Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal told when they should have retired by Wimbledon winner
Michael Stich has suggested he thinks Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have both played on too long as he revealed when he “would have liked” to see the legendary duo retire.
The former Wimbledon champion feels Nadal should have called time on his career after his 14th French Open title, while arguing this year’s Olympics would have been a good moment for Djokovic to stop.
Nadal will call time on his glittering career after the 2024 Davis Cup Final 8 stage in Malaga this month.
The legendary Spaniard won the last of his 92 singles titles at the 2022 French Open, where he secured his 14th French Open title and 22nd Grand Slam crown overall.
Since that triumph, the 38-year-old has been prevented him from playing regularly by various injuries.
Nadal played only four matches in 2023 and he reached his only final in the two-and-half years after his Roland Garros win at the Swedish Open in July this year.
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Djokovic, meanwhile, won his only title of 2024 at the Paris Olympics in August, where he claimed a maiden gold medal to become the first man to win every significant prize in tennis.
The 37-year-old Serbian, who won three Grand Slams in 2023, has outlined his intention to extend his career into 2025.
In an interview with Tennis Magazin, Stich gave his verdict on Djokovic and Nadal’s decision to play into their late thirties and recognised the difficulty of finding a good time to retire.
“With Novak, it’s a bit different [to Nadal]. He has always surprised you,” the German said. “They have all surprised us at certain times in their careers. But I would have liked Rafael to say ‘I’m quitting’ after his 14th French Open victory.
“I would have also liked Novak to call it quits after winning the gold medal. What else could come next? The eleventh Australian Open victory?
“If that drives him, all good. But at some point, as I felt, you don’t want to lose to the number 30, 40 or 50 in the world and have to work so hard. Finding the way out is always difficult.”
Stich, who won 18 ATP titles and reached a career-high ranking of world No 2, retired from tennis at the age of 28 in 1997.
The German defeated compatriot Boris Becker in straight sets to win his only Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 1991, while he was also a runner-up at the 1994 US Open and the 1996 French Open.
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