‘Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic shattered everyone’s expectations of what was normal’

Milos Raonic was recently asked for his opinion on the quality of players on the ATP Tour compared to a few years ago. And he gave an interesting answer as he felt the brilliance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic had changed people’s perception of what considered normal.

Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have dominated tennis over the past two decades as they have won 65 Grand Slam titles between them, with Djokovic leading the way with 23. They also hold the top spot when it comes to ATP titles. Masters 1000 as well as No 1 in ATP rankings.

Below are Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka as they both won three Grand Slams during the Big Three’s reign, while Marin Cilic and Juan Martin del Potro are the only other two players to win a major when all three. at the peak

Needless to say, the rest played second or even third fiddle after Murray and Waringa. Because they had to fight for the scrap.

When Federer retired last year and Nadal was injured. This makes Djokovic the last member of the Big Three who still has room for the tour to breathe.

There are suggestions that the overall quality of men’s tennis today is improving. This is because lower ranked players have a better chance of defeating the top seed.

Raonic, who recently returned to tennis after two years on the sidelines due to injury, Not so sure because he feels that Messer Federer, Nadal and Djokovic distort the landscape.

“For me it was obvious that I wasn’t playing well enough for the top players to recognize me. But I would say it’s a bit of the opposite,” said the 2016 Wimbledon runner-up.

“I think just three guys with three exemplary legendary athletes in one sport. Not even the same model but in the same sport at the same time You confuse everyone’s expectations of what is normal.

“If you look back at a lot of tournaments, you probably have these three playing. Obviously, I’m talking like when the trio were seriously watching the Masters series, I think we’ve forgotten a bit because it was just the focus on Grand Slams for them in the last couple of years. past

“When I first went on tour They and Andy are so beautiful. I would say they are in the 60% or 70% of the semifinals. And maybe when it comes to clay, it’s David Ferrer who changes things up a bit. You have three guys who are there all the time and win most of the races.

“But I think you still see the same things, like the turnover of men from 16 to 5 in the world. You know they are not. It’s not like every week that the top eight seeds are in all quarters. It’s quite different.

“I think the three men confuse everyone’s expectations for a long time. In sports and in many other things, we have a very short-term memory. And I’m at fault too. Tennis was quite different before Roger came along.”

Raonic believes things will return to normal in the next few years. It will be as usual as the retirement days of Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, and many players will be able to win Grand Slams.

He added: “I think moments like this are probably what tennis needs – of course Novak stays. And he continues to be very involved in later Grand Slams.

“But I think it’s like playing tennis when Andre and Sampras are a little bit older. You have many different players to win Slams.

“And if you look at history and look at trends, There are multiplayer with one or two people. [Slams]And then, you know, the more numbers you make, the more The number of players will decrease. I think only three guys messed with everyone’s abilities – or recalibrated the normal stuff.”

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