TRIPLE THREAT

After weathering swirling winds, flying umbrellas and stiff challenges from the world's best players, the second-seeded Spaniard and fourth-seeded Austrian met earlier this month for the Roland Garros title. Rafael Nadal pulled off the seemingly impossible to win his 12th title at Roland Garros. Now, a three-time defending champion, Nadal is no spring chicken. At 33, the Spanish ace has done what no man before him has ever been able to accomplish on any surface – winning as many as 12 titles at any of the four Grand Slam tournaments.

Until 20 years ago, 30 would be considered 'too old' to be playing the sport professionally. But, the 2019 Roland Garros threw a surprising statistic: three of the four semi-finalists were above 30 – Roger Federer (37), Novak Djokovic (32) and Rafael Nadal (33). Dominic Thiem (25) remains the only active male player currently under 30 to have won a set in a Grand Slam final. Surprisingly, the core of the tennis players a decade ago, still reigns supreme.

Boris Becker has said that younger players on the men's tour do not have the right mindset to challenge the "big three" – Federer, Nadal and Djokovic – in the Grand Slams. The statement was made in regard to the preparation for Wimbledon. Becker, who won Wimbledon at the age of 17 and won six Grand Slam tournaments, said it was the mental aspect of the game that mattered more than anything else. This can be one of the many reasons that have made the trio invincible in the very competitive world of tennis.

At the same time, it has to be agreed that Federer, Nadal and Djokovic are among the most powerful players in the annals of tennis. In 2004, it was just about Roger Federer and later, Nadal also joined the party in 2005. Novak Djokovic completed the Big Three which began winning most, if not all, slams and big titles since 2008. Till this date, they are ruling the sport, having maintained their ATP rankings. They are not only enduring in their thirties but are also dominating, bucking the odds by feeding off one another and inspiring each other. From 2004 till present, only Andy Murray has been world number one for a couple of months. The Big Three have extended their domination to all tournaments since the last 10-12 years, after the era of Pete Sampras.

Guys like Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev are pretty competitive with some good results in their favour but it's just that they are up against once in a lifetime challenges, probably too good for them now, and it will take some time for the new generation players to cut into the top rungs of tennis. The youngsters are struggling to reach their glory in the presence of these three.

Tennis analyst, Darren Cahill, believes that the next generation stars will more than likely only start winning Grand Slams once Federer and Nadal have retired. These kinds of statements prove that these three are invincible and the youngsters stand no chance against them. "These three guys could be considered the best three in history," said Carlos Moya, former world No. 1. From the statements of Moya and Cahill, it is ostensible that the new generation players are yet to pose any threat to the reign of the top three.

Thiem has had the better of Federer on four instances out of six. Zverev and Tsitsipas too hold impressive records against the Swiss, but Djokovic and Nadal are the players they seem to run out of answers for. The table sheds more light on the performance of the younger generation players against the old guns.

Novak Djokovic leads the ATP rankings with 12,715 points. Although the top three seem unbeatable, there are some emerging players in Thiem, Zverev, Tsitsipas and Nishikori, ranking 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th respectively, who have the potential to challenge the Big Three when consistent. Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas told reporters recently that he would like to see something different this year at the Championships. He also said it was boring to see these three players winning all the time. As Tsitsipas said, someone from his age group should win the title at one of the remaining two Majors this year or else it will become difficult for the younger generation to receive the applause and love the top players are being showered with since the last decade or so.

When the trio retires, the fans and tennis enthusiasts will obviously look for other options and they might pick any of the current younger players to cheer and support for. But the younger players should not be considered as a last-resort option but as the prime reason for the world to follow and enjoy tennis. For that to happen, one of these younger players needs to rise to the occasion and start winning Majors.

Rankings of the Big Three since the last 13 years (2007-2019)

n Novak Djokovic: In the top three 12 of 13 times (ranked 12th in 2017)

n Rafael Nadal: In the top three 10 of 13 times (ranked 4th,5th and 9th in 2012, 2015 and 2016 respectively)

n Roger Federer: In the Top three 11 of 13 times (ranked 6th and 16th in 2013 and 2016 respectively)

One thing the younger players have going for them is the belief that they can defeat the Big Three, at least in regular tour events. But when it comes to big moments in big matches, we can see their confidence slowly slipping away, like the quarter-final clash between Djokovic and Alexander Zverev in the just-concluded French Open.

"I would love to see something different this year. Hopefully it will be me," Tsitsipas, told reporters. "It would give it a little bit of variety, something different to these guys. We are responsible as the new generation to work hard to come up with something new and our best games to beat them. Some don't want to take the responsibility of going out and overcoming all those difficulties and beat those guys," he continued.

None of the new players have shown the same kind of challenge to the Big Three. Of course, a lot depends on the draw and the fitness of the players too, but the next-gen players need to be ready irrespective of the situation; they cannot simply let experience triump talent over and over again. It would take one brave player to instill the confidence among the rest that they can defeat the top three instead of waiting for them to retire before they claim a Major. It seems only a matter of time before that happens, but so far the youngsters have only flattered to deceive.

We can hope for things to change this year at Wimbledon, as the tennis world would love to see a young player lifting the trophy, but until it happens we can't lift our expectations very high for them to fall yet again.

(With inputs from Ayushman Ojha)