Dominance of the Big 4

[McEnroeisanartist]

I think this is beyond remarkable, since 1973, there have been only two occasions where the same 4 players in the top 4 at the end of a year were ranked in the top 4 again the next year.

1983-1985 - McEnroe, Lendl, Connors, and Wilander

2008-2012 - Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray

[kishnabe]

Slowing of the surfaces help the top guys year in and year out.

83-85 was far more impressive than right now.

[Prisoner of Birth]

I'm pretty sure these guys will remain in the top 4 until 2014, barring retirement from Federer.

[Sabratha]

Originally Posted by McEnroeisanartist

I think this is beyond remarkable, since 1973, there have been only two occasions where the same 4 players in the top 4 at the end of a year were ranked in the top 4 again the next year.

1983-1985 - McEnroe, Lendl, Connors, and Wilander

2008-2012 - Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray

There's been occasions where it's been nearly the same. If Safin won Paris in 2005, he would have probably finished #3 or #4 in the world.

2004 - Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin.
2005 - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt.

It was because Nadal pushed himself into the top four bracket that year that the top four changed, and the fact that Marat Safin was injured for most of the year.

[McEnroeisanartist]

Other close ones:

1977 - Connors, Vilas, Borg, Gerulaitis.
1978 - Connors, Borg, Vilas, McEnroe, Gerulaitis