Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer face a period of collective uncertainty in the months ahead
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have experienced the same ups and downs, setbacks, and slumps as the rest of their mortal teammates. Each has had many procedures. Each has been sidelined for months at a time, and in some cases, whole seasons. Each has had Grand Slam droughts and apparently unexplainable confidence drops.
Credits : Tennis
But if one of them slips, the other two rush to pick up the slack. Only three times in the previous 19 seasons, including this one, have they failed to win at least three of the four majors: in 2014, 2016, and 2020 (the latter doesn’t formally count because Wimbledon was canceled due to the pandemic that year). They’ve won all four in eight of those seasons.
At 36 and 35 years old, respectively, Nadal and Djokovic have a chance to record a ninth Grand Slam sweep at this year’s US Open. This season was meant to be the one in which a fresh player solved their code. Actually, there are two new players: Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz. Medvedev defeated Djokovic in the US Open final last year and had Nadal all but defeated in this year’s Australian Open final. In Madrid, Alcaraz defeated them twice in a row. Yet, here we are at the end of July, and Rafa and Nole have divided Melbourne, Paris, and SW19 once more.
So, would it be crazy of me to say that the Big Three would face unprecedented collective uncertainty in the second half of 2022? Djokovic will be unable to compete in the North American circuit, including the US Open, as of today since he has not been immunized against Covid-19. Nadal had to retire from the Wimbledon semifinals due to an abdominal strain, and he is currently undergoing foot treatment. While Federer, who turns 41 on August 8th, intends to return in the fall, he expressed doubts about his long-term playing career during a ceremony on Center Court last month.
The one undeniable bright spot for these guys and their fans is the Laver Cup, which will be played in London in late September. Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Andy Murray—the so-called “Big Four”—are set to team up for Team Europe. This won’t be the last time we see these future Hall-of-Famers on a court, but the weekend should serve as a nostalgic summation of, and appreciation for, the era they’ve dominated together.