Some might have taken a first medal after six attempts at the Super Senior World Team Tennis Championships as a signal ... it would make a fitting finale.
Particularly if you are playing in the New Zealand 80-plus team and the previous best finish before last month's bronze in Florida was a fifth in Croatia in 2013. But not Havelock North's Margaret Hall who was the No 2 woman for the sixth-seeded Kiwis in their nine-team division at Lake Nona.
"Jean [Stevens of Otago, the team captain] asked me if I would go to Croatia next year. We did well there last time so it would be good to go again. Jean is such a good captain - so solid, steady and accurate so it's hard to say no," Hall, 79, said.
Hall was impressed with her team's effort in section play which saw them top their section with five wins and one loss. Second seed Great Britain, who the Kiwis beat, finished with three wins and three losses while Australia had one win and five losses.
Both gold medallists Australia and siver medallists Canada beat New Zealand 6-0 in the playoffs for the podium berths.