Federer Reveals what Young Players are Missing

Alexander Zverev, Chung Hyeon and Andrey Rublev are just a handful of players who are part of the next generation of tennis stars. However, they are yet to break the dominance of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the top of the rankings.

The world Nos 1 and 2 have won the last six Grand Slams split between themselves, as well as 36 of the last 58 tournaments.

Interestingly, the pattern of older players dominating the game is a relatively new one. Federer clinched his first Wimbledon title at the age of 21 while Nadal won the 2005 French Open aged 19.

The Swiss star reckons that teenagers will again win at the highest level but there are various factors required.

“I think it could happen again that 17-, 18-, 19-year-olds can win Grand Slams and I think it will happen. There is no doubt about it,” Federer said.

“I just think it depends on the generation.

“I don’t care how much work you put in you also need to have luck that the talent was there, the framework was there by parents and coaches and so forth, and maybe the country, the support system you have from the federation or whatever it was, that it all just works out perfectly and that you win that Grand Slam final on top of it as well like what Chang did, or [Pete] Sampras did, or [Bjorn] Borg, or Rafa [Nadal] and so forth, Becker also, when they were teenagers.

It’s amazing to me to win Slams at such a young age.

“I think you also need a bit of luck maybe. But I think it could happen again.”

Both Federer and Nadal opted to take extended career breaks at the end of 2016 to deal with ongoing injury problems. They returned to action last year and proceeded to win two Grand Slams each.

“I think as players stay hungrier for longer and maybe we have also taken care of our bodies more professionally than the generations did in the past, which is natural, you know, we have the means to travel easier, to have a physio or a massage therapist, a fitness coach and so forth,” Federer added.

“I think it all kept us on the tour for longer and healthier. So, we can play for a longer period of time as well which the older generation didn’t have.

“They all retired between the age of 28 and 32 and now we all play into our mid-thirties almost.

“We also have longer opportunities and maybe because of this, we give younger players a more difficult route to success.”