Former World No.1 Marat Safin has questioned why Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are still so successful in the latter stages of their careers.
The Russian, speaking to The Independent, said: “Federer and Nadal are great players but they’re getting older. No matter how much you work in the gym, it becomes harder and harder to recover match after match. Age catches up with you.”
Safin wondered why significant challengers have not appeared to challenge the now long-established tennis elite. “If Federer and Nadal are still winning I think there’s something wrong. I don’t see any upcoming superstars today.”
“I’m not saying that our times were the best, but when I was growing up, players were winning ATP tournaments at 16, 17, 18. Now players are only just starting to be pros at the age of 25. I don’t know why that is.”
Federer and Nadal, both well into their thirties, have dominated the tour in 2017, splitting the four grand slams and a number of masters titles.
Safin also remarked on the changing age dynamics of the modern day tour. Safin: “Players used to retire by the time they got to 30. At 32 you were a dinosaur. Now you see players who are still running at the age of 38.”
“The upcoming young guys just aren’t at a high enough level. If you can still manage to run at the age of 38 and still be No 1 in the world, it means there must be something wrong with the other players.”
Safin retired in 2009 at the Paris-Bercy Masters. Now 37, the Russian won the US Open in 2000, and the Australian Open in 2005. He reached the semi-finals of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
