Tennis Today: Spanish star on brink of retirement; Novak Djokovic family ordeal

In Tennis Today, a fixture on the ATP Tour openly admits to making retirement plans, while Novak Djokovic has harrowing news from home.
What’s on the site
Well, the Nadals were in especially brutal form yesterday.
First of all, Rafael said what the rest of us have been thinking but haven’t really won enough French Open titles to be able to say out loud.
Maybe, just maybe, the reason that Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic have been able to dominate for so long is because the much-hyped “Next Gen” are just not special enough?
Then, Uncle Toni decided to take aim at the ATP and offer his own theory about why the golden oldies are still on top by suggesting that the younger players lack the wisdom to manage the needless stresses the ATP Tour places on players these days.
One person who’d love to get back to challenging the elite again is Andy Murray, and that cause has been helped by being granted a wildcard to play at the Cincinnati Open.
What’s in the news
Shocking reports coming our of Serbia claim that Novak Djokovic’s grandfather-in-law was subjected to a harrowing ordeal.
Assailants broke into the home of 85-year-old Miloslav Radisavljevic, who is Djokovic’s wife’s grandfather, robbed him, and left him tied up in a field several miles away.
Djokovic’s press team says in a statement on Thursday the family is in “complete shock over what happened”.
In similarly sad, yet nowhere as shocking and appaling, news, David Ferrer is preparing for retirement.
The former world number three has won 27 titles and three Davis Cups during his career, but he is now actively winding it down.
“A part of me is leaving, now I play without expectations, I notice that this journey of my life is coming to an end.” Ferrer told El Larguero.
“Next year I’ll play some invitational tournaments, the ones I like the most, and I’ll see where and when I retire.”
What’s on social media
Julia Goerges took some time out from dominating the Moscow River Cup to take in some sightseeing.
The Rogers Cup continued their ‘we didn’t want you anyway’ subtext towards Roger Federer.
Johanna Konta got eaten by a whale.
An absolute corker of a #TBT! Oh Juan Martin, how young you were…
What’s on TV:
ATP Hamburg
LIVE – Sky Sports Arena, 10:00 – 18:30
WTA Moscow River Cup
LIVE – BT Sport 2 – 8:00 – 14:00, 15.30 – 19:30
WTA JiangXi Open
LIVE – BT Sport 3 – 10:00 – 14:00
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