While tennis’ Big Four – Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal – currently occupy the top four ATP Rankings, Nadal believes the era is coming to an end.
“It’s something that is finishing,” Nadal told the media at the 2015 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California.
“I don’t know if [it will happen] in one, two, three, four years, but for everybody it finishes. Hopefully we created a good example for the next generations.”
The current field of contenders are giving the Big Four a run for their money.
Last year, two of the four grand slam winners came from outside the Big Four – Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka won the Australian Open by stunning Nadal, while Croatia’s Marin Cilic took the U.S Open crown by defeating Japanese Kei Nishikori.
Nadal won the 2014 French Open by beating Serbia’s Djokovic, but the current world number one bounced back by trashing Federer in the Wimbledon final. Djokovic also won the 2015 Australian Open for his eighth grand slam singles title.
Of the 17 tournaments sanctioned by the ATP held in the first two months of this year, the Big Four only won three events: Djokovic collecting the Australian Open title, Federer ruling the Brisbane International, and Nadal raising the Argentina Open crown in February.
Nadal, the man many proclaimed as the greatest clay court expert ever, said he was amazed by the achievement of the Big Four in the last 10 years.
“The same players are achieving almost everything. That is something that I think has never happened in the history of our sport.”
At 33, Federer is the oldest of the Big Four, but he is still in top shape and competes at the highest level. Djokovic and Murray are both 27 years old and are showing no signs of slowing down.
Judging from the current dominance of the Big Four, it seems many would not agree with Nadal. For them, Wawrinka, Nishikori and the rest of the gang still have a lot of catching up to do.
ATP World Rankings
1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 13,205
2. Roger Federer (SUI) 9,205
3. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 5,675
4. Andy Murray (GBR) 5,425 (+1)
5. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 5,415 (-1)
6. Milos Raonic (CAN) 4,980
7. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 4,595
8. David Ferrer (ESP) 4,535
9. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 4,340
10. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3,450
11. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 3,055
12. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 2,325
13. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 2,255
14. Gilles Simon (FRA) 2,050
15. Ernests Gulbis (LAT) 2,045
16. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,020
17. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 2,005
18. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 1,780 (+1)
19. Tommy Robredo (ESP) 1,755 (-1)
20. John Isner (USA) 1,720
NaBUru38
Guest
Nishikori never beat Nadal (0-7) and lost the past two matches versus Federer and Djokovic. Raoinic never beat Nadal or Djokovic (0-5) and has a 1-8 record versus Federer. Wawrinka has a 1-11 record versus Nadal and lost the past two matches versus Federer and Djokovic. The Big Three era is hardly over.
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Roar Guru
"Nadal won the 2014 French Open by beating Serbia’s Djokovic, but the current world number one bounced back by trashing Federer in the Wimbledon final." Djokovic didn't "thrash" Federer. That final went five sets. It's hardly a thrashing.
clipper
Guest
What happened to the Americans is what happened to Australia. Tennis became more international and we didn't keep our eye on the ball, so to speak, and less and less of our players made the top hundred, meaning less and less would follow them. It also didn't help that it wasn't as cheap for court hire and equipment, which I imagine would be the same in the U.S. Like America, we seem to be doing better at our national games like AFL and league and less well at the international games like Tennis and Rugby (we're now sixth in the world for the first time!)
Matt
Guest
Yeah what happened to the Americans? I remember a time when Americans had champions in the same era- Agassi, Samprass, Courier, Chang, Todd Martin etc. Now they have no one much to look at- Jack Sock seems to be the only upcoming player to look at. John Isner will not be around forever but even he is no Andy Roddick. It does not look too promising for American tennis at the moment. But I guess US tennis will turn around again.
Matt
Guest
No Tommy Robredo is younger than Federer would you believe.
Winston
Guest
There are some rather interesting names in the top 20 list. Can't believe Feliciano Lopez is world number 12. And Robredo at 19th - isn't he like 45 years old? He's been playing since Gustavo Kuerten days. Kevin Anderson I only saw a few years ago at the Aussie Open and didn't think he was very impressive, can't believe he's now 17th. And who is Roberto Bautista - never heard of the name before!
Lucky Malicay
Roar Pro
Gone are the days when American men were dominating the sport.
Ozzie Bob
Guest
All sport goes in cycles. It was Samprass and Agassi for a long time in the 90's. But it would be nice to see some others win the slams!!!! Also very interesting to see that the USA only have one player in the top 20, the Aussies none and how many of the players are European! Also good to see Japan and South Africa have players in the top 20