Club 35+ and the age factor

[GSMSampras]

I'm not optimistic. In fact, I think 2019 will be his last year. If he resurges then he can go out strongly; if he continues to fade, he'll have to admit he's done winning big titles, which will see his interest collapse completely. I think the Australian Open will tell us a lot. Obviously with a resurgent Novak, Roger is unlikely to defend his title. But we'll at least have a sense of whether he can start the year strong and compete with the big boys.

2019 will be a dogfight with Novak and Rafa, with Novak pulling away. 2020 will see Novak reign over a cluster of rising Next Genners, with Rafa fading. 2021 will see Rafa retire and Novak fading. 2022 will be Novak's last year. That would see Roger retiring at age 38, and Rafa and Novak both retiring at age 35. Or so I see it. As a wise man once said, "Difficult to see; always in motion is the future."

There's no way Djokovic retires within one year of Nadal with such a superior serve-return combination.Federer will retire in 2020 at 39,Nadal in 2021 at 35 and Djokovic in 2024 at 37.

 

[El Dude]

yes I'm extremely perceptive, it's a talent but talent is not required to read dull's mind since he's so predictable.

For some reason I imagined this being said in Donald Trump's voice.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

Uh, huh. And empathetic as well. That's what makes you such a reliable predictor of the feelings and inclinations of others. I'm sure the otherwise nastiness is just a rhetorical flourish to keep people guessing what your real agenda is: deeply reading the psyches of tennis players. Nice job hiding your sensitivities under a bushel.

Empathetic narsicist, you could not make it any more contrasting, ha, ha! I understand your last sentence is a pure irony, Moxie, and I like it the most.

 

[monfed]

Uh, huh. And empathetic as well. That's what makes you such a reliable predictor of the feelings and inclinations of others. I'm sure the otherwise nastiness is just a rhetorical flourish to keep people guessing what your real agenda is: deeply reading the psyches of tennis players. Nice job hiding your sensitivities under a bushel.

LOL triggered

Anyone with half a brain can predict that dull's sole reason to exist is the slam record. Putting off marriage for it. What an egotistical little manchild. And that Xisca is a golddigger, following dull around like a clothes hanger.

 

[Moxie]

LOL triggered

Anyone with half a brain can predict that dull's sole reason to exist is the slam record. Putting off marriage for it. What an egotistical little manchild. And that Xisca is a golddigger, following dull around like a clothes hanger.

I shouldn't dignify this with a response, because you really just make stuff up to be insulting, but I'm going to defend María, since she's the only one of the Big 4 WAGs who actually went to University to study business and has actually held down jobs unrelated to her famous spouse. I'd say she needs "gold digger" lessons. PS: Following someone around "like a clothes hanger" doesn't describe her, nor does it make sense as a metaphor. What...on its little clothes hanger legs?

 

[monfed]

I shouldn't dignify this with a response, because you really just make stuff up to be insulting, but I'm going to defend María, since she's the only one of the Big 4 WAGs who actually went to University to study business and has actually held down jobs unrelated to her famous spouse. I'd say she needs "gold digger" lessons. PS: Following someone around "like a clothes hanger" doesn't describe her, nor does it make sense as a metaphor. What...on its little clothes hanger legs?

she's getting gold digger lessons everyday with dull throwing money at her to keep her by his side, any half decent girl would've dumped him for not committing but xisca is also enjoying vip seats to see live tennis matches and vacations in private beaches

 

[Fiero425]

she's getting gold digger lessons everyday with dull throwing money at her to keep her by his side, any half decent girl would've dumped him for not committing but xisca is also enjoying vip seats to see live tennis matches and vacations in private beaches

Oh please; spare us! Even I'm not that partisan to go after Xisca! Give her a break; Nadal's dull AF! :whistle:

 

[Moxie]

she's getting gold digger lessons everyday with dull throwing money at her to keep her by his side, any half decent girl would've dumped him for not committing but xisca is also enjoying vip seats to see live tennis matches

You clearly have no understanding of their history. They come from the same town in Mallorca, and were introduced by Rafa's sister. They've been together since Rafa was 18 and María Francisca was 16. They share a dialect, not only a major language. I don't see how you say that Rafa is not committed to her. It's a life relationship. Toni has one as well, and he's never married his partner. And they have 3 kids. If you don't think Rafa and María are the equivalent of a marriage, you aren't paying attention.

 

[monfed]

You clearly have no understanding of their history. They come from the same town in Mallorca, and were introduced by Rafa's sister. They've been together since Rafa was 18 and María Francisca was 16. They share a dialect, not only a major language. I don't see how you say that Rafa is not committed to her. It's a life relationship. Toni has one as well, and he's never married his partner. And they have 3 kids. If you don't think Rafa and María are the equivalent of a marriage, you aren't paying attention.

Toni passing on his training to his nephew. How sweet.

There is no such thing as equivalent to marriage. You are either married or you're not.

 

[monfed]

Oh please; spare us! Even I'm not that partisan to go after Xisca! Give her a break; Nadal's dull AF! :whistle:

Ok Fiero you got it man.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

You clearly have no understanding of their history. They come from the same town in Mallorca, and were introduced by Rafa's sister. They've been together since Rafa was 18 and María Francisca was 16. They share a dialect, not only a major language. I don't see how you say that Rafa is not committed to her. It's a life relationship. Toni has one as well, and he's never married his partner. And they have 3 kids. If you don't think Rafa and María are the equivalent of a marriage, you aren't paying attention.

I'm not interested in paparazzi talk but on this occasion I checked this article to figure the extents of the virtual reality the narcisist surrounds himself with. And indeed, Xisca is quoted from one of her rare public appearances, explaining why she chooses not to attend most of Nadal's tennis matches:

"He needs his space when he is competing, and just the idea of me hanging around and waiting on his needs all day tires me out.
"It would asphyxiate me. And then he would have to be worrying about me... No. If I followed him everywhere, I think there's a risk we might stop getting along."
(my emphasis)

So here we have the veracity of the "cloth hanger" idea and of "gold digger lessons" and of "xisca [...] enjoying vip seats to see live tennis matches": pure BS.
There is no point engaging with someone who invents such BS. Because it's so easy to see through this BS, you don't really need to defend Xisca here. Rest assure we all understand the reality that you as Nad fan are so familiar with. Also no need to show any emotive reaction to the narcisist, who with his explosive BS allegations, is only waiting to pray on induced emotions, he's shown us many times how he enjoys emotive displays of others that he wants "to understand" (i.e. to control).
On the other hand, the ignorance of narcissist (i.e. not talking to him directly) I'm showing herein, has worked for me so far. narcissist either does not understand such reaction or feels uncomfortable in such ambience, because he does not engage with me despite my now openly ridiculing tone.

 

[monfed]

I'm not interested in paparazzi talk but on this occasion I checked this article to figure the extents of the virtual reality the narcisist surrounds himself with. And indeed, Xisca is quoted from one of her rare public appearances, explaining why she chooses not to attend most of Nadal's tennis matches:

"He needs his space when he is competing, and just the idea of me hanging around and waiting on his needs all day tires me out.
"It would asphyxiate me. And then he would have to be worrying about me... No. If I followed him everywhere, I think there's a risk we might stop getting along."
(my emphasis)

So here we have the veracity of the "cloth hanger" idea and of "gold digger lessons" and of "xisca [...] enjoying vip seats to see live tennis matches": pure BS.
There is no point engaging with someone who invents such BS. Because it's so easy to see through this BS, you don't really need to defend Xisca here. Rest assure we all understand the reality that you as Nad fan are so familiar with. Also no need to show any emotive reaction to the narcisist, who with his explosive BS allegations, is only waiting to pray on induced emotions, he's shown us many times how he enjoys emotive displays of others that he wants "to understand" (i.e. to control).
On the other hand, the ignorance of narcissist (i.e. not talking to him directly) I'm showing herein, has worked for me so far. narcissist either does not understand such reaction or feels uncomfortable in such ambience, because he does not engage with me despite my now openly ridiculing tone.

you will believe anything that dull says so what's the point of engaging you?

 

[Billie]

I shouldn't dignify this with a response, because you really just make stuff up to be insulting, but I'm going to defend María, since she's the only one of the Big 4 WAGs who actually went to University to study business and has actually held down jobs unrelated to her famous spouse. I'd say she needs "gold digger" lessons. PS: Following someone around "like a clothes hanger" doesn't describe her, nor does it make sense as a metaphor. What...on its little clothes hanger legs?

Actually Jelena went to university in Milan, Italy, and held down a job unrelated to her famous spouse...https://ca.hellomagazine.com/profiles/jelena-ristic/

 

[Moxie]

Actually Jelena went to university in Milan, Italy, and held down a job unrelated to her famous spouse...https://ca.hellomagazine.com/profiles/jelena-ristic/

Good to know, and good for her. I have always admired the "Big 4" for going more for the girl-next-door (albeit very gorgeous ones) rather than supermodels.

 

[monfed]

Actually Jelena went to university in Milan, Italy, and held down a job unrelated to her famous spouse...https://ca.hellomagazine.com/profiles/jelena-ristic/

So none of the BS excuses that dulltards come up with for nadull not marrying xisca hold good. Thanks for confirming.

 

[ftan]

I would say, it's their life, let them live how they want, them getting married or not is none of our business. Now if Rafa was going around multiple girls, yes that would be a spot on his character, but I see nothing to make anything bad out of their relationship.

 

[atttomole]

I kept monitoring for sometime this year how the older players, who are in their mid thirties and are still active, fare in comparison with their best. Condidering the current state of affairs in men tennis, when players are maturing later than decades sgo many peaking in their late twenties and some even in their early thirties, it is intriguing to analyze how long they can keep it up. Some can do pretty well in their 30-34 range, however after that it seems the downhill starts.

Here is the list of currently active players, who are 35+ years old:
( I put their current ranking vs. their Career best ranking in brackets as well as their age:

2. (1) R. Federer .37y
62. (25) J. Benneteau 36y
71. (12) F. Lopez 37y
79. (23). G.G. Lopez 35y
___________
110 (8) M. Youzhny 36y retired
____________

113. (33) P. Lorenzi 36y
137. (14) I. Karlovic 39y
138. (21) G. Muller 35y
140. (37) C. Berlocq 35y
147. (3) D. Ferrer 36y
156. (50) St. Robert 38y
165. (37) N. Mahut 36y
232. (5) T. Robredo 36y

Note: these were the rankings 2 weeks ago right after Youzhny retired.

There are some more players who are still playing at such an age like J. Melzer or V. Estrella Burgos, but they are not ranked in the top 300.
What this revealed to me is that with one exception, Roger, all of them had fallen well below their very best and clearly are not as competitive anymore.
This analysis is useful for me to see also how much expectations we could have from others like Nadal and Djokovic going forward.
IMO, around 34-36 the window of opprtunities will close for all of them. Some will fall off the cliff earlier, as it used to be, but the fitter ones seems that they can stretch their career well into the mid thirties, but not beyond.

Your analysis also shows how good Federer is. At 37, he is still number 3 in the world, even though his game has been sputtering of late. I don't know if Nadal and Djokovic will be able to play as well as Roger at 35.

 

[herios]

Your analysis also shows how good Federer is. At 37, he is still number 3 in the world, even though his game has been sputtering of late. I don't know if Nadal and Djokovic will be able to play as well as Roger at 35.

Thanks for bringing back in discussion the main topic!
I am puzzled how the other posters managed to drift away to talk sbout why Rafa hasn't married Xisca !!???
Yes, Roger has had an outstanding 1 year or so at 35-36 age, which I doubt it will be matched.
That is why I think both Nadal and Novak need to make the most of the next 2-3 years, if they want to close the gap.

 

[Jelenafan]

Why don’t we wait until Nadal and Nole get there, shall we?

For what it’s worth, I can certainly imagine Nadal playing well at Roland Garos at 37 and I can visualize Nole playing well at the USO at that age.

 

[Jelenafan]

Thanks for bringing back in discussion the main topic!
I am puzzled how the other posters managed to drift away to talk sbout why Rafa hasn't married Xisca !!???

People are only human so blatant trolling sometimes works.