Season 2022 | The beginning of a new era

The earth shook during the year 2021.

For the second time only in 17 years, two members of the legendary Big three were unable to win a Grand Slam title. The big tenors have been replaced by the new guard, and 2022 will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the great history of tennis.

It was in 2008 that the Big three composed of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic was truly born. That year, the three members of the trio won all the Grand Slams. Since then, they have dominated their sport like few athletes have.

Concretely, 45 of the last 55 major tournaments ended with the victory of one of the three players. Never seen. Today, the Swiss, the Spaniard and the Serbian each have 20 Grand Slam victories. The next to win one will become the greatest champion in history.

It is also a safe bet that it will be the “Djoker”. The only one still able to resist the effervescence of youth, but above all the only one whose body still seems to hold out. During the last season, the Big three gave way to Big one.

While Novak Djokovic had a historic season punctuated by 5 titles, including 3 in Grand Slam, and 55 victories in 63 games, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were unable to follow the parade.

Federer, 40, has only played 13 games. In mid-August, after an interesting stint at Wimbledon, the Swiss underwent surgery for the third time in 18 months on his right knee.

At the Laver Cup last fall, he had difficulty walking on crutches. He has confirmed his absence for the first few months of the season and members of his entourage have revealed in European media that they strongly doubt Federer’s ability to win another Grand Slam.

The Swiss maestro will start the year at 16^e world rank. This is only the third time since 2002 that he will be excluded from the top 15 to start a season, and it will be difficult for him to come back up the slope, with his aging and fragile body and the skyrocketing of the players of the new generation in the standings. Has retirement time arrived for the eight-time Wimbledon champion?

Nadal will also have to ask himself the question. The Spanish toreador is still able to play high quality tennis and compete with any player in the top 10. Let’s not forget that last season, he won two tournaments in addition to compiling a 24-5 record. Nonetheless, injuries slowed him down tremendously last season, as has been the case for several years now.

He retired from the National Bank Toronto Open in August with a left foot injury, and that’s what ended his season.

The 35-year-old will definitely want to go for a 14^e title at Roland Garros before retiring. He resumed playing demonstration matches in December and confirmed his presence at the Australian Open, which will take place at the end of January. Nadal will start the year ranked sixth in the world, his lowest rank since 2017.

As for him, Djokovic is in resplendent form and in physical conditions which are beyond comprehension for a 34-year-old. The quality of his game is constantly improving and he is able to keep up with the pace imposed by the young wolves.

The world number one is expected to reign supreme on the tennis world again, now that he is alone on his throne.