Patrick Mouratoglou makes a prediction on how the ATP Tour will survive post the Big-3 era as Rafael Nadal likely to retire in 2024

Rafael Nadal has announced that he will probably retire after the 2024 season.

Patrick Mouratoglou makes a prediction on how the ATP Tour will survive post the Big-3 era as Rafael Nadal likely to retire in 2024

(L) Patrick Mouratoglou; Big-3 (R) (Sources: Sky Sports/Tennis Infinity)

Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal has already made it clear that he will probably retire after the 2024 season. Amid anticipation of Nadal’s early return to the court so that the fans can get to enjoy the little tennis that is left in him, French tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou talked about how tennis will survive without its superstars after the Big-3 will be gone. 

Patrick Mouratoglou, in a recent interview, talked about exactly this and he also posted the same on his Instagram as a reel. “We’re lucky to witness the three greatest playing at the same time in the same era. So we’re so lucky to have that. But we knew at some point this would stop. Even though it happens, of course, it feels like an important page of our sport gets turned. But I think that tennis never stops and players keep coming up,” Mouratoglou said.  

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“We have a lot of young players from the new generation that are super-exciting to watch. It’s going to be a different tennis, probably. But I think it’s also super-exciting to not know who can win. We might have a situation like this in the future, or not. We’ll see,” he added. 

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Roger Federer retired a year ago in the Laver Cup and Nadal is on the verge of retiring. Although Novak Djokovic is up and running now, a time will soon come when his time at the top will reach an end too, and he will retire. The days of three people dominating the sport will be gone then and the legends will surely be missed. 

Read More: ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi defends his decision to extend the days for Masters-1000 despite criticism from the likes of Andy Murray and Cameron Norrie

Big-3’s dominance over tennis for over two decades

The Big Three is the name given to the trio of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic – the three players who have dominated tennis for over two decades. The three of them have collectively won 66 Major singles tournaments. Djokovic leads the others with 24 Majors. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have 22 and 20 Grand Slam titles, respectively. 

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer (L to R)
(L to R) Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer (Sources: Tennisnet)

When we talk about the GOAT debate in tennis, these three are the ones that come to mind. Fans might be divided in opinions about their personal GOAT, but the fact that the Big 3 together is better than any other set of players in the history of the sport. 

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