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Tennis players who could retire in 2016

Published 04/15/2016, 11:54 AM EDT

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It is often said that age is just a number in any sport but one has to realize that with age one’s intensity and ability to last longer in crunch matches reduces. The dilemma of continuing to play at the highest level lies in age or injuries that often raise doubts in the player’s mind which ultimately leads to their decision to retire from the sport.

After the crowd favorite Hewitt retired post the 2016 Australian Open, EssentiallySports looks at the tennis players who might call it quits in 2016 or by the end of the 2016 season.

8. Janko Tipsarevic

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The 31- year old Serbian, who had been sidelined for 17 months due to a foot injury in 2015, made his comeback recently . His goal was to get into the top 10 again but that seemed far-fetched considering he got out in the first rounds of Wimbledon and the US Open.

The recurring foot injury forced him to withdraw from 2016 Australian Open, where he assured himself a place with a protective ranking. He hasn’t played competitive tennis since last year’s US Open. As a result of his inactivity, his ranking has plummeted to 495 and he may be forced to call it a day sometime this year.

7. Tommy Haas

In a career which has lasted for about 20 years, Haas came into ATP circuit in 1996. Throughout his career, he has been plagued by many injuries which have kept him out of the sport for twelve months twice. The German who just celebrated his 38 birthday has been out of action since the 2015 US Open after losing a five-set thriller to Fernando Verdasco.  However, he hasn’t officially announced his retirement which he shall if he isn’t able to play in 2016.

6. Jurgen Melzer

Like Tipsarevic and Haas, Melzer has been out of action since last year’s US Open having lost to Tomas Berdych in the round of 64 in straight sets. The 34-year old has struggled with fitness problems since and his retirement won’t come as a surprise to anyone.

5. Mikhail Youzhny

After a disappointing 2015 which included many first rounds losses, the 33 years old Russian began the 2016 season strongly by playing in the challenger events in Southeast Asia. He won three consecutive titles in Thailand and Philippines which enabled him to break into the top 100 again.

Currently ranked 77 in the world, Youzhny hasn’t been able to qualify for any of the Grand Slams this year. Also, he hasn’t gone beyond the 2 round in any of the ATP Masters 1000 this year.

With age catching up with him, it surely looks that 2016 will be the last season of his playing career.

4. Venus Williams

After having an illustrious career lasting more than two decades, Venus Williams’ career took a nose dive when she was diagnosed with Sjögrens Syndrome in 2011. Her return to competitive tennis was marred by injuries until she was able to turn the tide around and re-enter the top ten for the first time since 2011 and ended the year at world number seven in the WTA rankings.

However, 2016 hasn’t proved to be a fruitful year for her. With a first round exit in Australian Open and second round exits in Indian Wells and Miami Open, Venus has only managed one title this year in Taiwan. With such a mediocre form and an unsuccessful year, the elder of the Williams sisters may call it quits this year.

3. Roberta Vinci

The 33-year-old Italian made a surprise Grand Slam final at the US Open in 2015 where she was eventually beaten her fellow countrywoman Flavia Pennetta, who also retired at the end of the 2015 season aged 33.

She won her first title in 2016, her first since 2013, which made her the oldest ever player to make her first appearance in the Top 10.

At the age of 33, she might be looking for a Grand Slam this year and might choose to retire on a high like her Italian countrywoman Flavia Pennetta.

2. Bryan Brothers

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After having an abysmal 2015 season Bob and Mike Bryan have started to show signs of age catching up with them. The twins aged 37 have just one title this year. After struggling with form throughout 2015, this year has been no different as they have lost several close matches because of complacency. Having won 110 titles together and a with a career lasting more than 15 years, the most successful men’s doubles pair may retire this year after trying for yet another Gold at the Rio Olympics.

  1. Leander Paes

    via Imago

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The Indian maestro who won three mixed doubles Grand Slams with Martina Hingis in 2015 has been out of action in 2016 so far. Short on ranking points for doubles, the Indian ace has been participating in doubles events to garner enough points to qualify for the Rio Olympics doubles event.  His future will depend on his performance at the mega sporting event this year in Rio. If he does well at the Olympics then there will be a reason for him to play longer. If he does not do too well at the Olympics, then chances are that he could retire.

He hopes to play in the 2016 Rio Olympics with Rohan Bopanna in men’s doubles and with Sania Mirza in mixed doubles. That’s the plan so far. If Leander plays in Rio de Janeiro, it would be his seventh Olympics since playing for the first time at the 1992 Barcelona Games. The 42-year-old is the only Indian to win an Olympic medal in tennis — a men’s singles bronze in the 1996 Atlanta Games.

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Written by:

Himanshu Madnani

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