The ATP in 2021: Appreciate the Champions

Retirement is a personal subject many athletes prefer to keep private, though in 2021, several beloved ATP superstars will be closely monitored.

Roger Federer, due to return from a pair of right knee surgeries, turns 40 in August. Andy Murray played four tournaments once the tour restarted last August before cutting his season short with another drawback to his ongoing right hip issue.

Federer and Nadal at the Match for Africa in Cape Town. (Getty Images)

Stan Wawrinka, 36 in March, said at the 2020 Paris Masters, “I’m close to the end of my career, but I also believe I have one last push.” And Juan Martin del Potro, one of the sport’s most luckless players in the injury department, hasn’t played since June 2019 and has since undergone three operations on his right knee.

Whenever and wherever these major champions pop up this season, take it all in and treasure their screen time, for a considerable hole will come sooner or later.