It has been a long time since the world of tennis excitedly discussed the prospect of a young crop of tyros springing up to threaten the domination Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and to a certain extent Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka have had on the game for more than 15 years.
Indeed there have been young players who have impressed occasionally, but most of them faded into obscurity after picking up a few titles without really making an impact on the Grand Slams. A few, like Marat Safin, who won the Australian Open in 2005, and Juan Martin del Potro, who was the US open champion in 2009 are notable exceptions, having picked up a major each, but even they couldn’t reach their full potential for a variety of reasons.
But as we bid adieu to 2018 and prepare to welcome the new season, there are expectations that tennis fans can expect a tumult in the established order of things. While it can be argued that the “Big Four” are anyway on their way out due to age and health-related issues, there can be no denying that there are at least two players who can steal their thunder in 2019.
They are Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov, who this month created a sensation by winning two of the biggest tournaments outside of the Grand Slams.
While Russian Khachanov won the Paris Masters beating Djokovic in the final, German Zverev last Sunday, captured the season-ending ATP Finals, with Djokovic again the runner-up.
The 21-year-old Zverev has been talked of as the leader of a pack of hungry young tyros ever since he was a teenager.
But so far he has flattered to deceive at the majors – with a run to the quarter-finals at this year’s French Open the only time he has made it past the fourth round of any of the four Slams.
He already has 10 titles under his belt including the ATP Finals and three Masters crowns but it was the manner of his win against Djokovic at London’s O2 Arena – overpowering the relentless Serb 6-4, 6-3 – that caught the eye on Sunday, a day after he triumphed in straight sets against Roger Federer.
“It’s quite astonishing, winning this title, beating two such players back-to-back, Roger and Novak, in semi-finals and finals,” he said.
Khachanov, 22, also had an excellent 2018, winning the Paris Masters and the ATP 250 events in Montpellier and Moscow. He was the first alternate at the ATP Finals but couldn’t make it as none of the qualifiers withdrew.
There can be no doubt that the emergence of Zverev and Khachanov is just what is needed to spice up men’s tennis.
