Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Can the younger generation beat 'big three' at Wimbledon?

June 17, 2019 22:03 IST

Since 2003, one of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray have won the title at Wimbledon, with the Swiss leading the way with eight titles.

Stefanos Tsitsipas

IMAGE: Stefanos Tsitsipas has already beaten Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open and Madrid Open respectively this year. Photograph: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

Younger players must take responsibility and break the hegemony at Wimbledon to ensure there is a new champion this year, Greek world number six Stefanos Tsitsipas said.

Since 2003, one of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray have won the title at Wimbledon, with the Swiss leading the way with eight titles.

Former champion Boris Becker had slated the younger generation's inability to challenge the 'Big Three' of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic -- who have won every major over the last 2-1/2 years -- and Tsitsipas hopes to be the one to accomplish the feat at Wimbledon.

 

"I would love to see something different this year. Hopefully it will be me," Tsitsipas, 20, told reporters. "It would give it a little bit of variety, something different to these guys.

"We are responsible as the new generation to work hard to come up with something new and our best games to beat them. Some don't want to take the responsibility of going out and overcoming all those difficulties and beat those guys."

Tsitsipas has already beaten Federer and Nadal at the Australian Open and Madrid Open respectively this year but he said it is not up to just him or 22-year-old world number five Alexander Zverev to carry the torch for the younger players.

"There are others," Tsitsipas added. "Felix (Auger-Aliassime), Denis (Shapovalov), Taylor (Fritz), Alex (de Minaur), Frances (Tiafoe)... We want a big, big rivalry in the future."

Tsitsipas is the top seed at the Queen's Club Championships, a traditional warm-up grasscourt tournament before Wimbledon, and plays Briton Kyle Edmund in the first round on Tuesday.

Wimbledon begins on July 1.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.