With Roger Federer’s withdrawal from the French Open came the sinking feeling that the Swiss legend’s days in the professional game are now numbered. At 39 years of age, there are only so many years to go before the physical demands become too much for Federer. The day he retires will be an emotional one for sports fans all over the world.
Given that Andy Murray’s time at the top is all but finished, and the fact that both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are in their mid-30s, we are approaching a time in which the dominant forces of tennis for the last couple of decades will soon fade away.
The question is, who will take their place?
One man who looks like he has all the attributes to do so is Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek triumphed at the Nitto ATP Finals in 2019 and he reached the semifinals at the 2020 French Open and the 2021 Australian Open. The 2021 French Open was third consecutive trip to a major semi, and now he has gone one step farther after beating Alexander Zverev on Friday. Even if it doesn’t happen on Sunday against Djokovic, Tsitsipas is clearly a major winner in the making. At 22 years old, there is plenty of room to grow and develop as a player.
In terms of his playing style, Tsitsipas is a natural successor to Federer. His fast, free-flowing style of play—accompanied by the one-handed backhand which is so rare in modern tennis—mean that one can watch him play and see something of a young Federer. He is a touch taller and lankier than Federer, but with so many giants in the modern game that will only aid him as he seeks to win titles.
The way Tsitsipas plays is refreshing, but there is a debate around whether that style can win titles on a consistent basis. With so many hard-hitting, huge-serving players in the game nowadays, it’s not unreasonable to suggest that the kind of tennis employed by players like Federer and Tsitsipas could one day become a thing of the past. The one-handed backhand, in particular, is something that is becoming increasingly rare.
But that is why Tsitsipas’ talents should be embraced rather than trying to mould him into the kind of cookie-cutter player we are seeing so many of in tennis these days. He is a joy to watch, and the natural talent with which he plays is undoubtedly good enough to land Grand Slam titles. Still, it’s unclear—and unlikely—whether anyone can follow in the footsteps of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic in terms of the number of titles won.
With another slam on the horizon, Djokovic, Nadal and Federer will lead the Wimbledon 2021 men’s betting, but if someone like Tsitsipas could land the trophy it would be a watershed moment for the sport—and an inspiration to other contenders outside of the Big 3. Among those players hoping to take on the role of tennis’ elite stars are Zverev and Daniil Medvedev, but while both are exceptional players in their own right neither are as easy on the eye as Tsitsipas in terms of the way they play.
And that is what has set Federer apart over the years; the reason why he is so revered throughout the world. It’s not simply the fact that he is good at tennis, but he is good at tennis in a way that makes the sport look so graceful and effortless.
It’s fair to say that no-one will ever follow in the footsteps of the Swiss legend in terms of his impact on the sport, but there are certainly similarities to be drawn between Federer and Tsitsipas in terms of their playing style. If the Greek player can amass even a quarter of the number of Grand Slam titles in his career as Federer, he’ll be very pleased indeed.
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