“They don’t step back,” Vijay Amritraj on the “takeover” of new generation

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz's unprecedented record in 2024 has the tennis world excited for the post Big Three era.

“They don’t step back,” Vijay Amritraj on the “takeover” of new generation

L-R: Jannik Sinner, Vijay Amritraj and Carlos Alcaraz (Via Imago)

Indian tennis icon Vijay Amritraj recently spoke about the takeover of the new generation and how they are entering every match with a different mindset, which gives them the confidence to win tight matches against the best of players. 

In the last two decades, the sport of tennis saw either Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, or Roger Federer dominate more or less every tournament. However, with the Swiss retired, and Nadal not in the best of shapes, only Djokovic was the remaining threat to the youngsters. 

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Although, he dominated the whole circuit last year, this season, his two new rivals, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, have beaten him on the biggest of stages.

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In 2023 Alcaraz ousted him at the Wimbledon final, and repeated the feat this year as well. The dynamics of the sport have changed and Vijay Amritraj, the former Indian player gave his insights on it. 

The important thing for Sinner and Alcaraz was what they learnt from the early times they played Novak. The thing that younger players tend to do against a great champion is when push comes to shove, they tend to force the issue.
Vijay Amritraj said via Star Sports

Earlier in January, Sinner beat Djokovic in the semi-final of the Australian Open. Before this, the Serbian had never lost a semi-final match in Melbourne.

They don’t take a step back and say — you know what, I’m fitter than he is, I can stay with him longer over the course of a point, so I don’t have to force the issue and overdo stuff. Which is what would happen in the early matches. And that’s why Sinner was able to win in Australia and Alcaraz was able to win last year (at Wimbledon)
Vijay Amritraj added
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Vijay Amritraj stands by Novak Djokovic, preaches not to bet against greatness

Speaking in the same interview, the former Indian tennis player revealed how he always preaches to never bet against greatness. He said this in the context of Novak Djokovic winning titles after the knee surgery. 

Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz
Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via Imago)

During the 2024 French Open fourth round, Djokovic suffered a knee injury. He had a meniscus tear on his right knee and withdrew from the tournament to soon get surgery and recover for Wimbledon. However, despite this, Djokovic made it to the final of Wimbledon. 

Look, when everyone says, ‘Novak is done, he’s just had knee surgery, he’s wearing a brace, he’s not moving as well he used to’, the first thing I tell them is, do not bet against greatness
Vijay Amritraj said 

Although Nole lost to Carlos Alcaraz in one of the worst finals of his career, it still is huge progress for the Serbian to get through the knee pain and make it to yet another Grand Slam final. This development is significant, considering the Paris Olympics are just about to commence.

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