This is the last Big 3 year

It has clearly finally arrived. This year is the last year of the Big 3. The last time each of the Big 3 can conceivably win a major. And once they are no longer capable of that, they will become not 'the Big 3' but merely 'the Big One".

And we're already two slams down!

Wimbledon 2021 is Roger's last chance to sneak a major -and that is a long shot.

Nadal may have a hit at the US Open and next year's RG, but his performance in the semi-final against Djokovic was ominous in the extreme.

Only Djokovic looks capable of winning multiple slams, and there are hints that even he is no longer anywhere near as far ahead of the rest of the field as he was.

It's a time we all knew had to come, but it doesn't make it any less poignant. Let's enjoy these last few months of the Big 3, and thank them for the extraordinary memories they have given us. We'll miss them when they're gone.
 

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
The big 1 era is indeed upon us...

zverev-roland-garros-2021-qf-reaction.jpg
 

Street

Semi-Pro
It has clearly finally arrived. This year is the last year of the Big 3. The last time each of the Big 3 can conceivably win a major. And once they are no longer capable of that, they will become not 'the Big 3' but merely 'the Big One".

And we're already two slams down!

Wimbledon 2021 is Roger's last chance to sneak a major -and that is a long shot.

Nadal may have a hit at the US Open and next year's RG, but his performance in the semi-final against Djokovic was ominous in the extreme.

Only Djokovic looks capable of winning multiple slams, and there are hints that even he is no longer anywhere near as far ahead of the rest of the field as he was.

It's a time we all knew had to come, but it doesn't make it any less poignant. Let's enjoy these last few months of the Big 3, and thank them for the extraordinary memories they have given us. We'll miss them when they're gone.
To be fair, Federer hasn't been a factor this year at all, even if he reaches wimbledon semis, I wouldn't really call this a big 3 year.
 

ForehandRF

Legend
Roger won't win a slam this year but next year he will become the first man in the history of Tennis to win a slam in his 40s.
Next year he will be retired if he doesn't have the expected results, especially at this year's Wimbledon.There is no point to keep on playing if he can't compete against the best players anymore :D
 

Sunny014

Legend
Next year he will be retired if he doesn't have the expected results, especially at this year's Wimbledon.There is no point to keep on playing if he can't compete against the best players anymore :D

It is not like he has returned from surgery and played 50-70 matches for 1-2 years and is convinced that his time is over.

He has just returned, even if he has a bad 2021 now, he can try 1 more year to be sure that there is no return.
 

Cupcake

Hall of Fame
I think part of the reason Fed has been trying to hang on is to win an elusive Olympic gold medal in singles.

I also think Rafa is close to retirement. Perhaps after next years RG. I think he'd like to start living the second part of his life.

Djokovic probably still has 2-3 full years left of good play

Just as it was sad to see Murray go, it will be sad to see these 3 finish their careers too. I hope they don't hang on too long into their declines....
 

Phoenix1983

G.O.A.T.
I think part of the reason Fed has been trying to hang on is to win an elusive Olympic gold medal in singles.

I also think Rafa is close to retirement. Perhaps after next years RG. I think he'd like to start living the second part of his life.

Djokovic probably still has 2-3 full years left of good play

Just as it was sad to see Murray go, it will be sad to see these 3 finish their careers too. I hope they don't hang on too long into their declines....

Murray hasn't gone yet.
 

Hayole

Rookie
This is honestly like 2016..

Djokovic against the field but I doubt he'll have motivational issues like he did back then so it's all in his hands
 
D

Deleted member 771911

Guest
To get a new big 3, we need a big 2, first. So, I think we need Meddy and Tsitsy to get Meddypas going and then Sinner or Musetti or FAA to break into the act and be the disruptor. But I don't see the public loving Medipas like they did Fedal and that younger trio of Sinner and friends are all very likeable. So, what, we will get, an unloved Big 2 and then a beloved third member coming up and making it a very different kind of big 3?
 

Krish872007

Talk Tennis Guru
The last true Big 3 season was probably 2019.

2020 was a year filled with disruptions
2021 has so far been about 1 person holding the fort against the next group of players who were "supposed" to have taken over a few years ago
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jai

daphne

Hall of Fame
To get a new big 3, we need a big 2, first. So, I think we need Meddy and Tsitsy to get Meddypas going and then Sinner or Musetti or FAA to break into the act and be the disruptor. But I don't see the public loving Medipas like they did Fedal and that younger trio of Sinner and friends are all very likeable. So, what, we will get, an unloved Big 2 and then a beloved third member coming up and making it a very different kind of big 3?
I stopped reading at FAA...
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
To get a new big 3, we need a big 2, first. So, I think we need Meddy and Tsitsy to get Meddypas going and then Sinner or Musetti or FAA to break into the act and be the disruptor. But I don't see the public loving Medipas like they did Fedal and that younger trio of Sinner and friends are all very likeable. So, what, we will get, an unloved Big 2 and then a beloved third member coming up and making it a very different kind of big 3?

That would be great. Med v. Tsitsi already has more bite than the Big 3 h2hs. The younger ones seem to be a bit more hungry (?) than the older ones, so I hope one or two of them break through. And don't forget Nole who doesn't like even one of them. He will hold his own for a bit, for sure.
 

OldBalls

Semi-Pro
Nadal made the qf of the AO and lost in a tight 5 setter. He then went onto win m1000 and 500 tournaments and make sf of rg. I wouldnt count him out by any stretch of the imagination.
 

vex

Legend
It has clearly finally arrived. This year is the last year of the Big 3. The last time each of the Big 3 can conceivably win a major. And once they are no longer capable of that, they will become not 'the Big 3' but merely 'the Big One".

And we're already two slams down!

Wimbledon 2021 is Roger's last chance to sneak a major -and that is a long shot.

Nadal may have a hit at the US Open and next year's RG, but his performance in the semi-final against Djokovic was ominous in the extreme.

Only Djokovic looks capable of winning multiple slams, and there are hints that even he is no longer anywhere near as far ahead of the rest of the field as he was.

It's a time we all knew had to come, but it doesn't make it any less poignant. Let's enjoy these last few months of the Big 3, and thank them for the extraordinary memories they have given us. We'll miss them when they're gone.
I hate to break it to you, but it’s been a Big 1 for like 6 years now. The only reason the other 2 added slams outside RG was because the Big1 got injured.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jai

Jai

Professional
Yes, or certainly looks like it will go to becoming the "Big 2" (Rafa still the fave at RG by some length till one more loss happens), and Novak being the last of the 3 still winning slams and holding the fort. Let's see how it goes.
 

Sudacafan

Bionic Poster
I really like Federer, but there's no need to stick around if he can't make at least QF in the slams IMO. We'll see. He lasted 3 rounds in RG before his body needed a break again...
R3 at RG is his best result of 2021 so far. Can he better that at Wimbledon? I am skeptical.
 

Sudacafan

Bionic Poster
Saying R3 isn't really accurate. In Wikipedia his result is listed as 4R.

He won his 3R match. If he'd lost it, 3R would have been his result. He reached the 4th round, he just didn't play in it.
Correct. Fed RG result was 4R. I don’t think he can even repeat that at Wimbledon.
 
Top