Big three era coming to an end – Rafael Nadal

Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal has warned fans that the so-called big three will not be able to dominate the men’s game for much longer.

Nadal said fans shouldn’t fret about the end of the era because there will always be great tennis champions.

Clock ticking for big three

The Spaniard might well hope that the end of the era isn’t on Sunday when he faces Russia’s fifth-ranked Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final.

“We don’t need to hold this era anymore,” Nadal said. “We have been here for 15 years almost. Hopefully, but for my personal interest. At some point, these days, going to happen sooner than later that this era going to end.

“Is arriving to the end. I am 33. Novak is 32. Roger is 38. Andy is 32, too. The clock is not stopping. That’s part of the cycle of life.

“I’m not much worried about this because in tennis always going to be great champions.”

The era of the big three

What has set the current age of tennis part from any other time in history is that for a prolonged period of time, three players, four if you generously lump in Andy Murray, have remained at the top for over a decade creating a tantalizing triangle of tennis intrigue.

Nadal will be chasing his 19th title on Sunday to bring him within one slam of equalling Roger Federer’s haul of twenty. Just behind them is Novak Djokovic who won his 16th Slam at SW19 earlier this year.

The 33-year-old admitted that he would be delighted to end as the man among the trio with the most Grand Slams but says he doesn’t obsess about it.

“Of course, I would love to be the one who achieve more Grand Slams, but I still sleep very well without being the one who has more Grand Slams,” Nadal said.

“You cannot be all day frustrated or all day thinking about what’s your neighbor have better than you. You have to be happy with yourself. You have to do your way.

“If you are the one to achieve more, fantastic. If not, at least I give my best during all my career.”

Djokovic in the hunt

For his part, Djokovic, who retired injured in his US Open round of 16 match against Stan Wawrinka, wants to keep playing for as long as possible and also has Federer’s record in sight.

“I have, of course, desire and a goal to reach the most Slams and reach Roger’s record,” Djokovic said. “But at the same time, it’s a long road ahead hopefully for me.

“I hope I can play for many more years. I’m planning to. I mean, I don’t see an end behind the corner at all. Now it’s a matter of keeping my body and mind in shape and trying to still peak at these kind of events.”

Nadal takes on Medvedev at Flushing Meadow on Sunday, it is the Russian’s first Grand Slam final.