When They Said Goodbye: ATP Players and the Year They Retired

Relive the unforgettable careers of ATP tennis legends in "When They Said Goodbye: ATP Players and the Year They Retired." This video takes you on a nostalgic journey, showcasing iconic players who have stepped away from professional tennis. Discover the year they retired, how old they were when they bid farewell, and the legacies they left behind. From emotional farewells on court to the milestones that defined their careers, this tribute celebrates the champions who shaped the sport. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to tennis, this video is a heartfelt reminder of the greatness that continues to inspire.
✅ 👉 welovetennis.s...
In 2024, Rafael Nadal, one of tennis's greatest icons, officially ended his illustrious career. After dominating the sport for over two decades with an unparalleled 22 Grand Slam titles and countless unforgettable moments, Nadal retired at the age of 38. His farewell marked the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy defined by relentless determination, unmatched clay-court dominance, and the indomitable spirit that inspired millions worldwide. Fans and fellow players celebrated his contributions to the sport, honoring a career that will be remembered as one of the most extraordinary in tennis history.
In this nostalgic moment, let's go back in time and revisit ATP Tour legends who have retired from tennis.

[@Godzillajeff]

I'm 61. My God, the memories, great, from the 70s. Vilas was a stud, Borg amazing, Tanner had an "interesting" life afterward, and Vitas G., sad. And Ashe, well, my racquet was an Arthur Ashe II. and I have lived, blessed with HIV for 34+ years now. And I LOVED playing tennis in my youth. God bless everyone, and be good to all people. JEFF from NYC ❤..

[@jm1657]

Bless you, Jeff. May you continue in very good health for many years to come 🫶

[@jm1657]

Can’t resist posting in agreement about Vilas… he was soooooo appealing! Beautifully muscled in his form-fitting attire, handsome face with light green eyes, and soft spoken. Soulful, his nickname was ‘The Poet of The Pampas.’ My teenage self rather lusted after him 😍😃

[@Godzillajeff]

@jm1657 So do I, and, my God, what a body!!!!!!! OMG. LOL. Ahh, youth...Enjoy life, my friend. Jeff from NYC

[@Godzillajeff]

@jm1657 Thank you, jm! Really. Too much negativity in the world..... Be happy ❤ Jeff from NYC.

[@jm1657]

@@Godzillajeff Thank YOU, Jeff. You make the world a kinder place ☀️🌷

[@infiniteuniverse9528]

Having witnessed several of these goodbyes to the sport, by far Agassi's was the most emotional. I promise you there was not a dry eye in the house...

[@jm1657]

Honestly, I immediately still get a bit choked up at the memory of Andre, tearfully bowing & blowing kisses in thanks & farewell to the crowd. On his country’s biggest stage. His deeply-felt speech is one for the ages. It couldn’t have been a more beautiful scene to witness 🌟🫶

[@alinelisiabarbosagannam7762]

Patrick Rafter was runner-up in wimb in 2001. He did not retire in 1997, as he says in the video.

[@jontakaki503]

The whole thing was probably generated by AI without any human double check.. I wonder what else it got wrong.

[@mabt4223]

ai is amazing.🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

[@npe1]

You are correct. He lost to Goran Ivanisevic in the 2001 Wimbledon final.

[@msn8461]

Great Mistake
Fernando González is from CHILE 🇨🇱
Other mistake: Is full necesary to include to Nicolas Massu from CHILE 🇨🇱 : Top 10, and Winner of 2 final with 2 Gold Medal in the same Olimpic Game (Greece).
Grandes Feña y Nico!
Viva Chile! 🇨🇱

[@mauroradomski7535]

Que es un Chile???

[@RodrigoYépezTapia]

It is a country, ignorant

[@sanvar]

Muito obrigado, Gustavo Kuerten!

[@AlexSantana-b5w]

Fernando González es de Chile, y faltó Nicolás Massú de Chile también, doble medallista olímpico de oro.

[@MattyOyola217]

How did Rafter make to win US Open 98 and reach the Wimbledon Final in 2000 and 2001 if he "retired" in 1997? 😂

[@acelive7]

That's exactly what I had on my mind🤭

[@AlexCequea]

He was THAT good 😅.

[@MattyOyola217]

@@AlexCequea I wanna be like him lol. Not even Borg was able to achieve such feat xD

[@danielplatter9168]

GoAT

[@fabioriella5146]

Tá errado obviamente

[@leosilv4616]

7:10 ooooh my Roger 🥲

[@WhoAmI_4386]

Emotional year for me. Federer's retirement began the end of an era.
Nadal retired this year. I was a big admirer of Andy too. Really appreciate his consistency almost for a decade before he got injured. Even though he lived his career under the shadows of the Big 3. He is gone as well.
Novak will be gone before the end of 2026. And tennis will never be the same again for me.😢😢😢

[@jm1657]

Take heart ☀️The beauty of the game of Tennis will endure forever. And new Maestros are always on the horizon to thrill & inspire us.

[@OctavioAldea]

2:36 Guillermo Vilas reached World number 2, not 1. And, please!, 6:06 Fernando González is not from Spain. He is chilean.

[@OscarMartinez-ie6kz]

I Did not see Nico Massú on the list... big mistake

[@marcelofuenzalidaramirez9215]

Fernando González es Chileno y NO español

[@spinin1251]

Rafter won the US Open in '97, retired and said, "I'm gonna come back and beat you all as a senior!" And he did, starting in '98. True story.

[@kortest4868]

As a swede I think Magnus Norman deserves to be mentioned in this list.

[@bmrhapsody]

Feña González es chileno.. mano de piedra, la mejor derecha del tenis.

[@vvl7025]

Roger - самый лучший навсегда !!!

[@judahlowenstein6652]

Rafael nadal 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@estebanmmm2317]

Fernando González is from 🇨🇱

[@JuanGomez-dk6kf]

Eso mismo venia a decir

[@enfermerosyparamedicoslimi3725]

Fernando González is Chilean citizen.
Error editor.
Thanks You.

[@ivanotenor]

Fernando González from Chile

[@alpiannoor3287]

thanks the video, back to memories when i kid, i serving as ball boy when 7-10 years old. at 1990s at that time i always heard the people play at court discussing about named above, like andre aggasi, pete sampras etc, now i playing tennis at this age and feel good memories,

[@craw-w3q]

Some interesting pairs going out in the same year:
McEnroe & Lendl who had a huge career rivalry both retiring in 1994.
Edberg & Wilander the two best swedes of the 80s/90s both retiring in 1996.
Becker & Graf the two German greats both retiring in 1999.

[@jm1657]

I was very bummed when Steffi retired. I adored her play.

[@trade00]

Anders Jarryd was a top 5 player. And a Wimbledon semifinalist who also won the year ending way finals in 1986 I believe. I don’t see him. He should have been on list

[@kontol41]

@trade00 who was better Jarryd or Nystroem?

[@alessiomarsilio8483]

Fernando Gonzales is Chilean, not Spanish

[@ScherrKurt]

Federer the best!!!

[@concepcionur2291]

Siempre recuerdo la despedida de Su Majestad en la Laver Cup, maravillosa; llena de detalles y actitudes inolvidables de sus colegas

[@Yucaste]

6:07 Stone Hand, Fernando Gonzalez is Chilean, not Spanish, nor is Nicolas Massu, double Olympic gold medalist

[@fredodomino4635]

Very nice vidéo !

[@soyangarin]

Fernando González is not spanish

[@allenboyer2207]

Music is like a funeral march! LOL

[@mardono1]

Fernando Gonzalez is from Chile🇨🇱, not from Spain.

[@mattwidmer9238]

Damn that hurts to see...all of my legends from the 2000s and 2010 years are gone now...especially Roger and now also Rafa...cant deny that it hurts for real

[@WeLoveTennisYoutube]

Don't Cry Because It's Over, Smile Because It Happened.

[@nikolajovanovic4013]

King is still on 🔥 🇷🇸❤

[@antoniobal4021]

Borg se retiro poco despues del open usa 81, quizas fuera ya 1982,pero no 84.Se retiro con 26,no con 28

[@relaxmax6808]

exact 26 years Borg. 11 grand slam at 26 years old.

[@craw-w3q]

He played some exhibition tornaments here and there in 1982 & 83 but was basically done with the regular tour.
I was lucky enough to attend one of them: The Akai Gold Challenge in Sydney in 1982...Borg, Lendl, McEnroe & Gerulaitis...fantastic line-up.

[@kostrzak18]

Rafter won his first Grand Slam in 97. Were do you pull this data from?

[@WeLoveTennisYoutube]

My bad. He ended his career in 2001 at the age of 29.

[@Summon256]

This is what happens when you trust AI with these sort of things...

[@bayraktarltdsti]

Thank you RAFA 🥲🫡

[@Nadalforehand]

Rafa ❤❤

[@TimCARTER-i9r]

Incredible how long Federer played at such a high level
The last 18 months of Nadals carrier he was broken down

[@TheInselaffen]

Crazy how young they used to retire. Andre showing the way as usual.

[@GamingBelladonna229]

Rafael Nadal…so sad that he had to retire. Thanks for everything Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Two of the greatest players….😢

[@asyrafnukman1991]

Terima kasih video

[@DegaPride]

Patrick Rafter retired in 2093 and Fernando Gonzalez isn’t Spaniard. He is Chilean.

[@zendosaftw]

2093? damn, that's a long career

[@mileszhou3378]

Bro don’t know what he’s talking about 😅

[@figueiredowff]

​@@zendosaftwretired with 121 years...
Amazing!

[@figueiredowff]

​@@mileszhou3378González is chilean! In that point, he is right

[@andresort2001]

González es Chileno el ql

[@CARLOSMENDOZAPALMA]

FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ es CHILENO 🇨🇱

[@Jonger2002]

Good bye Rafa 😢😢😢

[@onlyguitarrace]

Fernando Gonzalez 06:08 is Chilean, not Spanish !!!

[@Shaduza]

Fed 22 in davis cup finals
Rafa 24 same place but in malaga
nole 26 in his own tournament in belgrade

[@chicharron14kXdRm]

Y ganando 1 Gram Slam

[@Dman9fp]

Fed was in Laver cup

[@MrTomsimoes]

​@@chicharron14kXdRmNole???😂😂😂

[@Marto2168]

What makes the Fab 3 amazing. Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. Is they still dominanted winning tournaments in their late 30’s.

[@lenwelch2195]

Wow ,Chris Evert won her last Wimbledon the year Roger Federer was born - 1981. To think Evert retired 35 years ago is shocking to me.

[@leckmich007]

Rafa...the best player ever.... Gracias RAFA...🇪🇦

[@christianesardalubillo9345]

Pour vous mais pas pour moi Roger Federer la classe élégance meilleure jeu comme Sempras

[@george777-e7z]

Hey man, u dont know nothing About Tennis? Fernando Gonzalez is from Chile not Spain!!!!

[@luishernansolissolis7911]

Falto Patricio Cornejo de Chile, Fernando Gonzalez es chileno y NO español.

[@arcticphoenix2789]

Ancic was 26 when he retired?
I remember him being this tall young server in Virtua Tennis 3

[@joaomarcos8570]

Fernando Gonzalez is from Chile

[@NocturnalRoman]

Where is Safin?

[@ezzaf57]

Rafter was born in 1972. So how was he 32 in 1997? 😂

[@marcelopereira2234]

Rafter retired before Boris Becker??😂😂😂😂 It's a joke

[@ivanhernandezroldan6575]

Fernando González español?? 😂😂😂😂 A mí me da que es chileno...
Siempre contáis todo del revés, que pena de gente...

[@AlejandroGarcia-wz1qi]

Es un error, tampoco es para ponerse así

[@srbincetnik01]

NoVax the Serbianator is simply the goat

[@stephenmeitai7622]

Roy Emerson retired at age 47. Hope Djokovic breaks this Record too

[@bagaudas1400]

NOVAK LOSER 😂😂​@@stephenmeitai7622

[@bagaudas1400]

FEDERER 😂😂

[@stephenmeitai7622]

@@bagaudas1400 Federer is a Women

[@lukericketts4055]

Maybe

[@duff0120]

bjørn borg was only 26, and retired on the top top

[@nikojedi]

Fernando gonzalez the first spanish chilean

[@mauroradomski7535]

Thank you very much for recognizing that Guillermo Vilas was N1. He is currently suffering from Alzheimer's. It has been proven that he reached N1 twice, in 1975 and 1977. Let's hope that the ATP recognizes this during his lifetime. Greetings from Argentina

[@Godzillajeff]

I loved him. Along with Goolagong, my favorite players from a great period. Best to Mr. Vilas, I'm sorry to hear about his Alzheimer diagnosis....❤

[@patriciorabanal5636]

Patrick Rafter siguió jugando tenis 🎾 en la década del 2000

[@bobmurphy1981]

Rafter won his first grand slam in 97 not retired in 97

[@MarkoMarkic-ew2ux]

How Patrick Rafter retired in 1997, if he played final match in Wimbledon 2001???
He officially retired 2003, though he played his last match in November 2001

[@manumaster8929]

Fernando fonzalez español? 😂😂 es chileno! 🇨🇱

[@marquinhostanjioni8776]

Fernando González is from Chile, not Spain.

[@musicaperpianoforte]

Ion Tiriac retired in 1979

[@tuparaisoonline4808]

Verdasco is 2 years younger than Lopez, they cant have the same age if they retired the same year

[@claudineibarboza4226]

Agassi 2006/ 8 grand slams
Federer 2022/ 20 grand slams
Nadal 2024/ 22 grand

[@davidbulfon7278]

Pete Sampras forever !!!

[@andreaspina3043]

This music Is beatiful.
Whis Is the name of this Song?

[@WeLoveTennisYoutube]

1) "Washed" Brock Hewitt
2) "Holding Hands In The Rain" Brock Hewitt
3) "Winter Storm" Brock Hewitt
Your welcome!

[@Horror-l2h-s2w]

Pat Rafter play Wimbeldon final in 2001,he was 4 years retierd😂😂😂😂

[@fabianarriagadamiralles2091]

Vilas was never N1.

[@Сергей-я4л2й]

Кто помнит герулайтиса? А он выигрывал турниры большого шлема? Подача у него была интересная. Ни кого с его пор не видел с. Такой пожасей. Да кажется больше ни кто так не подавал. Мячик подкидыва метра на полтора, не больше. И сразу к сетке. Эдберг был любителем такой игры. Но стефан подкидывал высоко. Но у сетки кого нибудь поймать, хлебом не корми. Беккер, лендл тоже любили к сетке выходить. Нынешние теннистсты забывают эту игру.

[@carlanthonyargamosa]

Diego Schwartzman also retired

[@rojassaintgolden]

Amigo mío Fernando González es de CHILE no de España. Saludos desde Chile!!😂

[@GrigorSamsa]

Pat Rafter retired in 2001 and was 30 years old.

[@GrigorSamsa]

@@WhoAmI_4386 Nope. He played his last match against Seb Grosjean at Davis Cup final. In 2001.

[@bmrhapsody]

No está en la lista Nicolás Massú, también chileno.

[@aleksandrnikolajmantovani1230]

4:59 ...why? Nestor retired in 2018...

[@TheKonahi]

No way Daniel Nestor retired in 2006 😂😂😂😂

[@sebastianholterhoff3501]

Maybe in singles

[@TheKonahi]

@sebastianholterhoff3501 Stil not valid, he was never a singles guy, plays match here and there un singles but never was that good

[@trevonmartin4523]

You will ALL BE MISSED!!!

[@jm7804]

I call hatchet job. Kent Carlsson gets narration but Rod Laver gets a silent slide?

[@gv20241]

Pq tantos pararam tão cedo?

[@BojannajoB]

Johan Kriek retired '94

[@ANDRESISAZAVANEGAS-l1l]

Viendo este video, me doy cuenta que Djokovic le queda muchos años de tenis, pero ESPN lo da por viejo y terminado con 37 años.

[@tonder762]

Federer hasnt retired

[@sergiozanella7649]

Rafter está errado!

[@geforst]

there are some errors

[@qdechqdech]

hello. Fernando Gonzalez is from Chile, not spanish.

[@pumoripurna224]

Fernando gonzalez is chilean

[@richardmarcosek1786]

Dude, if you mention Michael Chang, you should also mention Goran Ivanisevic, he lost three times ! in the Wimbledon final, but kept believing and won Wimbledon in 2001 on a Wild Card!!!, about ten years later. - Same goes for Marat Safin, he had a relatively short career, but won two Grand slams and lots of other titles.

[@jaybarnes8034]

What about Zack Hample?

[@nicor8029]

fernando gonzalez is from chile... his forehand as well...

[@marcosepulveda4088]

Fernado Gonzales es Chileno

[@趙溫]

McEnroe is the one modern people can really recognize. Mostly by his voice, but still

[@JustFUN-md6pv]

Borg 26 i think .. not 28

[@gv20241]

Tem vários erros no video, Gonzalez é chileno, Rafter n parou em 97, Nestor parou em 2017 ou 2018

[@sergiogomez2727]

Fernando González español xd😂

[@rafaledesma98]

2025 Gasquet😢

[@SaeedaSopazi]

Im pretty sure Johan Kriek was South African, not USAmerican.

[@Andres_1989]

Fernando González is chilean 😶