Just how boring is tennis without the Big 3

[Atennisone]

So we just had an ATP 500 in Rotterdam, with a lot of future stars. No one really cares tbf. Then an ATP 250 hits, and because it is with Federer, suddenly it's an amazing tournament, that we all wanna watch until Federer loses. Now that counted for me too, and then seeing Federer win, I really missed seeing Nadal win, and thought oh please nadal, if you any way are in shape, please compete in Dubai, so I can watch you, but nah, Nadal is turning older, and only wants to compete in slams and tournaments where he is the favourite to win. The Dubai open went from going to have Nadal and Federer to having none of them, and guess what, Dubai will be more or less ignored. All I'm trying to say is how boring is tennis gonna be without Big 3, try and imagine it, think about how any ATP 250 can be much more interesting with 2 Big 3 players, than an masters with only 1. How an ATP 500 in Rotterdam, was left behind, while TTW made 17 pages for an ATP 250 second round. It's f*cking sad, but the Big 3 is growing older, and tennis will suck without them, and as soon as 2 of them retires, it's gonna be dang boring. No next gen is that interesting, it's all just big serve, good forehand. No net play, no one who can't serve, no one almost with a one-handed backhand, none of them will ever be as clutch as Djokovic, look as focused as Nadal, and be as elegant as Federer.

 

[mike danny]

The USO final was a pretty good preview of how tennis would look like without the Big 3.

 

[Atennisone]

The USO final was a pretty good preview of how tennis would look like without the Big 3.

Exactly the moment I started to think about this, I always wanted somebody new to win a Grand Slam, but when it finally happended, it was in such an ugly way, that it's never been sadder for tennis

 

[-snake-]

It's gonna be an even worse version of the early 00s.

 

[mike danny]

Exactly the moment I started to think about this, I always wanted somebody new to win a Grand Slam, but when it finally happended, it was in such an ugly way, that it's never been sadder for tennis

And the worst part is that it changed nothing. The status quo is still the same.

 

[Standaa]

I’d never have become such a big tennis fan if it wasn’t for the Big 3, and especially Federer. that’s how big they are.

then you have the worst generations coming after them, and it makes the difference even worse.

 

[Atennisone]

And the worst part is that it changed nothing. The status quo is still the same.

Thiem has lost so many easy matches this year, and Zverev keeps on choking, so yeah indeed

 

[Atennisone]

I’d probably never have become a tennis fan if it wasn’t for the Big 3, and especially Federer. that’s how big they are.

I think this is the same for me, I always cheered for Nadal but didn't come emotionally attached to the sport before 2017, and I'm not sure I would have ever cared for the sport had it not been for Nadal

 

[TheAssassin]

I think that none of the younger guys impressing on a consistent basis is the bigger problem. Tennis was a lot of fun before Big 3 too.

 

[ChrisRF]

Exactly the moment I started to think about this, I always wanted somebody new to win a Grand Slam, but when it finally happended, it was in such an ugly way, that it's never been sadder for tennis

Honestly even before that I knew I wouldn’t care about another winner. The Big 3 have dominated for so long that they really ARE tennis right now. That said, I’m extremely interested in the past and watch old Slam finals or old matches in general all the time. But I have no interest for the (immediate) future after the Big 3.

At the moment it’s all about the Slam count, and who comes out on top. A Slam without a Big 3 winner just feels like a Slam with no winner at all. Like last year’s Wimbledon which just didn’t happen. Shouldn’t be that way of course, but it is how it is.

 

[Beckerserve]

So we just had an ATP 500 in Rotterdam, with a lot of future stars. No one really cares tbf. Then an ATP 250 hits, and because it is with Federer, suddenly it's an amazing tournament, that we all wanna watch until Federer loses. Now that counted for me too, and then seeing Federer win, I really missed seeing Nadal win, and thought oh please nadal, if you any way are in shape, please compete in Dubai, so I can watch you, but nah, Nadal is turning older, and only wants to compete in slams and tournaments where he is the favourite to win. The Dubai open went from going to have Nadal and Federer to having none of them, and guess what, Dubai will be more or less ignored. All I'm trying to say is how boring is tennis gonna be without Big 3, try and imagine it, think about how any ATP 250 can be much more interesting with 2 Big 3 players, than an masters with only 1. How an ATP 500 in Rotterdam, was left behind, while TTW made 17 pages for an ATP 250 second round. It's f*cking sad, but the Big 3 is growing older, and tennis will suck without them, and as soon as 2 of them retires, it's gonna dang boring. No next gen is that interesting, it's all just big serve, good forehand. No net play, no one who can't serve, no one almost with a one-handed backhand, none of them will ever be as clutch as Djokovic, look as focused as Nadal, and be as elegant as Federer.

Tennis could well collapse as a sport once Nadal and Federer and Djokovic go. And i literally mean collapse with no sponsors.
The problem in any sport when people get used to utter greatness, which teasing and banter aside, is what all three represent, is that when they go the void is impossible to fill. The womens game coped as it got lucky it had almost 50 years of greatness from Navratilova and Evert to straight after Graf Seles then Hingis briefly then Williams sisters. Even if the womans game as a whole struggled depth wise it always had its marquee players.
Sadly there is literally nothing marquee coming through in the mens game. The level of interest among casual fans is not there at all. Tsitsipas could walk in any nightclub outside Greece and would be not recognised probably. Medvedev definitely would not be outside Russia.
The ATP tried everything to hype the new generation up but it has failed.

 

[Beckerserve]

Honestly even before that I knew I wouldn’t care about another winner. The Big 3 have dominated for so long that they really ARE tennis right now. That said, I’m extremely interested in the past and watch old Slam finals or old matches in general all the time. But I have no interest for the (immediate) future after the Big 3.

At the moment it’s all about the Slam count, and who comes out on top. A Slam without a Big 3 winner just feels like a Slam with no winner at all. Like last year’s Wimbledon which just didn’t happen. Shouldn’t be that way of course, but it is how it is.

Nobody outside the Big 3 has won a slam since Wawrinka i think 2016!!

 

[jussumman]

Thiem, Tsitsipas, and one of the Russian players will start winning Slams more regularly in 2 years. I don't think they are very boring. People are just big fans of the Big 3 and the Slam race, that's the problem.

 

[Atennisone]

Nobody outside the Big 3 has won a slam since Wawrinka i think 2016!!

Not certain what you mean with this or you're trying to admit that Thiem didn't really "win" a slam he just didn't lose any of the first 7 rounds

 

[Swingmaster]

Watching Djokovic and Nadal destroy people isnt much fun either. How many of their matches a year are actually interesting? I’d rather watch that strange US Open then the last AO or French.

 

[Atennisone]

Thiem, Tsitsipas, and one of the Russian players will start winning Slams more regularly in 2 years.

Tsitsipas would at least be something. Thiem would be fine too, but if the future is gonna be 2 two handed backhands, from two baseline players, then I'M OUT

 

[Beckerserve]

Not certain what you mean with this or you're trying to admit that Thiem didn't really "win" a slam he just didn't lose any of the first 7 rounds

My bad....i totally forgot about Thiem and the USO for a moment. Apologies.

 

[Benben245]

The juniors are learning on homogenized molasses. They’re skill set is limited by necessity or lack thereof. This is just one of the many causalities to the ratings and ad revenue game

 

[Atennisone]

My bad....i totally forgot about Thiem and the USO for a moment. Apologies.

It's a forgettable slam, and a disgrace to tennis.

 

[Sephiroth]

It is pretty trash not gonna lie lol

"Next Gens" (hate using this term now) really have to step up and start taking over headlines

 

[Beckerserve]

It's a forgettable slam, and a disgrace to tennis.

Will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

 

[Beckerserve]

It is pretty trash not gonna lie lol

"Next Gens" (hate using this term now) really have to step up and start taking over headlines

They think Instagram posts is the pathway to glory. That is the problem.

 

[Sephiroth]

They think Instagram posts is the pathway to glory. That is the problem.

Unfortunately that's my generation, smh

it's crazy. Biggest buzz has been about a 40 year coming back to tour after 14 months off I swear on my life friggin Qatar Open has never received this type of hype before LOL now that Fed's out no one really cares

I mean I heard Rublev is doing some cool stuff but none of these losers are headline grabbing, that make you WANT to watch them

 

[steenkash]

Pretty boring, but much better than One Shot Fernando, 1 Slam wonder Baggie and Roddick the 1 Slam Bandit

 

[mike danny]

Thiem, Tsitsipas, and one of the Russian players will start winning Slams more regularly in 2 years. I don't think they are very boring. People are just big fans of the Big 3 and the Slam race, that's the problem.

Thiem in 2 years will be 30. Doubt he'll start winning regularly then.

 

[TheAssassin]

Unfortunately that's my generation, smh

it's crazy. Biggest buzz has been about a 40 year coming back to tour after 14 months off I swear on my life friggin Qatar Open has never received this type of hype before LOL now that Fed's out no one really cares

I mean I heard Rublev is doing some cool stuff but none of these losers are headline grabbing, that make you WANT to watch them

His stuff is so cool that he made it to Qatar Open semifinals without stepping on the court.

 

[GhostOfNKDM]

It's a forgettable slam, and a disgrace to tennis.

What did you think of the AO finals?

 

[Beckerserve]

Unfortunately that's my generation, smh

it's crazy. Biggest buzz has been about a 40 year coming back to tour after 14 months off I swear on my life friggin Qatar Open has never received this type of hype before LOL now that Fed's out no one really cares

I mean I heard Rublev is doing some cool stuff but none of these losers are headline grabbing, that make you WANT to watch them

It is a massive problem. Roger Rafa and Novak love the game more than anything outside of family surely it must worry them what the future holds.
I am pinning hopes on Sinner which says it all

 

[Sephiroth]

It is a massive problem. Roger Rafa and Novak love the game more than anything outside of family surely it must worry them what the future holds.
I am pinning hopes on Sinner which says it all

Future's gonna be crap at this point, another reason is these new guys talk too much about their Big 3 idols when they should be writing a story for themselves, not realizing you're giving them even more attention lol

Like on Twitter for example outside of the Big 3 it's a barren wasteland in terms of discussion

 

[Sephiroth]

His stuff is so cool that he made it to Qatar Open semifinals without stepping on the court.

Exactly, the aura this man has that no one wants to step on the court with him, frightening

 

[one-hand]

Watching Djokovic and Nadal destroy people isnt much fun either. How many of their matches a year are actually interesting? I’d rather watch that strange US Open then the last AO or French.

I'm with you on this one. What's the point of watching a terrible matchup. It's so much more fun and interesting watch two player fighting for every point.

 

[jussumman]

Tsitsipas would at least be something. Thiem would be fine too, but if the future is gonna be 2 two handed backhands, from two baseline players, then I'M OUT

I think I saw someone play 2 handed backhand and forehand.. Maybe that's the future of tennis.

 

[Robert F]

To prevent tennis from dying, I almost think it is crucial for some of these guys to beat the Big 3 in big settings. A masters final, a slam semi and most importantly a slam final.

Right now if a guy beats Fed, while he is fading, it doesn't help the next gen. But if someone can beat Nadal in 4 at RG Final or Djoker in 3 at the USO final, that guy is going to build some street cred. If that doesn't happen until 2025, then that guy isn't going to get as much credit to build a new dynasty on.

I wonder if the structure of the tour needs to change so more guys get name recognition and other matches become highlighted.

My ideas, which may be horrible
1--first week of slams, networks don't feature the big 3/Sernea or Americans unless they are about to lose, focus on up and comers and compettive journeymen matches. Week 2 go crazy with the Big 3. Week one keep it to highlights and brief updates.
2--Have 250's and 500's feed seeded spots in either master tournaments or slams that override rankings. Winner of Qattar Open gets #3 seed at IW or Miami. Winner of RotterDam gets #1 or #2 seed. That way fans see them playing for something more than points. Imagine the winner of Rome gets #2 seed at RG.
3--Maybe slams should be played over 3 weeks and regular tournaments get played over 2 to give a day off between matches. Have more matches in the main stadium then. Maybe bring doubles to the forefront.

 

[Graf1stClass]

Women's tennis was already more interesting. People refuse to admit it, but it's true.

 

[Deleted member 771911]

I kind of like it. I am ready for it.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Medvedev and Tsitsipas played well today. Plus we got Thiem, Rublev, sinner and Zverev. They all good players who will continue to get better.

 

[Jokervich]

People find the big 3 the most interesting because they've achieved far more than everyone else. The big 3 were also boring nobodies before they started winning so much.

If the big 3 retire and Sinner and Auger Aliassime go on to win 20+ slams each (not going to happen, but theoretically), then people will follow those players.

Tennis (and sport in general) is interesting when there are a small handful of players who utterly dominate and they have a fierce rivalry of who can achieve the most. We don't have that outside the big 3.

 

[The Blond Blur]

The USO final was a pretty good preview of how tennis would look like without the Big 3.

It was the best comedy I’ve seen in a long time though.

 

[James P]

I love watching the young players, even when they fail (which they often do). Tbh, I tire of most Big 3 talk, although I'll admit it was interesting to have the old man back this week.

 

[Arak]

I’ve been watching tennis since early 80s and it has always been fun and exciting. The drought that is happening now is not normal and hopefully will not last for long. I agree with OP that tennis future is not exciting at the moment. I personally renewed my subscription for tennis tv just to watch Federer at Doha and Dubai. It was a good investment

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Tennis will not collapse (some of us have been through several such phases), but some of you have set yourselves nicely up for it. After all, you keep on hyping the already overhyped.

 

[Checkmate]

The Slam race has ruined us all. And it's so damn intriguing to me and will become even more so when all three will be separated by the skin of the teeth.

 

[GhostOfNKDM]

Women's tennis was already more interesting. People refuse to admit it, but it's true.

Women’s tennis is more popular too.

Not enough people agree but it’s true.

 

[MichaelNadal]

It'll never be the same when Rafa is gone for me, but I'm still going to watch and be invested