Top analyst feels Djokovic, Federer and Nadal are still the best despite Zverev and Medvedev successes
Alex Corretja feels that Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are still the World’s best, with it being “too early” for Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev to be considered part of the elite.
As 20-time Grand Slam champions Djokovic, Federer and Nadal battle amongst each other to become the most successful and most decorated male player of all time, Medvedev and Zverev have been rising to prominence on the tour.
World number two Medvedev claimed a maiden Grand Slam title last year when he beat Djokovic in the US Open final, crushing the World number one’s dreams of a Calendar Slam in the process.
Similarly, Zverev beat Djokovic en route to his 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medal, ending the Serbian’s hopes of becoming the first male player to complete the Golden Slam.
Additionally, 24-year-old Zverev was the only player on the tour last year to win two ATP 1000 Masters events, as well as winning the season-finale in the ATP Finals. Zverev also has ambitions to win Grand Slams of his own.
However, both Federer and Nadal were forced to miss the second half of the season through injury. Nadal has only just returned from a five month injury lay-off, whilst Federer remains out as he recovers from knee surgery.
Swiss Maestro Federer announced in November that he will definitely miss the upcoming Australian Open and could also miss Wimbledon.
Djokovic may also miss the Australian Open depending on how his deportation hearing goes on Monday after his medical exemption was voided and his visa was cancelled.
Coach-turned-analyst Corretja told Eurosport that he believes the ‘Big Three’ are still the best in the World and Zverev and Medvedev are not yet amongst the World’s best.
Corretja said “we may not have Novak, but Medvedev and Zverev will likely be more the favourites than him, so he may not be in the top two.
“Zverev and Medvedev have definitely been playing better tennis than Rafa in the last month, that’s obvious. You only have to look at the results. But they still need to keep improving to show that they are going to be in the next ‘big three’.
“They are playing better and better, but we can’t talk about them being in a ‘big three’ – the ‘big three’ are Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.
“Zverev, Medvedev and others are definitely going to be huge and great players, but it is still too early to put them in a ‘big three’, I believe.”
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