"Novak isn't just chasing records. He's accelerating in his pursuit"

Sysyphus

Talk Tennis Guru
Carl Bialik writing what the TTW hivemind already knows, but some interesting points still. A fragment:

2) The men who used to hold Djokovic back when they were at their peak are fading as he continues to soar. If Federer and Nadal hadn’t been around, Djokovic probably would have won many more majors by 2010. He faced them 11 times at majors through the 2010 U.S. Open and lost nine of those matches. Since then, Djokovic has beaten them in 11 of 17 meetings at majors, including the last five. And he may not meet them many more times at majors, with both men struggling with injuries. Federer withdrew from the French Open before it began, and Nadal withdrew after the first two rounds.

3) Djokovic doesn’t yet have any younger rivals. That is stunning for a man at age 29. Players younger than him have won just two majors combined: Marin Cilic and Juan Martín del Potro, both born a year after Djokovic, have one apiece. Neither has made more than one major final. And men born in 1989 or later have not won a single title of note. No major, no Masters, no tour final. The entire generation of men younger than Djokovic who should be leading the sport hasn’t lifted a single significant trophy. By this stage of the season two years ago — when he was the same age as the 1989ers — Djokovic by himself had won six majors, three tour finals and 19 Masters titles.

This might look like a chicken-and-egg problem: Have players younger than Djokovic struggled because he is an all-time great who keeps ousting them, or because they’re not very good? The answer is a little of both, but more the latter. Djokovic has ousted men younger than him from Slams in the fourth round or later only 17 times in his career. None were in a final. The primary reason the younger guys aren’t breaking through isn’t because Djokovic keeps stopping them. It’s because other older guys are.

While the men ages 23 to 28 might retire as a collective lost cause — a weird void in the tennis record books the men younger than them show real promise, including Dominic Thiem, who will enter the Top 10 on Monday, and Nick Kyrgios. They will have to grow up in a hurry if they are to slow Djokovic’s run at the record book. At the moment, aging or injury look likely to be his biggest obstacle.

(Source)
 

uscwang

Hall of Fame
Simple answer, the generation of Rafa, Novak, Murray, Berdych, Tsonga, Delpotro(boy, if he were to stay healthy all these years), Stan are too good. As soon as they turned 20, they chased the previous generation, except Federer, out of the picture. And through their late 20s, they've been keeping a tight lid on the next and even the next-next generation.
Players like Raonic and Nishikori would likely have won big titles in another era. Unfortunate for them, they'll never reach their potentials because of their too dominating big brothers.
 

demunbrun

Rookie
Not much the next generation can do, as they are going up against arguably the greatest generation of players ever with Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray, and the other extremely talented players who haven't won majors like Nishikori, Berdych, Tsonga, and Ferrer. Thiem and Kyrigos are the only realistic chances of the next generation breaking through.
 

Nonsense

Hall of Fame
Not much the next generation can do, as they are going up against arguably the greatest generation of players ever with Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray, and the other extremely talented players who haven't won majors like Nishikori, Berdych, Tsonga, and Ferrer. Thiem and Kyrigos are the only realistic chances of the next generation breaking through.
Why is Nishi not in the second group? He's only a year older than Raonic is...

I think by the time Novak has declined considerably (2-3 yrs), guys like Nishikori/Raonic will be 28/29 and Kyrgios/Thiem 24/25. It will be a nice little battle between them for supremacy. Even Tomic might win a couple slams in that era!
 

demunbrun

Rookie
Why is Nishi not in the second group? He's only a year older than Raonic is...

I think by the time Novak has declined considerably (2-3 yrs), guys like Nishikori/Raonic will be 28/29 and Kyrgios/Thiem 24/25. It will be a nice little battle between them for supremacy. Even Tomic might win a couple slams in that era!
I just put him there because ranking wise he's ahead of the new generation and already fits in with the Top 10, if that's what you're asking
 

socal1976

Rookie
Yes that is the frightening thing in 2012-2014 Novak a slam a year and a bunch of masters and was clearly the best player. But in 2015 and 2016 he has upped his level faster than the chasing pack. Now records and honors are falling at an unprecedented pace. I think he is better on serve, mentally more assured, and has further smoothed out the rough patches like his volleying, overheads, and slice backhand. People chipping to his FH a great deal or drawing him to net with short angled chip to the BH is just not nearly as effective as it used to be.
 

Arya Stark

Professional
Why is Nishi not in the second group? He's only a year older than Raonic is...

I think by the time Novak has declined considerably (2-3 yrs), guys like Nishikori/Raonic will be 28/29 and Kyrgios/Thiem 24/25. It will be a nice little battle between them for supremacy. Even Tomic might win a couple slams in that era!

Tomic winning a slam or anything of note, if he doesn't change his disgusting ways, and /or get away from his father, would be a travesty, to be honest.
I like Nishikori though and believe he has at least a slam in him. If he stays fit long enough.
 

Nonsense

Hall of Fame
Tomic winning a slam or anything of note, if he doesn't change his disgusting ways, and /or get away from his father, would be a travesty, to be honest.
I like Nishikori though and believe he has at least a slam in him. If he stays fit long enough.
Travest or not. If Tomic does win one he'll have atleast become a bit more dedicated...

There will be a huge vacuum now that the big 4 are getting old along with their gatekeepers (Berdy Ferrer Tsonga). In a couple of years there will be a major changing of guard... Atleast things will be more competitive.
 
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