The dominance of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic has created a serious problem in men’s tennis, writes Sam Groth

Men’s tennis has a problem. It started with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic and it’s hard to know when it will be fixed, writes Sam Groth.

How many more slams does Novak Djokovic have in him? Picture: AAP Images

They say you can never have too much of a good thing, but when it comes to men’s tennis I fear they’re wrong.

The top players – and by that I mean Djokovic, Nadal and Federer – have gone to insane levels, probably beyond what anyone ever thought possible.

But have we reached the point that men’s tennis has become stale because of their dominance?

I think of it like food. What’s the best meal you have ever had and could you eat it every day for 10 years?

You might love it but surely you get sick of it eventually and want to try something else.

That’s me with the Federer, Nadal and Djokovic era. I am craving change.

Djokovic is on course for a ninth Australian Open title, Federer has eight Wimbledon trophies and Nadal’s won in Paris 13 times. All achievements beyond imagination. Truly unbelievable. But what is it doing for the future of the sport?

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Novak Djokovic has been a dominant force in men’s tennis. Picture: AFP Images

Are people watching this year’s Australian Open, believing someone other than Novak can win? Or is the title just a forgone conclusion for them?

Do people want to see Rafa win in Paris again because it’s the norm? Or is it getting boring?

There is a generation of tennis fans that quite possibly haven’t seen anyone else win a slam.

In the last 16 years, 53 grand slam titles of a possible 63 have been won by Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. That is insane.

But as a massive advocate of tennis it’s also troubling. Who is going to carry the sport when these guys call time?

Let’s be honest, Roger is close to finishing. Rafa, although world number 2 is on the back 9, and, while Djokovic likely has years left in him and looks set to break so many more records, where is the challenge and who becomes his rival?

I’m not wishing these guys away – far from it. But when they are gone who can sell out an arena globally?

Dominic Thiem is the man mostly likely, the one we hope can bring about some change, but I don’t see him as a superstar edge.

Even if he does. He is only one man. Where is the next generation?

We have talked about Nishikori, Raonic, Dimitrov – even Kyrgios – in the annual ‘changing of the guard’ discussion for years. The debate of who the next big thing is appears moot – it’s Groundhog Day every year.

As much as Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have brought this sport to an incredible level – they leave an expectation that no one looks likely to fulfil.

Have they set the next generation up for failure? Inadvertently, I fear they have.

The history of this sport is that by 30-years-old you’re done or being pushed from the top of the rankings because the younger group is coming through. We haven’t had that happen this time around.

The storylines are boring. It took Djokovic being defaulted at the US Open to make it interesting, otherwise it was looking like just another tournament he was set to win.

Roger Federer is nearing the end of his stunning career. Picture AFP Photo

No disrespect to Thiem, but did we get a new winner through a freak incident and nothing else?

Watching the same thing happen over and over is stale.

I don’t like comparing the women’s and men’s game but you could say the same about the WTA circuit 10 years ago during the height of the Williams sisters’ dominance.

If we look at the same time period as we did the men’s (2005-2020), the Williams sisters account for 20 of a possible 63 slam titles.

I love that Serena is still playing in finals and chasing that 24th slam – I hope she wins it before she walks away. But how refreshing is it to see the younger players stepping up to the challenge and denying her that piece of history.

That in itself has become a bigger storyline and made the women’s circuit more exciting.

I don’t want to undermine the level of the game being played on either side. We get spectacular entertainment. Any given match can have you on the edge of your seat or glued to the screen, it’s the narrative that runs alongside the performance that is lacking.

We haven’t had an Australian Open final without at least one of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal since 2005. Their names are pencilled into the final four every year. It’s boring.

Few have dominated an event like Rafael Nadal at the French Open. Picture: Getty Images

How does it get fixed? It’s an argument without a solution, you can’t just magic a new talent and decide you want to stop these three form winning.

Utter dominance has made these three names a foregone conclusion. They’ve been too good for the sport – we have been spoilt.

Writing themselves into the history books could prove dangerous and damaging for tennis for generations to come.

Will anything live up to what we have all lived through and become accustomed to? My fear is no.

Originally published as The dominance of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic has created a serious problem in men’s tennis, writes Sam Groth