A 30-year-old rock climber is an old man. At 40, one is in the middle of his high-altitude power. At 50, a crosser of deserts is at his best age. But at 60, each of us is out of the game.
The difference of great players is at a certain point in a match they raise their level of play and maintain it. Lesser players play great for a set, but then less.
I think Pete Sampras has really reached his peak. About the only thing he doesn't do is cook.
People aren't winning Slams at 21 anymore. It's later.
A male athlete's peak, I believe, should be somewhere between 26 and 30.
My best tennis at my peak was when I played a lot of matches.
You can't do sports for the rest of your life; I don't care how good you are. You can be the best ever, but it's still going to go away.
When you're an elite athlete, it's a very special moment in time and you don't want it to end.
A boxer should quit at the top, as they say. But that’s complicated. There are plenty of people in boxing who make money out off you. And they tell you that you’ve still got it, that it’s still getting better.
I just turned 34 and feel like the best striker I've ever been.
We start to decline as humans and, particularly, as athletes right around 25 years old. If you're real lucky, you might push that to 27 or 28.
When I was in top shape I'd go to the ring and show my conditioning.
I don't think it's the worst thing ever to start when you're in your twenties. You're not burnt out, you're going to stick around and most of the best cyclists are in their 30s.
You don't want to hit your peak until late in the season.
I used to have a saying that when a player is at his peak, he feels as though he can climb.
I'm not satisfied. I'm still enjoying this. I still feel like I'm in the best part of my career and I can play at a high level. This is what I love to do: playing football and winning games.
I can't see myself playing as a 36-year-old.
At some point, the power side of the game has to peak, players can't get much bigger. Guys will be doing more footwork and explosive-speed stuff.
I played at Lancashire when Glen Chapple was 40 to 41 and he was as good as he ever was then.
