Next-gen players won’t be able to match the domination of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray, feels Rajeev Ram
The Next-Gen can never replace the Big-4 in terms of longevity and titles.
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The Next-Gen
Roger, Rafa, Novak, and Andy, commonly known as the Big-4 have been on top for almost two decades now. This is the greatest achievement in the sport in general. Post Big-4 era, we do have many players capable of filling their places. But can they fill in their shoes is something to think of. All these new players so far were just passing clouds in the sky. None of them have cemented their spot at the top. There is no lack of talent but injuries are a major concern for this next generation.
Such was their domination from the early stages of their career to till date. We have seen Roger Federer since 1998 which is 24 years ago. Similarly, the big 4 together played for 18 years give or take. This is a huge number in the sport that was dominated by a few people. It has never happened before and is very unlikely to happen in the future. There is no lack of talent in the next generation of players. However, managing their game time and staying fit for that long is a tough task.
Rajeev Ram recently talked about this generation and stated, “A lot of players will also head into the Aus open thinking hang on, we were the next gen but it’s Alcaraz who has seized the initiative…the likes of Medvedev, Tsitsipas, Zverev face a defining season don’t you think?”
However, he also added,“I think you have seen this generation of Federer, Nadal, Murray, and Djokovic have eaten up a few generations. I don’t think Medvedev, Tsitsipas, and the likes are done by any stretch but I think they know they have such young talents on their heels and that will make for a super competitive 4-5 years when Djokovic and Nadal did. Don’t think it will be like the last few years where only a few guys have dominated. I think it will be very competitive and refreshing in that sense.”
Who among the next-gen will be likely to reach Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, or Andy Murray’s level?
Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Dominic Thiem were the first of the next generation to make a mark. However, today only two of them are on the scene. Injuries took a big hit on both Thiem and Zverev’s careers. Today we have a set of new faces like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Felix Auger, Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz, and many more.
The reason for these many players to look out for is that those few players who initially made an impact couldn’t continue their form. That is what separates the big four from this generation of stars. Longevity is lacking in today’s generation of players. They hardly win a few tournaments and either get faded away or get injured. We are getting a new player every season who is performing exceptionally well temporarily.
When it comes to Grand Slam titles, two out of the Big 4 are still on top. 2022 saw Rafael Nadal winning 2 titles and Novak on the other hand won the Wimbledon and ATP tour Finals. These two are already in their late 30s and still competing at the top level only tells us their greatness. However, it is not an easy task for the next generation to dethrone someone who has been on top for almost 2 decades.
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Anshul Singh
(239 Articles Published)