The Cincinnati Masters 1,000 will leave us a rare image in the last 20 years but something more frequent in recent months: the dispute of a great tournament without the presence of the three best tennis players in history: Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal. who finalize their preparation for the US Open, and Roger Federer, who this Sunday announced that he will be out for several months to undergo a new operation on his right knee.
In Cincinnati there will be one of the biggest rivals of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, Andy Murray, who will come thanks to an invitation and who regretted the situation that the Big Three players are going through. “Tennis now has a different landscape. Throughout my career Djokovic, Federer and Nadal have been there at events like the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open competing to win, but things are changing. The bodies are suffering and the players are devoured by advances in tennis. Roger and Rafa already missed the US Open last year and it would be a shame if they missed it this year too “
Despite the lament of the absence of the Big Three, Murray also believes that this may give tennis players of the so-called 'Next Gen' options to win tournaments. “For many players it is a great opportunity to win these tournaments when the Big Three is not there. There have been several tournaments where two of them have not played, so it is easier to win when only one of them plays.” Without Federer, Djokovic and Nadal, Murray, who is also trying to return little by little to the tennis elite, will try to stand up to the young players on the circuit in the last big date before the US Open.