[Muramoursuard]

I've personally been struggling with my desire to be into tennis of late, well really over the last year. I look back on my earlier years as a tennis fan and they pale in severe contrast to the last two years. I've realized that the main difference is is that my all time favorite player is retired (again) and the incredible focus that I put on the sport while she was playing is no longer there. Sure, I have other favorites, but not one of them has really shown me enough to feel completely comfortable with throwing my weight behind them.

So my question is to those around here who've had their all time favorites retire and had to essentially find new favorites how did you go about getting fully back into the sport as a fan? I feel like I have no clue what's going on anymore because I'm not following a player or two with the same intensity that I once did and I really miss it.

[SannyGlow]

It definitely has an ebb and wane. I still haven't been entirely into men's tennis since Sampras retired--instead, I've shifted my focus over to the WTA.

[bobibnoxx]

It definitely has an ebb and wane. I still haven't been entirely into men's tennis since Sampras retired--instead, I've shifted my focus over to the WTA.

I thought this would have been about you trying to find yourself since the loss of Justine...

[gardenerextraordinaire]

I'm going to be the same boat soon enough myself, Jeanne.

I imagine that it's going to be a lot like real life... That you may never really get over your first true love.

[JAMES PIETERSE]

I've personally been struggling with my desire to be into tennis of late, well really over the last year. I look back on my earlier years as a tennis fan and they pale in severe contrast to the last two years. I've realized that the main difference is is that my all time favorite player is retired (again) and the incredible focus that I put on the sport while she was playing is no longer there. Sure, I have other favorites, but not one of them has really shown me enough to feel completely comfortable with throwing my weight behind them.

So my question is to those around here who've had their all time favorites retire and had to essentially find new favorites how did you go about getting fully back into the sport as a fan? I feel like I have no clue what's going on anymore because I'm not following a player or two with the same intensity that I once did and I really miss it.

I'm sure all of the Marat fans and (prematurely) the Roger fans would love to know the secret, too. I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering from Post-Favorite Enthusiasm Deficiency. I can see that happening. Roger's fans got a taste of it last year when he was knocked off the pedestal. I know it wasn't the same as a retirement, but it's the same idea - a radical change regarding one's favorite.

Can Justine save you?

[ElisasAUG]

For me it was exactly the same Jeanne, and although Kimmie has come back I know it won't be forever.

I find that my main interest focuses around the big tournaments now, I definitely have lost some interest in the week to week results.

[urbalatte]

I have to say that with Justine's retirement, I lost most of the interest in women's tennis. I don't think I watched more than 20 WTA matches on TV (or computer) this whole year. Heck, I didn't even know there is an event going on in Bali this week, before 10 min ago.

For that reason, I am especially excited with Justine's comeback next year

[sherrferris]

I'm going to be the same boat soon enough myself, Jeanne.

I imagine that it's going to be a lot like real life... That you may ever really get over your first true love.

I'm sure all of the Marat fans and (prematurely) the Roger fans would love to know the secret, too. I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering from Post-Favorite Enthusiasm Deficiency. I can see that happening. Roger's fans got a taste of it last year when he was knocked off the pedestal. I know it wasn't the same as a retirement, but it's the same idea - a radical change regarding one's favorite.

Can Justine save you?

I watched little tennis prior to Venus becoming my all time fave and then one match from Roger got me hooked on ATP tennis. Before them I would only watched the slams and rooted for Yannick Noah, Boris Becker, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and believe it or not Andre Agassi

When Vee is gone it's going to be MURDER for me. I mean I like Serena but she will never touch my heart like Vee has... and I like Ana I, Caro, Bepa and Lena D but they are not Venus.

As for ATP, I love Nalby, Del Po, Davey and JCF but they don't hold a candle to Roger so that too will be murder. But they've got to go sometime, and sooner than I want to, so I'm bracing myself for it.

FOCROFLMAO at the highlighted portion of Megan's post. Nope NOT Jean!

Foxy

[insightmike]

I'm not sure how I'll keep my interest after Serena and Roger retire...

[Muramoursuard]

I'm sure all of the Marat fans and (prematurely) the Roger fans would love to know the secret, too. I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering from Post-Favorite Enthusiasm Deficiency. I can see that happening. Roger's fans got a taste of it last year when he was knocked off the pedestal. I know it wasn't the same as a retirement, but it's the same idea - a radical change regarding one's favorite.

Can Justine save you?

LOL. No, Justine can't save me. Sure it'll be more interesting with her back, but I'll never be a fan of her's.

And Dry, that's probably the best way to describe it, Lindsay was my first tennis love. I sort of got close to being back in the swing of things with Vaidisova in 2007, but well, we all know how that train crashed. I want to get totally behind Azarenka, but I don't totally trust her yet and I'm scared she'd turn into Vaidisova Part Two.

[urbalatte]

I'm not sure how I'll keep my interest after Serena and Roger retire...

Andy Murray?

[Muramoursuard]

I watched little tennis prior to Venus becoming my all time fave and then one match from Roger got me hooked on ATP tennis. Before them I would only watched the slams and rooted for Yannick Noah, Boris Becker, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and believe it or not Andre Agassi

When Vee is gone it's going to be MURDER for me. I mean I like Serena but she will never touch my heart like Vee has... and I like Ana I, Caro, Bepa and Lena D but they are not Venus.

As for ATP, I love Nalby, Del Po, Davey and JCF but they don't hold a candle to Roger so that too will be murder. But they've got to go sometime, and sooner than I want to, so I'm bracing myself for it.

FOCROFLMAO at the highlighted portion of Megan's post. Nope NOT Jean!

Foxy

No worries Foxy, you know I'll be in fine form of hating constructive critizism come the Aussie.

[gardenerextraordinaire]

Madame has it easy. I'm insanely jealous of those who have their current and future faves predetermined for them by nationality. I just can't do that myself.

[urbalatte]

LOL. No, Justine can't save me. Sure it'll be more interesting with her back, but I'll never be a fan of her's.

And Dry, that's probably the best way to describe it, Lindsay was my first tennis love. I sort of got close to being back in the swing of things with Vaidisova in 2007, but well, we all know how that train crashed. I want to get totally behind Azarenka, but I don't totally trust her yet and I'm scared she'd turn into Vaidisova Part Two.

I wonder what Nicole is going to do next year... she either has to get back to top 100 (at least) or quit tennis.

[Peretool]

Madame has it easy. I'm insanely jealous of those who have their current and future faves predetermined for them by nationality. I just can't do that myself.

Ditto.

[SannyGlow]

I thought this would have been about you trying to find yourself since the loss of Justine...

Well, she's coming back, so that problem is solved!

[enurneAcourdy]

We all have a tendency to look back with greater fondness on an earlier time in tennis. I'm particularly fond of the players of the mid-late 80's into the early-mid 90's. But, after a little down time, you find someone new. I knew Andre's (there's that name again) career was winding down and one day in '05 I'm watching Novak, and without warning, a new favorite. Seles was gone and Capriati was on the outs, and Maria suddenly appeared. Plus, there are always some other back-ups, who may not be your all time fave, but will do in a pinch. That's why I was so critical of Serena during her down time. I needed her.

[bobibnoxx]

I have decided that after this year, I'll just be devoting my energy to rooting against my least favorites, and waiting for THEIR retirement. It's much less painful emotionally

[Haibundadam]

I have several faves but none of them could keep me in it when Maria was injured.

[cemDrymnVem]

Guga is the only player who ever had me heart and soul. I still miss him.

Since his injury and retirement, I've spread the love around. There are half a dozen players that I really root for all the time. But the sun doesn't rise and set on them. Actually the contests here at TAT tend to help. Gives me a rooting interest, keeps my attention.

I relate to what some people have said about losing interest in tennis itself after a fave is gone. It happened to me with football, although I was the one who left. I lived and died with the Seahawks, from Day 1 in 1976. But I moved to Kansas City in the mid-90's, then to Atlanta and eventually to Montana. They just didn't show the Seahawks in those places. Maybe one game a year. And it was too late to get all excited about another team. I completely lost my interest in football. Still watch the college bowl games, but that's it. Anyway, I don't want that to happen to tennis, so now I spread my interest around.

(Just re-read this for typos. I can't believe the number of cliches, but I'm too lazy to re-write.)