Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have monopolized men’s tennis for the last decade and a half, having racked up 58 Grand Slam titles and countless accolades. Suffice it to say that one of the Big 3 has finished the season at the top of the ATP rankings 16 times in the last 17 years.
A new generation of talents, including Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev, are eager to take their places at the top of the ATP circuit. Aside from Thiem, who won the US Open last year, none of the other players have won a Grand Slam.
Medvedev and Zverev have reached the final (twice the Russian, once the German), but they have not yet managed to find the final consecration on the most important stage. Interviewed by Sky Sports On the eve of Roland Garros, Serena Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou believes that the Next Gen has not taken the necessary step to reverse the hierarchies at Grand Slam tournaments.
The change of view must wait a little longer.
Mouratoglou: I flatly deny the end of the big 3
“The Next Gen has yet to take over, although rumors continue to do so. Whenever I am interviewed on this subject, I flatly deny the end of the big 3, ”said Mouratoglou.
“Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are still at the top of the table, while Roger Federer has shown that he can win another Wimbledon. The Big 3 are less and less interested in tournaments than the Grand Slams and the results show it, but when they start, the Majors immediately return to their best level.
At the moment, we cannot say that Next Gen has taken control of the tour. They are getting closer and closer, it is true, but something is still missing. Novak and Rafa are perfectly aware that time is running out, so they want to take every opportunity.
How long will it last? I have no idea, ”said the French coach. We will see what happens in Paris in less than a week.
–
