Boris Becker Criticises Rising Stars Of Men’s Tennis Over Lack Of Grand Slam Success

At the French Open Dominic Thiem managed to do something that no other player currently in his age group has managed to do.

Taking on Rafael Nadal in the final, he managed to snatch the second set 7-5 before losing to the king of clay. Nevertheless, Thiem is now the only active player on the ATP Tour under the age of 30 to have won a set in the final of a grand slam. During a period where the next generation of the sport has been heavily promoted by the governing body of men’s tennis, the big three continue to dominate the big events. A group that compromises of Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

The current situation has prompted criticism from former world No.1 Boris Becker. Who won his first Wimbledon title at the age of 17. The youngest male player to do so in the entire history of the tournament.

“We are surrounded by [potential] teenage grand slam champions. In any other sport people get younger. For some reason in tennis everybody takes a lot longer to be successful.” The Guardian quoted Becker as saying.
“And that has nothing to do with forehands and backhands. I am convinced it will happen. It should happen. This would be the only sport where it didn’t happen.”

Since 2006, 46 out of 54 grand slam tournaments has been won by a member of the big three. The other victors include Juan Martin del Potro, Marin Cilic, Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray. Furthermore, the past 11 major tournaments have been won by a player aged over 30. In the current top 10 there are five players in their 20s, but only two of those have ever contested a grand slam final – Thiem and Kei Nishikori.

“I was just reading a stat that no active player outside the big three under 28, apart from Thiem [and Milos Raonic in 2016], has been in a grand slam final. That is not good.” Becker analysed.
“That is not a compliment for anybody under 28. And don’t give me that the others are too good. We should question the quality and the attitude of everybody under 28. It just doesn’t make sense.”

Besides Thiem, there has been glimmers of the next generation making progress on the big stage. 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January and reigning ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev is a two-time French Open quarter-finalist.

Becker believes there is yet to be a breakthrough by a player under the age of 28 due to a lack in their mentality and the attitude they take to the court.

“As much as I respect Roger, Rafa and Novak, young players should show up. Give me something I want to talk about. Eventually they [big three] will be too old. But you want to see the passing of the torch while they are still in their prime. You want to see Stefanos [Tsitsipas] and Dominic beating them when they are still very, very good.” He explained.
“There’s a certain mentality that they [younger players] don’t have, that the three others do have. It’s not the forehands. It’s not the fitness. It’s mind-set, attitude that makes the difference between winning and losing.”

At -a-glance: Players under 28 in the top 20.