When should Nadal retire?

[Denis]

(probably need a poll function)

1. If he can't improve: next year.
2. If he can improve to become competitive soon (eg beating top 5 players) until he definitely sinks to current levels.
3. Even if he does not improve, he should not retire until he is 35 or so.
4. If he doesn't have a realistic chance to win a slam, immediately.
5. something else.

 

[Billie]

I don't know, whenever HE wants is what I would pick.  I really don't know what the players are going though in their lives on and off tennis court, but it can't be always easy.  I don't want to see anybody retiring too soon.  If he enjoys playing, let him.

I, on the other hand, would retire tomorrow and enjoy my days work-free and filled with tennis.

 

 

[Federberg]

Don't see why he should retire at all. If he still enjoys playing he should continue. Up to him! From a materialistic point of view, I suspect he could continue playing and even if he drifts down to just a top 20 player (not saying that would happen) he still stands to earn millions from endorsements every year. Besides what's he going to do if he stops? People forget stuff like that..

 

[britbox]

<cite>@Federberg said:</cite>
Don't see why he should retire at all. If he still enjoys playing he should continue. Up to him! From a materialistic point of view, I suspect he could continue playing and even if he drifts down to just a top 20 player (not saying that would happen) he still stands to earn millions from endorsements every year. Besides what's he going to do if he stops? People forget stuff like that..

Agreed. Although 2016 is a huge year for Nadal... The Year of Reckoning in a manner of speaking.

 

[Federberg]

Yup I agree. From a slam winning perspective. He could still have a pretty decent career even if he didn't win anymore (not saying that). I for one will be watching with interest. Will he be able to recover his edge (speed), or will he have started adjusting his game to deal with a new reality

 

[Moxie]

I'm with the everyone who says that there's no reason to talk of his retirement, yet.  He has been famous for tinkering with his game, so there is every reason to believe he'll come up with a new strategy for his now later-career.  Even Roger has made adjustments, and he quite notably didn't, for much of his career.  The last year and a half has been rather dismal for Rafa, but it's way too early to call him cooked.  Yes, he went his first year in 10 consecutive without a Major title, but he's only 18 months without one.  Roger went 2 1/2 years between his penultimate and his last.

 

[Mastoor]

I think he will be his old self very soon, so there's no chance he will retire any time soon.

 

 

 

[britbox]

I'm not so sure - I think he lost a mental edge.  He looked very tight on many of the big points I saw him play during some of the losses.

 

[Federberg]

<cite>@britbox said:</cite>
I'm not so sure - I think he lost a mental edge.  He looked very tight on many of the big points I saw him play during some of the losses.

I think you get that mental edge back by winning

 

[britbox]

@Federberg If you read the books of most of the top pros, it's usually losing the mental edge that causes the decline.  Edberg said he lost it when he was around 26... still felt great physically but ended up hanging it up when he was 30.  Plenty of pros have said they started second guessing themselves in the latter reaches of their career because they also know time is running out and their chances may be running out.  It's an added pressure.

 

[isabelle]

He should retire when he's fed up to be ridiculous (vs the Fog, Brown etc..) it's up to him

 

[Federberg]

<cite>@britbox said:</cite>
@Federberg If you read the books of most of the top pros, it's usually losing the mental edge that causes the decline.  Edberg said he lost it when he was around 26... still felt great physically but ended up hanging it up when he was 30.  Plenty of pros have said they started second guessing themselves in the latter reaches of their career because they also know time is running out and their chances may be running out.  It's an added pressure.

No argument there. I guess I'm just trying to give Rafa the benefit of the doubt. There's still an outside chance that this year has been about a loss of confidence and not a loss of belief (I'm characterising belief as the problem Edberg had in the latter half of his career). I suspect I'm being a bit optimistic, but there's still a chance. The collapse against Fog doesn't help. But then Roger had his moments.. remember Tsonga at Wimbledon?

 

[Denis]

<cite>@Mastoor said:</cite>
I think he will be his old self very soon, so there's no chance he will retire any time soon.

What makes you think this?

 

[brokenshoelace]

I think we equate retirement with "no longer among the favorites to win a major" when it comes to these great players, whether consciously or unconsciously. As such, it's difficult to truly assess. In my mind, there's no doubt that 2016 will be a pivotal year for Nadal as far as winning majors ever again goes, but should he not come particularly close, does that mean he should retire? I can't say.

 

[Moxie]

<cite>@brokenshoelace said:</cite>
I think we equate retirement with "no longer among the favorites to win a major" when it comes to these great players, whether consciously or unconsciously. As such, it's difficult to truly assess. In my mind, there's no doubt that 2016 will be a pivotal year for Nadal as far as winning majors ever again goes, but should he not come particularly close, does that mean he should retire? I can't say.

You make a good point that we hold great champions to higher standards.  Perhaps they do themselves.  And, yes, 2016 will tell us something about Nadal, but he'll just be turning 30 in June.  Like Roger, who had a pretty bleak 2013, only to come back up, I'm sure that Rafa will be fancying his chances for longer than the internet might.  Agassi came back from challengers to win Majors.  I think it's the internet that sees ignominy in falling out of the top 5 and immediately anticipates the end.

 

[Mastoor]

<cite>@Denis said:</cite>
What makes you think this?

Hi mate, glad to see you again.

Rafa's one of the biggest legends of the sport so I believe he'll figure out missing ingredients in his game very soon. I don't know t this stage if you watched the exhibition vs No1e, Rafa sticks with the baseline, doesn't go far behind to defend, made some very good points at the net, so i guess he is in the process of changing his game. He's just too good player to fail.

 

 

 

[MikeOne]

let's analyze history, shall we

In 09, Nadal lost to Soderling and pretty much took the second part of the year off. People started claiming his prime was 05-08 and this was the beginning of the end. What happened in 2010? He won 3 slams and made eoy championship finals? arguably his best year.

2011 came around and Djokovic owned Nadal, beating him in 7 straight finals. 2012 came along, Rafa won Roland but injury woes surfaced again. By the end of 2012, the word was - it's over

2013 came along... What happened? Rafa goes on a tear, winning 5 masters events, including his best hardcourt season ever, winning Indian Wells, Toronto, Cincinatti and USO..basically he dominated hard courts and clay.

2014 comes along and injury woes again. In 2015 it has taken a while to get back into form. Now will we ignore history again and rule Nadal out for 2016?

The key of me is health and he seems to he physically well and so it's just a matter of confidence, he needs a few big wins. He could once again, as he has done so many times before, shut the doubters up.