Wimbledon 2019: Federer, Nadal and Djokovic rip rivals apart

The Big Three of tennis turned Wimbledon’s round of 16 into a mundane Monday.

Roger Federer of Switzerland dropped five games in his straight-sets demolition of world No 20 Matteo Berrettini. Picture: Getty Images

The reminders come along with regular frequency.

A major title here, there and everywhere. Melbourne. Paris. London. New York. And then all the tournaments elsewhere that make up the men’s tennis tour.

It could be a breathtaking shot replayed on loop around the world. If we are lucky, it is an epic played between them, be it Roger versus Nadal, Novak v Rafa, Djokovic against Federer and his fans.

At Wimbledon on “Manic Monday”, the reminder was far from subtle as they routed rivals back-to-back-to-back.

There may be upsets galore elsewhere, with Ash Barty among the vanquished. But for the pre-eminent men, this was more another mundane Monday.

These were smackdowns. Annihilations. Beatings that served to remind their peers and the public of their greatness.

As individuals. And as a collective. Never has men’s tennis seen a dominance like this.

History repeats itself but it is unfathomable that there could be a combined reign like the trio — kings from Switzerland, Spain and Serbia — are enjoying now.

In nine sets yesterday against rivals who had won three rounds to reach this stage, the threesome dropped just 19 games.

Only Federer faced a break point. One. On grass courts. At grand slam level.

They were the types of performances that will make remaining rivals shudder and peers already ousted ponder when it all might end. Because the sustained success shows no signs of abating.

Not that Nadal, who beat 69th-ranked Joao Sousa 6-2 6-2 6-2, was keen to state that they had Father Time beaten.

“Personally, I am not thinking about sending a message to no one or about the next generation, how they are coming or not. I know they’re good,” Nadal said.

“I know there (is) going to be a day that they (are) going to be in front of us because they will play better than us or because we are leaving, we are not kids any more. That’s all.

“That’s the thing, of course, (it) is special what we achieved in the last 15 years. Something special, difficult to repeat, I think, so many titles between three players. But sometimes these kind of things happen.”

Or not. Djokovic was the next to proceed when pounding emerging Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-2 6-3 6-2.

Then Federer embarrassed 20th-ranked Matteo Berrettini, who won in Stuttgart, 6-1 6-2 6-2.

The most successful of them all at grand slam level, Federer tried to be conciliatory when asked what the thrashings meant.

“I think the best guys now are fully engaged, they know exactly what to expect from the court and the conditions,” he said.

“That helps us to play better. I think with experience, that’s good. We haven’t dropped much energy in any way. It’s not like we’re coming in with an empty tank into the second week.”

Indeed, all three have dropped just a solitary set each this Wimbledon, with only Nick Kyrgios sending a scare with a remarkably good performance against Nadal.

And they will be strongly favoured in their quarter-finals, with Djokovic to play David Goffin, Federer to face Kei Nishikori and Nadal to tackle Sam Querrey.

Roberta Bautista-Agut and Guido Pella will play for the right to tackle, most likely, the reigning Wimbledon champion Djokovic in what would be their first semi-final at major level.

Statistics do not always tell the whole truth in tennis but consider the following.

Federer has reached 55 grand slam quarter-finals, 17 at Wimbledon. He has played 44 semi-finals, 30 deciders and claimed 20 titles.

Djokovic has reached the last eight 45 times, the final four 35 times and claimed 15 major titles from his 24 finals.

Nadal, the 12-time French Open champion, has played 39 quarter-finals at grand slams, 31 semi-finals and 26 deciders for 18 of the best.

It is a gospel of greatness.