Tennis

The five stars Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will want to avoid in 2020


Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are not getting any younger and 2020 could be the year their stronghold on tennis comes to an end. For the last two years the younger generation have been knocking on the door and the big breakthrough could be just around the corner.

Since 2006 only Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic have lifted the trophy at a major tournament.

Of the last 59 Grand Slams only eight have been won by players not named Federer, Nadal or Djokovic.

But the likes of Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas have proved their worth claiming the title at the ATP Finals.

And there are five likely candidates who the big guns will want to avoid in the early stages of events next year.

Dominic Thiem

Often dubbed the Prince of Clay, it is surely just a matter of time before Dominic Thiem wins the French Open.

Rafael Nadal has been the dominant force on the Parisian red dirt having claimed a staggering 12 titles.

For the last two years Thiem has reached the final and on each occasion he failed to get one over his Spanish nemesis at Roland Garros.

But next year could be time the Austrian finally gets the elusive Grand Slam, especially as Nadal’s injury-prone body continues to age.

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Comparisons have been drawn between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Roger Federer and it is hard not to love watching the young Greek star’s gracious style of play.

The 21-year-old announced himself to the world as he reached the Australian Open semi-finals, beating Federer along the way.

Victories over Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic also came at masters events as he became the only player to defeat all of the Big Three this year.

The season was ended off in style by winning the ATP Finals title to head into 2020 full of confidence.

Alexander Zverev

After shooting to success in 2018 by claiming the ATP Finals title on his debut at London’s O2 Arena, the German showed gradual signs of improvement over the last 12 month.

The German reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and Wimbledon for the first time in his career this season.

However, the one major criticism of Zverev is his performances at the Grand Slam events as he has never been beyond the quarter-finals – which has only happened on two occasions, both at the French Open.

But the 22-year-old install one of the brightest young sparks and with every event he will learn what it takes to challenge for the biggest awards in best-of-five-set tennis.

Nick Kyrgios

One of the matches of 2020 was undoubtedly Nick Kyrgios’ hot-tempered affair with Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon. Rarely has a tennis match had such bite where one player is deliberately thumping a ball at the other.

Fans always flock to watch the entertaining Australian no matter who or where he is playing. Yes, sometimes he steps over the line, but if Kyrgios can grow stronger mentally then he could be some player.

The 24-year-old has never been beyond the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam but has won six ATP titles, with two (Washington and Acapulco) coming this year.

The quality is clearly there and if he can find that extra bit of mental toughness then a run at a major event is a big possibility.



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