Google News Andy Murray: I'd be surprised if Roger Federer retired now
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Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray said that he would be surprised if Roger Federer stopped playing now. "I have heard quite a few times over the years that he was going to stop and people have been speculating on that different times over – remember when he lost to Tommy Robredo at the Us Open, people talking about that then.
I don’t know if that was like eight, nine years ago or something,’ Murray smiled. "I mean, I don’t know whether he’s going to stop playing this year or not. I’d be surprised if he did the way that he is still able to play and compete.
He seems like he still loves it. "He’s been brilliant, and I hope he keeps playing for as long as he can. Yeah, I just don’t quite understand, because I have experienced it myself, this sort of why people want to always ask those questions about when someone is going to finish.
Like, he’ll do it when he’s ready. "I wish everyone would sort of like encourage him to keep going and keep playing as long as he can, as long as his body can do it, because we’ll miss him when it’s over."
Murray speaks on the GOAT race
Federer and Rafael Nadal each own 20 Grand Slam titles, while Novak Djokovic has 19 Grand Slams in his collection.
"I mean, none of their careers are finished yet, so I think obviously you have to wait and see what happens, but, I mean, all of them – yeah, for me the fact he’s won every Masters Series twice," Murray said.
"And yesterday has won every Slam twice, as well, which for him is something that that obviously stands out as where you could make that argument, well, you know, that is incredible what he’s done. "Then, like, with Rafa you would then look and go, Well, on clay he’s won 13 French Opens.
You know, that’s the most that anyone has won at a single Slam. That’s incredible. "Then with Roger, you know, he’s been doing it all multiple kind of generations now. He’s still able to compete at the highest level.
He’s 39 years old. You know, his record and his results on grass are unmatched. You know, all of them have, you know, things that or achievements that you could argue make them better than another. "I mean, I’m not, I don’t know if they are, maybe they are, but I’m not that fussed about who is the best.
I think there is no doubt that it’s been the best era in tennis history. I know people said the same thing like when Sampras won 14. It was like, God, I don’t think anyone is ever going to beat that, or, It’s going to take a long time for someone to beat a record of 14, and then you’ve got three guys that are probably going to win 20-plus majors in the next generation.
"So it’s incredible what all of them have done. It’s been great to have played during that period and also challenging, but, yeah, I think as a tennis fan it’s been a great, great time to get to watch it and play a small part in it as a player, as well."