The Big Four in men’s tennis are down to a Big Three for this US Open, but are still looking to extend their dominance over the rest of the field.
Five-time champion Roger Federer is sidelined for the rest of 2016 with a knee ailment, but Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal remain the three favorites to win the title on Sept. 11.
The Big Four have won 42 of the past 46 Grand Slam titles dating to the 2005 French Open. During that stretch, Nadal has won 14 titles, Federer 13, Djokovic 12 and Murray three. Still, two of the four exceptions during that span have happened in Queens, with Juan Martin Del Potro capturing the 2009 US Open by beating both Nadal and Federer en route to the title and Marin Cilic winning the 2014 Open by crushing Federer in the semifinals.
“The Big Four are getting older,” the 30-year-old Nadal said with a smile last week. “Is normal that there is new generation that tries to be in that positions, no?
“But still Novak is No. 1, Andy No. 2, and he’s in good position in the race. I get injured, is true. But before the injury I was the third in the race and not very far from No. 2. Roger, is true, having is tough year in terms of injuries, too.”
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