Is There Truly A Next Big Three?

Many tennis fans believe that the tennis season is over after the US Open, but they are mistaken. The tennis season continues beyond the US Open, with some important tournaments taking place. It's true that the general tennis audience tends to tune out once the US Open is over, and the overall interest in tennis seems to decline. But I find this quite unfortunate because the remainder of the season boasts some incredible tournaments that are a joy to watch.

I want to discuss something that I've been observing on Twitter. Now, I'm not an active Twitter user, but I find it to be an interesting platform for tennis discussions. However, Twitter can sometimes become a breeding ground for toxic conversations, thanks to the presence of trolls. What's even more intriguing is that professional tennis players are also active on Twitter, and they don't shy away from interacting with these trolls.

Lately, Twitter has been abuzz with discussions surrounding Carlos Alcaraz. When Alcaraz was dominating the tour, winning major tournaments and even defeating the likes of Djokovic at Wimbledon, there was an uproar proclaiming him as the next Greatest of All Time (GOAT). But now, when Alcaraz has faced some challenges, people are quick to suggest that there's something wrong with him. Therefore, in today’s article, we will explain that there is nothing wrong with Alcaraz and why he is simply going through normal ups and downs.

Smiling On Court

I remember watching Alcaraz play in an exhibition at the Hopman Cup. He was smiling, looked happy, and was in great form. However, when he started playing in North America at events like the Masters in Canada, Cincinnati, and the US Open, something seemed amiss.

He appeared less cheerful. This trend continued at the last two tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai.

It's likely that this change in demeanor is related to the high expectations placed on him. Unless he's winning a tournament, the media tends to write negative things about him. The problem is that players, like Alcaraz, are influenced by media narratives, and the media often hypes up players to unattainable levels.

Difficult Competition

In one of my rants after Alcaraz's Wimbledon victory, when the world was declaring him as the next Djokovic, I argued that Alcaraz would face stiff competition. Just like Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic had challenging matchups, Alcaraz would have his share of tough opponents. And we've seen that to be true.

Alcaraz faces difficulties against players like Sinner, whom he's lost to four times. He's had close matches against Hurkacz, who recently won Shanghai. Hurkacz has a game that could potentially lead him to a Wimbledon victory in the future. Alcaraz has also had issues with players like Tommy Paul, and there could be more rising stars who will challenge him.

Let's not underestimate how difficult it is to win a Masters Series tournament, let alone a Grand Slam. Alcaraz’s performance, making it to the finals in Cincinnati and the semis at the US Open, is outstanding.

Even Rafa Nadal regards reaching the semis at Grand Slams as a significant achievement. Alcaraz is undoubtedly the best player among the next generation, and I stand by what I said earlier about the next big three: Alcaraz, Sinner, and Rune.

The Carota Man

Jannik Sinner is improving rapidly. He managed to defeat Alcaraz and Medvedev in Beijing but then faced a tough loss to Shelton in Shanghai.

Speaking of Shelton, he's an outstanding player with enormous potential, and I've talked about him extensively. Among American players, I believe he has the most upside.

Sinner also clinched the Masters title in Toronto. But, interestingly, he faced an early exit the following week. Sinner's only missing element to be at Alcaraz's level is consistency. He needs to string together multiple wins and reach semis or finals in consecutive tournaments. This is the kind of consistency that the big three displayed throughout their careers, and Sinner needs to replicate it to catch up with Alcaraz.

Bring The Popcorn

Let's turn our attention to Holger Rune. I understand that he's a polarizing figure, with many people expressing negative sentiments about him on platforms like Instagram and Twitter. However, I'll tell you why I admire Rune. He brings incredible entertainment to the court.

One of the most captivating matches for me this year was the final in Munich, where Rune defeated Botic van de Zandschulp. It wasn't a high-profile tournament; it was a 250-level event. The quality of this match might not have been as high as some other major finals this year.

The best two finals, without a doubt, were the Cincinnati final between Djokovic and Alcaraz and the Wimbledon final between Djokovic and Alcaraz in terms of sheer tennis prowess.

But when it comes to sheer entertainment, I was glued to my television when Rune played against Botic van de Zandschulp in Munich. The reason for this is Rune's roller-coaster style of play. In my view, he is the hardest ball striker on the tour. I believe Rune hits the ball harder than anyone else, even harder than Alcaraz.

However, Rune's mental game can be a roller-coaster. During this particular match, there were moments when it appeared Rune was giving up. He walked around as if he was injured. This might be why some people don't like him, as they believe he's simulating injuries. But then, moments later, he would flip the switch and start playing incredibly well, ultimately winning the match in a thrilling 7-6 third set.

Success Down The Drain

Unfortunately, Rune has had a rough patch in his recent performances. Despite a strong finish to last year when he won the Paris Indoor Masters, this year has seen him struggle.

He reached the finals of Monte Carlo and Rome but faltered afterward. To provide some context, let me list his results post-Wimbledon. He lost in the second round in Toronto, albeit after a first-round bye. Then, he faced an early exit in the second round in Cincinnati after another first-round bye. At the US Open, he lost in the first round, a significant disappointment.

His struggles continued with a second-round loss in Beijing, after a first round win against Auger-Aliassime, who recently has also struggled. Last week in Shanghai, Rune was defeated in the second round in straight sets by Nakashima, a player who was struggling with confidence. Out of his last five tournaments, Rune won just one match.

Brighter Days Ahead

However, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon for Rune. Recently, I came across an Instagram post that revealed a fascinating development in his career. The tennis legend Boris Becker, one of the greatest players in the history of the game, is now mentoring Rune.

This partnership could be exactly what Rune needs. Becker's authoritative figure, profound experience, and mentorship could provide the young Danish player with the guidance and insights necessary to unlock his full potential and become the champion he's capable of being.

Equal Prize Money

Now, let's shift our focus to the world of women's tennis. I'm a huge fan of the WTA, and it's worth noting that Maria Sharapova has been quite active on social media lately.

She's been making statements that resonate with opinions I've expressed in the past. Sharapova pointed out a significant issue in women's tennis—discrepancies in prize money. She highlighted that the winner of a women's tournament in China received only a tenth of the prize money awarded to the men's tournament winner in the same location.

While prize money variations can be attributed to various factors, this level of discrepancy is simply unjustifiable.

Nevertheless, as Maria Sharapova rightly pointed out, there must be an increase in prize money for women. Women's tennis is the premier female sport globally, and it has a dedicated and passionate fan base.

Contrary to some perceptions, many people genuinely enjoy watching women's tennis. Therefore, it's only fair that female players receive higher compensation for their performances in non-Grand Slam tournaments. It's a long-overdue change that will hopefully promote greater equality and recognition in the sport.

Final Thoughts

Continuing with the previous topic, as tennis fans, we need to accept that men’s tennis brings in more fans and revenue. Even in joint tournaments where both men and women compete, women's tennis often takes a backseat for various reasons. Men's finals usually take place on a Sunday, while women's finals are held on Saturdays. This scheduling difference, along with factors like court assignments, contributes to men's tennis garnering more attention.

There's no denying that marquee male players draw larger crowds, and they undoubtedly make tennis more appealing to a broad audience. We're talking about players like Alcaraz, Tsitsipas, Djokovic, Medvedev, Rublev, and Dimitrov. These athletes are the driving force behind tennis's popularity, and I'm in full agreement with that.

Especially Alcaraz. In fact, as I finish editing this and put it together, I’ll go over to the living room and turn on Alcaraz’s match. Just like everyone else, he is playing at the Rolex Paris Masters and will face Roman Saffiullin. The Russian has been on a hot streak lately, but I still see Alcaraz sealing the win in three sets. Maybe the prediction is biased because he’s my favorite player. I recommend you to go watch it as well. Either way, Happy Halloween!