The day the racket hangs the dominating trio of tennis, formed by Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, it is getting closer. Above all, before a new generation of talents who have knocked on the door of leadership in recent years, with names such as those of Dominic Thiem (champion of the past US Open), Andrey Rublev, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev, champions of recent editions of the ATP Finals these last three.
But if we look a little further, we see that the so-called 'Next Gen' of promising youngsters still has a lot of work to do, at least, to keep up with those who are called to dominate the circuit in the future. near. Let's not say in comparison to the Big Three … It is a fact that, according to the results that are being given in the Australian Open, the Next Gen does not finish taking off. So much that few tennis players under the age of 25 have been able to pass the knockout stage. Only three have succeeded and two of them did not even have to win their last duel, since both Tsitsipas as Rublev they advanced by default and withdrawal of their rival, respectively (the other classified is Zverev).
Shapovalov, one of the Next Gen players eliminated in Australia.
ASANKA BRENDON RATNAYAKE (REUTERS)
To the satisfaction of the old guard, especially a Nadal and a Djokovic who are already only three victories away from reaching their 21st and 18th Grand Slam, respectively, the following list of young people appears in those eliminated from the tournament between the first round and the round of 16: Khachanov, Ymer, Coric, Fritz, Hurkacz, Kecmanovic, Humbert, Kokkinakis, Ruud, Auger-Aliassime, Tiafoe, De Miñaur, Sinner and Shapovalov, among others. A separate case is that of Carlos Alcaraz, that despite being eliminated at the age of 17 (in the 2nd round) it must be borne in mind that he was playing a major for the first time in his career.
And the panorama in the feminine painting, with disappointments like Sofia Kenin's, champion in Melbourne last year against Garbiñe Muguruza, who at 22 seems to confirm in most tournaments (except for her final at the last Roland Garros) that her performance last year was something fleeting, a flower of a day. Nor has it shone this year Cori gauff (which has an experience available to few in majors despite being 16 years old) to fall in the second round to Svitolina in her sixth participation in the final draw of a Grand Slam. Although it should be noted that both she and Alcaraz are the most promising rackets in tennis today. On their shoulders will fall a great responsibility that the Next Gen takes off one day …