Roger Federer retires

Thanks Matt, I'll keep an eye on those players you mentioned.

US Open, 95% Djokovich, 4% Nadal, and 1% the field.

95%? Wow, done deal. lol

Warrior - 80% Novak, 20% field.

I have Novak at only 80%, because he hasn't had much success at the US Open. Last year he got disqualified, and the year before he got injured. Most would say both incidents were bad luck, but his injury was a result of a long season, and the DQ was a result of the pressure of being the massive favourite.

I also mentioned the field in general without mentioning Rafa, because imo he is done (outside of clay). He is very beatable on a hard courts, even at Grand Slams. I mean, he even choked a 2 sets to love lead against known-choker Tsitsipas in the Aus Open QF.

Roger is also done. I mean, he got bagelled on grass by Hurkacz, who himself got bagelled by Berrettini in the next match he played.

Medvedev is the next closest contender, because so far, he hasn't proved himself to be a choker. Most of the other contenders are. Even Rafa is choking these days.

The Olympics are on soon as well. Rafa has won an Olympic Gold in singles, while Novak and Roger have not. They play best of 3 sets at the Olympics, so there is a higher chance of upsets.

« Last edited by Matt77 on Jul 13th 2021 »

The Olympic Tennis will get the great players motivated. In my opinion it is more prestigious than the four grand slams as it only comes around every four years and being able to call yourself Olympic gold medallist puts you up there with the sporting greats like Jessie Owens and Muhammad Ali.

Does anyone know what surface the Olympic Tennis is played on?

« Last edited by Sanzano on Jul 13th 2021 »

Olympic tennis is on hard court.

Nadal has a shot of upsetting Jokovich then. I wonder if that is the tournament Nadal is focussing on. 4 time Olympic gold medalist would sound impressive on his resume, Nadal has two golds already. No other Tennis player in history would be able to match that feat. The nearest would be Andy Murray with 2 gold medals.

« Last edited by Sanzano on Jul 14th 2021 »

Dennis - This year the Olympics is played on hard courts. It depends on the country who hosts it. In 2012 it was played on grass at Wimbledon, and Andy Murray won gold. In 2024 at Paris it will be played on clay at Roland Garros. I think that will be Rafa's final career goal - to go to Paris and win his second gold medal.

Also, you'd think players would be motivated for the Olympics. But so many players have pulled out for non-injury reasons. There are a few genuine injuries though.

Roger Federer is OUT of the Olympics, with a 'knee injury' (likely fake). He simply wants to be ready for the US Open.

Key names out:

Mens:
- Rafa Nadal (rest/recovery)
- Dominic Thiem (injury, but was likely to withdraw anyway)
- Roger Federer (rest/recovery)

Womens:
- Sofia Kenin (coronavirus restrictions)
- Bianca Andreescu ('injury' supposedly)
- Simona Halep (injury)
- Serena Williams (coronavirus restrictions)

I cannot see Roger having any shot at the US with the newet knee issue. Even if minor, hurts him all the more.

So what we are sayng is the players don't consider the Olympic gold as prestigious as one of the four grand slams. To me the Olympic gold medal is iconic andif and the pinnacle of the sport you play.

Gold Medal or Most Grand Slams of All Time? I would go with the latter if I already have a Gold Medal.

It's really interesting how some sports peak achievement is the Olympics and other sports seemingly don't care as much or at all. No one really seems to care about Olympic soccer or baseball or golf, but it's the end all be all for diving, swimming, and track & field.

Well, yeah. You can make millions play golf, baseball, or soccer on its own. Swimming, diving and track and field is all about making it to the Olympics and placing so you can receive endorsements. Now way to make money, at least not the bug bucks, doing the latter otherwise.

Yeah, that's true. I wasn't really thinking about money. More about the prestige disparity of winning the World Series or World Cup vs winning olympic gold in baseball or soccer and how it's completely reversed winning gold in diving vs winning the diving world championships.

Because it is all about money. lol

I guess money is the difference. If it's a major established sport then it's the title that the sport is known for which is more prestigious and if it is some obscure sport the pinnacle is the Olympic gold medal which is universally recognized that you are the best in the world at it.

An exception to this is Boxing. If you get a gold mdeal in the Olympics as an amateur it makes your route to a world championship and big bucks in the pros faster and more lucrative.

I will give you boxing as an exception, but only slightly because as you said it always goes back to money. lol

I think tennis players don't care as much about the Olympics because:
- Men play best of 3 sets there, compared to best of 5 at a Grand Slam
- Players play 4 GSs and roughly 16 tournaments every year, so there isn't as much pressure for 1 match
- Tennis is a long game and you get more time to think. In other sports you work for 4 years in preparation for a race etc that goes for less than a minute
- Certain players cannot participate in the Olympics if their country has already reached their maximum team members
- The Olympics offer no prize money or ranking points
- Among other reasons

Warrior - Roger does not have a knee injury. It's an excuse to skip the Olympic without being accused of skipping an Olympic event. However, even fully fit he has a 0% chance of winning the US Open. Actually 0%.

Imo every player should look forward to the Olympics. You often see players getting inspired when playing for their country. Dominic Thiem's coach was an average player, and he went and won the Singles AND Doubles gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics for Chile. In 2016 unseeded Monica Puig won the gold medal by beating Kerber, and it was Puerto Rico's first ever gold medal. Both these people are national heroes, and it was the pinnacle of their careers.

I will always give Roger at least 1%. I think twenty grand slams earn you that.

I was trying to do what Freez did when he said Philly had a 0% chance of winning the Superbowl ;)

Warrior13 is correct, you can't discount a player who has won 25 grand slams during his career. It only takes Djokovic to slip up against an unknown in an upset and all of a sudden the odds changed considerably. Over the years I have seen many a grand slam champion fall to on their way to the title.