The fabled top four has not been the fabled top four since Andy Murray’s injury. Instead it has been the top three with Dominic Thiem as the number four player. Today the fabled top four is all but a distant memory with Novak Djokovic the only one remaining in the top four. He is still the number one player and the guy to beat.

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Injury Happened To The Other Three

If you participate in any sport and demand a lot from your body daily for an extended period of time, it will come as no surprise when the body breaks down. While exercise is good, excessive exercise leads to damaging wear and tear. Andy Murray exemplified that when he became obsessive in his pursuit and damaged his hip. Roger Federer has for decades demanded a lot from his body and now knee injury has become the recurring theme of his career. Everyone knows how hard Rafael Nadal has pushed his body; thus, once again, it’s no surprise injury has caught up to him.

No One Can Escape Mother Time

Add to the physical demands that athletes place on their bodies, let’s throw in the psychological toll of competing at the highest level week in and week out. Then there is the obvious factor of time. While they may want to keep giving their all, their bodies are getting older and can no longer perform at such a high level consistently. When injury and age make it difficult to perform at your best, isn’t it time to walk away gracefully?

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Many Top Athletes Find It Hard To Say Goodbye

Is it pride? Perhaps, but there is also the “love of the game.”  I think, if you genuinely love the sport, let it go when the mind and body can no longer perform consistently at the highest level. The love for the game will still be with you always. Only two are playing tennis at the moment: Djokovic and Murray.