Thursday, December 12, 2024
spot_img

Federer can play until he is 60, says Nastase

Date:

Share post:

spot_img
spot_img

LONDON: Roger Federer should play until he is 60 if he wants to, according to Romanian former world number one Ilie Nastase.

The Swiss 17-time grand slam champion has slipped to sixth in the world rankings and won only one title this year, prompting many to suggest he is a spent force at 32.

Nastase the former bad boy of tennis, believes Federer should not listen to the naysayers, however.

“I wish people wouldn’t say that Roger Federer has to retire,” the 67-year-old former French Open and US Open champion was quoted as saying in Romanian media.

“I think he should play for as long as he wants. I don’t agree with those people who say that you should retire when you’re past your absolute best or prime.

“No, Federer doesn’t have to prove anything, he can play to 60 if he wants to.”

Federer, who has spent a record 302 weeks as world number one during his illustrious career, is still one of the biggest draws in tennis, according to Nastase, even if he has fallen behind other players.

“If Federer wants to carry on playing, no-one is going to say: ‘No, we don’t want Federer to play’.

“He is going to retire when he feels like it. I don’t think that he has to retire just because he is no longer the world number one. That happens to everybody, as you can’t stay as the world number one forever. He retires whenever.”

Nastase himself retired from the Tour at the age of 39 but continued playing invitational seniors events into his 60s. (Reuters)

spot_img
spot_img

Related articles

Jharkhand villagers launch violent campaign against Maoists in West Singhbhum; 10 reported killed

Chaibasa, Dec 12: A violent campaign led by villagers against extremists, Maoists, and illegal traders has intensified in...

NIA arrests accused in Assam for terror links

Guwahati, Dec 12: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested an accused from Assam’s Goalpara district and detained two...

SC imposes Rs 5 lakh costs on employer for taking wage and termination dispute to arbitration

New Delhi, Dec 12: The Supreme Court has imposed Rs 5 lakh costs on an employer for dragging...

Financial Intelligence Unit detects undisclosed income worth Rs 11,000 crore in 2024: Centre

New Delhi, Dec 12: The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) detected undisclosed income worth nearly Rs 11,000 crore in...