By Scoop Malinowski
There is a general consensus idea growing that tennis is entering a “weak era” now that Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are in the home stretch of their illustrious careers.
The thinking is that because Djokovic has no apparent threats within five years of his age of 35, it must be a “weak era.”
I’ve always adamantly disagreed with this cockamamie theory about weak and strong eras as a silly, foolish, ridiculously wrong supposition.
Every era is the same, very, very tough. Only the perceptions of each era is different. The weak/strong era theory is a totally false myth.
Winning matches, earning ranking points and winning tournaments on the ATP and WTA tours is always extremely difficult, regardless of who is at the top of the rankings.
Case closed.
Carlos Alcaraz · Holger Rune · Novak Djokovic · Rafael Nadal · Roger Federer
Matt Segel · May 7, 2023 at 5:02 pm
Hey Scoop, totally agree with this assessment. Every professional athlete is the result of a hyper competitive process that mercilessly weeds out people along the way. Modern money allows for unparalleled fitness, technique refinement and scouting. It’s a very competitive time in tennis right now. It does appear the Carlos is a generational talent, which is natural, but too say the 30-35 year old are weak is really a statement about the crazy longevity of Novak more than anything. It is unusual for players to thrive at his age, I think tennis is going back to the norm of the twenties being the normal peak and injuries will affect the vast majority of players after thirty. The top fifteen is very solid right now.
Scoop Malinowski · May 7, 2023 at 5:47 pm
Matt, If Fed Rafa and Novak all retired at around 30 (as was the norm once upon a time), I believe players like Tsitsipas, Thiem, Fritz, Zverev, Kyrgios could have multiple major titles. And maybe a few more outsiders would have snuck in and won a one hit wonder title like Coric, Nishikori, Monfils, Gasquet, Isner, Busta, Agut.
Cyndy · May 12, 2023 at 9:19 am
I totally agree with you Scoop Malinowski! Every era has held its own and yes very very tough. All that also didn’t happen during the Federer/Nadal/Djokovic times as these three were always winning during the calendar slams. Suddenly there seems to be Alcaraz and he seems to have jump started his tennis career very quickly. Surprisingly he will be number one at the event in Rome just by stepping onto the court and picking up his ten points. So while others in the top 15 are quite good it’s Alcaraz making a big statement that he’s arrived. But I still feel that Djokovic should win slams this year inspite of 2022 being a wasted year for him, unable to play due to the unnecessary covid restrictions etc.
Scoop Malinowski · May 12, 2023 at 10:10 am
Cyndy, the sports media tries the same nonsense with boxing too, calling it a weak era when the Klitschkos dominated the heavyweight division, because the media pushed the anti white agenda and didn’t want to give the Klitschko brothers full credit. They beat all the best of their era and made it look weak, just like Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes did. The great champions are so dominant and superior they made everyone look inferior, until the next one comes – Graf/Seles, Fed/Rafa Novak, Pete – Fed, etc. Yet the fake news media never criticized the Ali and Holmes eras as “weak eras.” Every era is super tough, the stakes are huge and there are many aspiring challengers who dedicate their lives to becoming the champion and earning all the fame and fortune that goes with it. Any media person who tries to say tennis is in a weak era should be fired immediately, or transferred to be obituary editor.
Cyndy · May 12, 2023 at 1:42 pm
Yes indeed! I love those last two sentences of yours Scoop Malinowski!!I
Scoop Malinowski · May 12, 2023 at 3:06 pm
They love you too 🙂