Amelie is only 27. The player she lost to in Doha, Tanasugarn, is about 30. Schnyder is about 30 years old, and ranked 12. Amy Frazier was in her mid thirties before calling it a day. If she actually has! Not to mention Lindsay’s return.

And what about Tsipi Obziler.. 34, and playing at the highest level of her career, just inside the top 100. Being 34 myself I take particular comfort from her achievement

If the tour becomes top-heavy with anonymous young teenagers, then It risks alienating it’s more mature audience. Yes we all get excited by new stars breaking through like Radwanska, Szavay, and Paszek. But it has to be balanced with sensible experienced ‘old’ tour hands, familiar to the public eye and fondly-loved.

There are only two things that should determime a players continuing presence on the tour

1). Ranking on merit,

2). How the player feels herself/himself. In other words, Is she happy? Motivated? Tired? Carrying or risking Injury?

I’m sorry, I know it’s not what the poll question asks. But it’s how I feel I can best answer it.

I’d say that Mary Pierce and Capriati will retire

Can you believe she has only won nine matches since Wimbledon?

To my knowledge, Pierce and Capriati have not begun practicing full-time again. Rubin had a stint on the Tennis Channel, but since I switched cable providers six months ago, I’ve not been able to get the network so I don’t know if she is still doing commentary.

As for Stevenson, she has been playing mostly the ITF circuit, but did contest the qualifying last week in Antwerp. She beat Belgium’s Debbrich Feys, before losing to Timea Bacsinszky in the second round.

Anna Lena and Sam won’t retire, they are too young and surely not willing to call it quits yet - that would be giving up.

Dokic SHOULD retire and leave us all alone.

Bovina - possible that she is sick of being injured.

Amelie - what a tragedy. How can she lose to TAMARINE TANASUGARN of all people? I sincerely wish for her to get back into shape, win 2-3 more tournaments and then retire with honors.