“I Don’t Think The Big 3 Are Going to Win All 4 Grand Slams” – Rafael Nadal Not Sure of 2020

The liege lords of tennis Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic do not seem to slow down their winning pace on the ATP circuit in the near future. The women’s counterpart of the sport has already delivered a major champion born in the 2000s (Bianca Andreescu at US Open 2019) whereas the men’s side is yet to produce a major champion born in the 1990s.

Rafael Nadal foresees a new face in 2020

Despite those statistics World Number one Rafael Nadal believes that the year 2020 might have a new face lifting up the major title and the reign of the three glass towers will begin its departure. 

“I don’t think that the Big Three are going to win all four (grand slams in 2020),” Nadal addressed L’Equipe.“A young player is going to arrive next year.”

For more than a decade and a half, all three of them have been ruling the sport but the new decade seems to be making way for the younger athletes. The tennis world never witnessed the kind of action which took place over the past two decades. Probably in the near future, none of the trinities in tennis would drive the sport in a similar fashion which the Goliaths have been doing it since they turned professionals. 

Optimistic signs displayed by the NextGen

Nevertheless, the previous season assured a promising future for tennis. The NextGen players’ convincing performance in the year-end championships remarked the dawn of a new era of tennis.   

The thrilling ATP Finals championship match between Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas on the English hardcourt gave the impression that tennis is in safe hands for the years to come.  Also, Alexander Zverev steamrolling over Rafael Nadal in London left the tennis audience spellbound.

Thiem’s perspective does synchronize with Rafa’s words and the Austrian is certain about welcoming a new champion in 2020. “I think we challenged them already a lot. We also beat them especially on Masters 1000 stages and the ATP Finals. I think the last stage we have to conquer is the Grand Slam stage, and I really think we’ll see a new Grand Slam champion in 2020,” Thiem said.

Thiem won over Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic multiple times this year. Also, he successfully defended his French Open runner-up trophy in 2019.

“We are trying everything to achieve Grand Slam titles” – Thiem 

“I really hope that it’s me, but you cannot guarantee anything. There are also many other very strong guys who can achieve that.” Thiem shared his major winning aspirations. “Maybe it’s also not happening and Big Three are taking all four. But we are trying everything to achieve top position, to achieve the biggest titles, Grand Slam titles.”

Also Read – Dominic Thiem Shoots A Warning Ahead Of ATP Cup 2020

The Russian machine Daniil Medvedev

Not to forget the youngest player to pull off two sets in a Grand Slam finals since 2009, Daniil Medvedev was on the verge breaking the rhythm created by the ‘Big Three’ in New York. He was close to starting the new wave on the men’s tour, but that day at Flushing Meadows the lethal forehands from Rafa did not hold the Russian back.

Medvedev hit a backhand and second-serve winners to save match points in the fifth set ( at 5-3). Also, Nadal was a break point down at  5-4(30-40) in the final set which mounted up the heart-throbbing of Rafa and his fan base.

Read More – Daniil Medvedev – The Real Next-Gen?

To summarize with the professionals in the ATP’s top-ten roaster are determined to break the harmony amongst the three of them. They are taking the extra mile every day to ensure quality tennis in the future and begin the next era of the sport.