Federer braced for another next-gen challenge

After dominating the tennis world for a long time, Roger Federer thinks the sport’s Big Three could face their toughest challenge yet from a new generation in 2020. 

Federer’s 2019 season ended with a semifinal loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas on Saturday at the ATP Finals, having seen Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal knocked out in the group stage of the tournament this week. 

However, it’s not the first time that the 38-year-old Federer has faced talk about talented youngsters, even though none of them have so far been able to smash the Big Three’s iron grip on the sport.

”It's the same question every year at the end of the year,” Federer said about the new generation. “But does it feel like this year might be the best year yet? Possibly. … But then I look at the list of who finished World No. 1, who has been World No. 1 all these years, and it's just crazy that it's always one of us. But we are not getting any younger. So chances grow not because we are getting worse but because they are getting better.”

In addition, the Big Three have won the last 12 Grand Slam titles between them. And until one of the youngsters ends that streak, any talk of a generation shift is premature.

”Definitely it's that next step they need,” Federer said. ”The only issue is that it seems like me, Novak, and Rafa are healthy, healthier than maybe in previous years, as well.”

Zverev, for his part, is convinced that the new guard is ready to compete for majors.

"I think next year will bring a new Grand Slam champion. We'll see who that will be because I think the young guys are playing incredible tennis," Zverev said after losing to Dominic Thiem in the second semifinal at the O2 Arena. "You know, it can be Daniil, it can be Stefanos, it can be Dominic. I'm in the mix, as well, I hope. We'll see what next year brings. But I think for the young guys, it's going to be an exciting year." 

The third-ranked Federer ends the year with four ATP titles but failed to add to his record haul of 20 Grand Slams when he lost an epic Wimbledon final to Djokovic, despite holding two match points in the fifth set. 

Source: UNB