The retirements of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, coupled with the increasingly imminent end of Novak Djokovic’s career, have raised doubts about the future of men’s tennis. Reflecting on this, a former World No. 9 offered an eye-opening take.
“I will say it as it is, men’s tennis is in an existential crisis,” said Andrea Petkovic on Rennae Stubbs‘ Tennis Podcast. “I’m sorry, I have to say it, it’s true. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz kept a veil in front of our eyes,” added the former German tennis player, who retired in 2022.
“The reason I say that is that the moment they are gone, you can see that it is absolute carnage,” Andrea explained. “(Jannik) Sinner is not there, he’s suspended, and Alcaraz lost early, and you can throw a dart blindfolded at a dartboard and see what sticks.”
Petkovic then explained that this situation is due to the natural generational shift in the ATP Tour. “This is not a bad thing, we’ve been through this in women’s tennis. It’s a change of generation. The new generation is not quite as solid yet as Novak (Djokovic), Roger (Federer), and Rafa (Nadal) were, and the older generation is older now.”
Jannik Sinner, ATP No. 1.
Petkovic compares women’s tennis to men’s
After noting that the current transition in men’s tennis is something women’s tennis went through not long ago, Andrea Petkovic expressed enthusiasm about the near future. “I honestly think people should accept the chaos… Be prepared for it because that is a hell of a ride,” she said.
see also
Former World No. 6 Monfils drops big retirement admission and how wife Elina Svitolina ‘saved’ him
“I remember seven years ago people were saying women’s tennis, anyone can win a Grand Slam… I loved women’s tennis six or seven years ago, it was crazy.” She then made a prediction: “Guess what? Now, in men’s tennis, unless Jannik Sinner comes back at the same level he had or Carlos Alcaraz finds consistency, it is going to be the same.”
Petkovic weighs in on Novak Djokovic
In the same conversation with Rennae Stubbs, Andrea Petkovic highlighted the enduring relevance of Novak Djokovic, the last survivor of the Big Three still competing on the ATP Tour. “He’s 38, he is Novak, he is the GOAT, he’s amazing, he is the best player who has ever played this game,” she said.
“But he is 38, he is not the Novak he was at 28 or 33 or 35,” she admitted, although she also stated: “He is still better than everything that is going on right now… Novak is older now, so you can’t count on him being healthy for two weeks at a long tournament. It can happen, but it seems to be the exception rather than the rule.”
Who is Andrea Petkovic?
Andrea Petkovic stood out as a professional tennis player for 16 years. Born in Darmstadt, Germany, in 1987, she won her first WTA tournament in Bad Gastein in 2009, defeating Raluca Olaru in the final. Her highest ranking was World No. 9 in October 2011.
Throughout her career, Petkovic won a total of 7 titles and had her best Grand Slam performance at the 2014 French Open, where she reached the semifinals. She ultimately retired in 2022 after falling in the first round of the US Open to Belinda Bencic.
SurveyWill the next generation of players be able to fill the void left by Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer?
Will the next generation of players be able to fill the void left by Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer?
already voted 0 people
