Former world No.9 Andrea Petkovic believes the WTA Tour is better than its male equivalent because they rely too much on the Big Three.
Petkovic, who reached the semi-finals of the 2014 French Open, has insisted that the women’s game has many stars at different ages. Ranging from rising stars such as Bianca Andreescu and Naomi Osaka to veteran players such as the Williams sisters. Something the German suggests that the ATP Tour currently lacks.
“I think women’s tennis is better than men’s.” She told Der Standard. “We have stars in every generation. Osaka is 21, Andreescu is almost a teenager and the older generation: Serena Williams, Sharapova, Kvitova.”
“For the men there are Federer, Nadal, Djokovic. All the same generation, Federer is a bit older. They will stop at the same time. The ATP relies heavily on these top stars. Yes, they are global stars who go into pop culture. But that’s Osaka too. Now. It is huge in Asia and in America.”
In this week’s top 20 there are six players under the age of 25 on the men’s tour compared to 10 in the women’s game. In recent years the ATP have been promoting their Next Generation contingent is a plan to help fill the void when the Big Three eventually retires from the sport. Although few have managed to break through at grand slam level.
A glimpse of what the future might look like without Federer and co was on display at the Shanghai Masters when four players under the age of 24 reached the semi-finals. The first time this has happened at a Masters event for 20 years. The title was won by 23-year-old Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Alexander Zverevin the final.
“What I like is that I’m seeing big improvements now. Not like there were none beforehand, but now they are playing with the big boys and really able to challenge us, beat us, having good rivalries also within each other, which I think is important for them to improve as players.” Federer recently commented about his younger rivals.
Elsewhere in her extensive interview with Der Standard, Petkovic said she believes Federer’s motivation to continue playing is partly linked with the Laver Cup. A team tournament he co-founded where Europe takes on the rest of the world. Federer turned 38 earlier this year and is one of the oldest players on the tour.
“I think that has a lot to do with the Laver Cup. They want to establish that even more, build a kind of Ryder Cup. It stands and falls with Roger and Rafa playing.” She said.
“On the other hand, I think he just really enjoys tennis. He is beyond that threshold, that he has to prove something to people. And he’s just ambitious.”
Petkovic is currently ranked 75th in the world and has endured a lacklustre season. She reached the third round at both the French Open and the US Open. However, outside of the major tournaments she has only won back-to-back main draw matches at one tournament. Doing so last week in Linz where she reached the semi-finals before losing to Coco Gauff.
Despite her results, Petkovic has stated that she intends to continue playing next year.
