[Dawn Marie]

With each ending season comes a few personal losses to the fans and tennis. I just read where Sarah Pitowski is retiring. Not to mention Tauziat and Anke and a few others. Anyway It got me to thinking how am I gonna take it when Venus plays her last match? I think I may actually shed a few tears. But I dont think I will ever like/admire another tennis player as much as I do Venus. What about you guys out there? Are there still some retired players that you still adore? And how did you react when they played their last match?

 

[moon]

Shed a few tears? lol. I'll be crying like a baby when Venus retires. I cried when Jordan retired (the first time <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> ) and I'm sure it will be worse when Vee decides to go. Hopefully this is not something I will have to think about seriously until at least 5 more years.

 

[Josh]

I followed the scores for Sabine's last match on the net. It was at the Australian Open this year and it was already late at night here but I just couldn't go to bed. She lost the match and I felt really empty afterwards. It's a feeling hard to describe. It's strange though cause although I don't know her personally I felt like I had a bond with her after following her for so many years. Needless to say I couldn't sleep that night <img src="graemlins/sad.gif" border="0" alt="[Sad]" /> ...

Same when Steffi retired. She was the first player I watched on TV.

I was also sad when Dominique, Julie, Mary Joe, Gaby and others retired.

But luckily there's Justine and Kim and a few others! <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Dawn Marie]

He He your right moon.. I am going to be crying my eyes out just like a baby. Sheesh I lost it when she lost round 1 at RG let alone never playing again. Hey were you at Michael's game last week? I thought I saw you in the stands on T.V. You haad on a brown sweater.. lol. ALso I love Jordan. You must go watch the IMAX short film on him. You'll love it if you haven't seen it already.

P.S. I REALLY miss tennis already! <img src="graemlins/sad.gif" border="0" alt="[Sad]" /> <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Dawn Marie]

Oh yeah I still miss that cute little Domi. <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> but Josh I don't think I could ever adore another player as much as I do for Venus. I feel like were connected in some fanatical way. Sure more players will come but their is not going to be another like Queen Venus. Even her name is special. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Josh]

I know exactly how you feel Dawn. As much as I love Justine and Kim, they will never replace Sabine and Steffi. Those two will always remain my all time favs. <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

 

[ali]

I'm already going through it! <img src="graemlins/sad.gif" border="0" alt="[Sad]" />

It was a really strange feeling when Anke played her last match. Although we've known for months, it still came as a bit of a shock in a weird way...and I agree about the empty feeling.

I'll still follow tennis, but not with the same passion or enthusiasm as before. You know that feeling...getting excited when a tournament starts, analysing the draw, discussing it on here. I don't really care who wins the big tournaments next year.

One thing though...I might actually be able to sit and enjoy watching a match without feeling so nervous!

Miss you Anke <img src="graemlins/sad.gif" border="0" alt="[Sad]" />

 

[saki]

I still miss Steffi. I no longer get really excited by matches and tournaments. But since her retirement I have been much more objective about the game. I watch tennis now because it's beautiful and skilful whereas before I had too much personal involvement to do that.

Maybe some day I'll get to see little Jaden play... <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

 

[Randy H]

I'm predicting I'll probably be extremely emotional, distraught, and scarred for life when Arantxa retires, lol. I will never like another player as much as I love Arantxa and maybe part of what will make it so emotional is that over the years Arantxa fans have always admired that Arantxa never goes away, she is always hanging in there till the bitter end, so for her to leave the tour will be a difficult thing to see and deal with.

I'll also be very sad when Karina retires too because she's my second fave, and she's in a spot of her own in my heart aswell <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> Sad that both of them are towards the latter years of their careers, I just hope to god they don't leave in the same year or I won't know what to do <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

 

[Scotso]

When Mary retires... I think I'll feel a bit empty and sad... right now I've felt that way for a while, but I'm still hoping for her to come back and have a lot more success. I might cry... but I think that I would be okay with it. Mary has had a great career... but it will be less interesting without her, as it has been this last 1 1/2 years.

Allez Mary!

 

[irma]

Steffi talked so much about retirement in the years I watched her that I was totally prepared for the day and I was happy she finally could do the things she always wanted too <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

I like Kim now and it`s fun to support her but I know it will never be what it was with Steffi but I am also not looking for that <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Deira]

When there is no longer a Venus and/or Serena Williams on the tour, I will probably go into mourning for a very looooong time <img src="graemlins/sad.gif" border="0" alt="[Sad]" /> <img src="graemlins/sad.gif" border="0" alt="[Sad]" /> <img src="graemlins/sad.gif" border="0" alt="[Sad]" />

 

[thefreedesigner]

Well, Natasha never really 'retired' as such.... she just stopped playing. When Van Roost retired it hurt because she was still a good player, but not quite good enough, if you know what I mean?

When Jana retired I felt pretty sad, but not like, really sad. There's an evitability about it that I equate to when my favourite band splits.

I can't imagine feeling too sad when Justine or Martina retire. Maybe some of my other faves who didn't (well not yet!) reach their potential; Patty, Elena L and Sandrine.

You mourn, then move on.

[ November 12, 2001: Message edited by: thefreedesigner ]</p>

 

[Lindsayfan]

i'm trying to think how i'll feel when Lindsay will retire (in 2004,she said).i guess i wont see a tennis match anymore!i cried when Guy Forget retired (i cried more and more when he got married <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> ),and i didnt love him like i love Lindsay.Life wont be the same without her!!!

[ November 12, 2001: Message edited by: Lindsayfan ]</p>

 

[m_pierce fan]

I will be very sad when Mary Pierce retires.... <img src="frown.gif" border="0"> but luckily i know that she is going to play atleast next year!!!Also i am very sad when Jennifer Capriati and Monica Seles retires....Good luck all of them!!!!

<br />Allez Mary Pierce <img src="graemlins/wavey.gif" border="0" alt="[Wavey]" /> <img src="graemlins/wavey.gif" border="0" alt="[Wavey]" /> <img src="graemlins/wavey.gif" border="0" alt="[Wavey]" />

 

[sartrista7]

It depends on what they've achieved, and what they could have achieved... with Jana, it was fine - you sensed that retirement wasn't far away as soon as she finally won Wimbledon. With Steffi, it was just odd - she'd been around all my tennis-watching life, and she did leave a void. And I was still (am still) really pissed off that Davenport beat her in that Wimbledon final. Honestly, some people just don't know how to behave at a going-away party. <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <br />I don't think I'd be distraught if any of my faves retired tomorrow. Iva's got a Grand Slam to her name (but I firmly believe she'll get more, Capriati-style). But most of my other current faves are pretty young - Venus, Elena D, Lina K, Justine - and I don't foresee them retiring any time soon. If any of the last 3 did, I think I would be upset, as none of them have had a chance to fulfil their potential yet.

 

[ttaM]

If Monica could win one more slam then she could retire the day after and I would be so happy for her. I would be sad for me but happy for her. Monica is one the last true ambassadors to the sport. I don't think we will see a lot of todays young players playing at 30.

 

[friend]

when did lindsay say she was gonna retire>? i missed that one!>?

when she does I will be pretty upset, and I dunno ifi will worship tennis as much as I do now, and wimbledon wont seem as a big deal as it has been since i started following her,

<br />I dont wanna think about it!

 

[Frau Antje]

I will cry, cry and cry if Miriam retires (I'm afraid she will do next year) <img src="graemlins/sad.gif" border="0" alt="[Sad]" />

 

[the cat]

I was dissapointed when Stefan Edberg retired in 1996. Then came Anna Kournikova. And the rest is history!