Players' Retirement Thread

[noleisthebest]

As tour is getting older, we are going to see more and more players retire in the coming years.

We have been watching many of them week in week out for over 10-15 years!

It may sound funny, but some have become like members of family...

They have grown as characters and we with them as fans...

What has prompted me to wrote all this?

Well, I saw this photo on ATP website this morning: Jarrko Nieminen has retired.

Ok, Jarrko was never a superstar, but I remember being upset with him about 7 years ago when he dared beat Nole in some 250 tournament match in Australia, preventing Nole from ungluing himself from what seemed at the time doomed for eternity number three spot.

So...Jarrko said goodbye to tennis in his home tournament in Stockholm last week.
And what a cool send-off he received

Goodbye Jarrko and enjoy your well-earnt retirement. You can now sweat in peace of your favourite sauna - not running around tennis courts any more...




So, this is a thread not only to announce retirements but to show a bit of humour and suggest any potential retirement send-offs for your favourite and not so favourite players...

It doesn't have to all be doom and gloom!

[noleisthebest]

Btw, why is Borg not in the photo?

[Tenez]

Nice post.....I guess this is the retriement thread for the journey players. Good idea. They all bring something on the table.

Like all players of federer's generation (bar Federer and Ferrer)  he struggled to keep up with the new modern tennis. Often getting injured and lacking that crucial spin so much needed.

A great shot maker though.....but after 2006-7 (his peak ranking) that would not be enough....especially as he often carried injuries.

[noleisthebest]

Thanks for the clip, T.

Indeed a shotmaker who was able to show off even against Maestro.

Nice reminder that he was more than a bland "nobody" journeyman.

[luvsports!]

Nitb, you  said to me Jarkko wasn't a shotmaker this year at the FO when I said he was.
Now you are saying he is because Tenez said that?

[luvsports!]

This was when you were still a nole fan mind.

[Tenez]

Jarkko is a tough player top classify actually. I thought he was a retriever a few years ago and then looking at his game he has a great FH. His BH often puts him on the defensive and I guess that is why I (and maybe NITB) thought he was a retriever. But looking at his overall game...I think he has become more aggressive with age.

[noleisthebest]

A bit sad (but not surprised) to read that Sod has given up the ghost and finally announced he's not coming back.

http://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/10108417/robin-soderling-has-accepted-that-he-will-not-be-able-to-revive-his-tennis-career


Still, let us not mourn him...it had to end some day...it's what he left behind  we (and he) will remember...

Thank you, Robin! 




What a guy! 

PS
Is anyone here thinking what I am thinking? 

[Tenez]

What? Forced to retire? Not really....don't think so....though the possibility of a bad transfusion giving him GF ..yes that is always a possibility.

[noleisthebest]

No, I didn't think of that...just that Robin could join Fed as a coach.
Swedish coaches (Norman, Edberg) seem to be cracking the RR code.

[Tenez]

No, I didn't think of that...just that Robin could join Fed as a coach.
Swedish coaches  (Norman, Edberg) seem to be cracking the RR code.

Nope. That never crossed my mind. I really don't think Robin could bring anything....not even friendship which is what Federer really wants from his coaches.

[noleisthebest]

No, I didn't think of that...just that Robin could join Fed as a coach.
Swedish coaches  (Norman, Edberg) seem to be cracking the RR code.

Nope. That never crossed my mind. I really don't think Robin could bring anything....not even friendship which is what Federer really wants from his coaches.

Unlike Ljubicic, Soderling has at least beaten Rafa!

Yes, I also think he just wants a companion on tour and someone to bounce ideas off.
Better than silence.

I know that Luthi has been with him for ever, but he looks such a cold and of-putting character for some reason...reminds me of Serbian Davis Cup captain.

[Tenez]

Ljubi beat Rafa too. Twice even....if I remember. But in Miami for sure...when he was 32.

[noleisthebest]

Tommy Haas retires, too!

I saw him live vs Nole on CC one year. I think I schmoozed.

Great player with nice, smooth shots.

Now, as the IW TD, not as good as the player, does he even have a say in surface speed?

[legendkillar]

Think it was long overdue.

Such cruel fate robbed him of a potential Slam winning career. Certainly had the game for it.

[Tenez]

He had the game but not the mind. Too emotional. But worse players than him have won slams.

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