By Scoop Malinowski
Rafael Nadal’s Uncle Toni made some more curious comments last week, hinting he knew Djokovic would snap out of his two year slump in 2018 but could enter another tailspin year in 2019, even saying the Serbian superpower could be “finished.”
āThe truth is that I said from the beginning that Djokovic was going to be up [there at the ATP top] again when he wanted to,ā Toni told Spanish newspaper El Diario Vasco.Ā āI was surprised at how his [high] level of play stopped so quickly [at the end of the season at London ATP World Tour Finals].ā
āIn 2019, it (Djokovic’s high level) may be finished given the change of generation that is underway.ā
Djokovic lost to Alexander Zverev in the ATPĀ World Tour Finals to Zverev and also the Paris Masters 1000 final to 22 year old Karen Khachanov.
Uncle Toni sees the balance of power shifting in the ATP.Ā āThe young people have taken an important step this year.Ā Karen Khachanov was able to prevail over Djokovic in the final of the Paris Masters, Alexander Zverev has also imposed himself on Novak in London, [Denis] Shapovalov is the youngest but can move forward.Ā There is a very strong group with [Borna] Coric or [Dominic] Thiem who are about to make the final leap.Ā Ā Rafael, Djokovic, [Roger] Federer and company know that they will have to play with these young people.ā
Uncle Toni’s has a proven track record of accuracy and vision and his insights and observations should always be taken seriously. The long-awaited, inevitableĀ #NEXTGEN overthrow of the three all-time kings of tennis may be on the verge of happening.
Photo by Henk Abbink
#NEXTGEN · ATP · Djokovic · Toni Nadal
