Life after the big four: Tennis’ next stars

Since the early 2000s, the world of tennis has been dominated by the ‘big four’ of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

With Federer and Murray fully retired, Nadal slowly winding down his career and Djokovic, while still at the top of his game, now entering his late 30’s and having been replaced as number one, it is time to take a look at those to whom elite tennis’ baton is set to be passed.

We take a look at the stars of the next generation here.

Carlos Alcaraz

Despite being just 21 years old, Carlos Alcaraz has already come to the fore of elite tennis over the past three years, now sitting third in the world behind only Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.

Alcaraz first took to the ATP Tour in 2020 when he became the youngest player ever to earn entry into the Australian Open men’s singles competition aged just 17, winning his Grand Slam debut before being knocked out in the second round. Alcaraz would have to wait until July 2021 before he truly burst onto the scene, picking up his first ATP Tour victory at the Croatia Open aged just 18.

Alcaraz would not win for the rest of 2021 but from then on, the floodgates would open. In 2022, the year which saw Alcaraz turn 19 in May, the young Spaniard broke numerous records such as becoming the youngest player to win the Miami Open in March 2022, his first title on the Masters 1000 Series. Since then, Alcaraz has picked up another twelve ATP Tour titles to take his total to 15, an average of over four for every year he has been on the tour.

Alcaraz’s first Grand Slam success would come at the US Open, which he won aged 19 in 2022, leading to him becoming the youngest-ever player to finish the year as world number one. The Spaniard’s second Grand Slam victory came at Wimbledon in 2023 where he entered the tournament with a weight of expectation for the first time.

Alcaraz has continued his superb form and is now staking his claim to be one of the all-time greats of the sport. He has won three titles in 2024. He won the Wimbledon men’s singles title by defeating Novak Djokovic. He also won the French Open. Additionally, he has won five Masters 1000 titles.

With his incredibly well-rounded skill set and physical attributes, there is no doubt that Alcaraz is already leading the next generation and looks set to be a dominant force in tennis for years to come.

Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner is a 23-year-old Italian tennis player who has surged to the top of the ATP rankings list.

Sinner has earned a reputation as one of the hardest hitters on the tour and is an elite baseline player. This has made him particularly effective on the hardcourt and seven of his eight ATP Tour titles have come on this surface.

His maiden victory on the tour came back in 2020 at the Sofia Open and his biggest win since then came as recently as August 2023 when he beat Alex de Minaur in the Canadian Open final, his first success on the Masters 1000 Series.

Sinner has also been one of the more impressive young players to have played in the Grand Slams. Though the Italian has never made it to the final of a Grand Slam, he has been in the final four at Wimbledon, as well as having four quarter-final appearances to his name with one at each of the majors.

Sinner is the leading contender along with Alcaraz in the next generation and looks set to make up the other half of what looks to be the big two for at least the next decade.

Holger Rune

Holger Rune is Alcaraz’s senior by just over a month, yet the Danish youngster hasn’t quite managed to find as much success as the five-time Grand Slam champion.

Rune is a brilliant all-round player who possesses a great groundstroke game, as well as bags of speed and a shot selection wider than most on the tour. Rune’s elite skillset sees him already ranked highest of any Danish player on the tour.

Rune became the youngest ATP quarter-finalist since 2014 when he made it to the last eight of the Chile Open in 2021. He has since gone on to win four ATP titles with one of those coming on the Masters 1000 Series when he defeated Djokovic in the final of the Paris Masters in 2022.

Rune is yet to find Grand Slam success but has reached three quarterfinals including two consecutive appearances at the French Open. A first Grand Slam victory is surely not far away for the Dane and there could be many to come for Alcaraz, Sinner and himself an era defined by the ‘big four’ draws to a close.

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