Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal making rivals feel better about themselves - Annacone
ROGER FEDERER and Rafael Nadal’s absences on the ATP Tour are giving hope to the up and coming players.
Those are the thoughts of broadcaster and Pete Sampras’ former coach Paul Annacone.
Since 2004, the Grand Slams have been dominated by five players with Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka clinching 48 of them.
Federer claimed the Australian Open in January, but since then, the ATP Tour has seen a re-emergence of Juan Martin del Potro while John Isner won his first Masters 1000 title in Miami.
With the rise to prominence of Alexander Zverev over the past 18 months as well as the continued progress of Nick Kyrgios, tennis appears to be in a healthy state.
Hey, we can get there. Now we don’t have to beat Roger, Novak and Rafa in the same tournament
Annacone admits the younger players feel they have a chance when they don’t have to face Nadal or Federer in a Grand Slam event.
“The four great guys at the top—you can throw Stan Wawrinka in there, too—have been so dominant in the majors and the Masters for so long,” Annacone told the Houston Chronicle.
“If you have a couple of them who aren’t there, it creates opportunity.
“And now guys are starting to see that 'Father Time' is wrestling with Roger and Rafa a bit.
“So the players in the next tier are telling themselves, ‘Hey, we can get there. Now we don’t have to beat Roger, Novak and Rafa in the same tournament'.”
And Annacone thinks this is the time for the likes of Isner to capitalise when some of the ‘Big Four’ aren’t involved in a tournament.
He added: “With all the guys at the top a little vulnerable, it’s an exciting time for the veterans like John and like Sam Querrey.
“And it’s exciting for the younger guys that are coming up from behind who are seeing possibilities.
“Then, to throw a carrot on top of that, it’s also going to be exciting to see as Andy recovers, and to see if Novak get himself back on track, what's Rafa going to do about his knees, Roger going to manage his schedule.”