sooner. That number 15 is very important to him though he took pressure off himself by saying a grand slam here and there is not going to make a big difference to his career but an Olympics gold will.

I think he will win Wimbledon next year and probably 2 more grand slams before he turns 32. For all his losses, he still made the SF in Australia and finals at the French and Wimbledon this year. He is still a big tournament player like Sampras was. But if he doesn't break the record by 2012, he will call it quits anyway as I believe that is his target for retirement.

Answer 7

Unfortunately for Roger there was nowhere else to go but down.  Anyone at the top has only one way to go once you reach the top.  He will be known as "One of the Greats in Tennis possibly the Greatest"  Time will tell.  I truly believe he will give his all to break Sampras's record.  Yes its uphill, but soon the pressure will subside and hopefully he finds his game again, it is so beautiful to watch him play.

Anyway, only he will know when the time has come no one can really guess on this  He is a fighter.

Answer 8

At the latest he won't play past his early thirties. No way he's playing past 2015.