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Mario Canessa Oneto: Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, the three magnificent | Columnists | sports

In the 2000s, the renowned and always influential American magazine Time In one of his publications, he stated that tennis was in decline, on the grounds that the ratings TV shows had decreased by 15%, which led the large sponsors to consider their advertising investments in golf and ice hockey, sports disciplines that enjoyed great popularity in the United States.

Another of the American magazines specialized in sports, Sports IllustratedReferring to the diagnosis of tennis, she clarified that, although this activity was not in intensive care, she was ill and it was the same rules of the game that caused it. That they were not exogenous reasons, but that his ills were in his own guts.

As it was expected, both the FIT, the ATP and the WTA accelerated innovations and reforms, such as reducing the time between point and point, using balls according to the court, that the judges are more considerate with the expressions of support and rejection of the public and, above all, finding in technology a contribution so that the statistics are at the order of the viewer and that the judges’ decisions are adjusted to reality.

Although the statistics were decisive, the famous journalist specialized in tennis Bud Collins, a character who became part of the Hall of Fame, consulted about the crisis that white sports was experiencing, irreverent with the statistics, mentioned: “All that is nonsense. Tennis cannot succumb to all these excuses. Tennis, like nature, changes with the seasons; but it always flourishes and those who do that miracle are not the rules or the technology, the actors do it. And tennis is giving birth to sensational tennis players, capable of generating rivalries that end up turning them into heroes. Or do we forget the duels of Rod Laver and Tony Roche, or Roy Emerson, or Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe, or Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert? Only these heroes have the power, with their art, to keep the white sport very high ”.

At all times they wanted to point out the best tennis player ever. The one who most resisted with that title has been the Australian Rod Laver, who won the Grand Slam twice (the four Grand Slam tournaments in the same year), in 1962 and 1969. Laver becomes imperishable when led by the great Australian trainer Harry Hopman, in the 1960s, is part of the unbeatable Davis Cup team, led by Laver himself, along with John Newcombe, Tony Roche, Roy Emerson and Fred Stolle. Australia won 15 Davis Cups between 1950 and 1967. Rod Laver, for many specialists, remains the best of all time. The press at all times has wanted to find someone to take that title away from Laver. Especially the American tried to find Laver’s successor and pointed him out to John McEnroe and also to Jimmy Connors and Arthur Ashe. It also had its proponents when Pete Sampras appeared. His 14 Grand Slam titles put him under consideration to be the best ever. To Guillermo Vilas, in 1974, The graphic Not only did he dedicate the cover of the magazine to him, he also called him a phenomenon, on his way to being the best of all time. The press wanted to describe the Czech Ivan Lendl. And not to mention Björn Borg, who led the renowned Swedish band, between the 70s and 80s. Many specialists mention that if Borg did not retire surprisingly at just 26 years old, he would have become the best of all times.

More than 20 years have passed since Bud Collins asserted how sensational tennis is, that it is capable from time to time of offering us idols and today there are proofs: Roger Federer, born in 1981 in Binninge (Switzerland); Rafael Nadal, born in 1987 in Mallorca (Spain); and Novak Djokovic, born in 1987 in Belgrade (Serbia). They are three tennis players capable of grooming tennis courts anywhere in the world with their skills and genius. They began to shine at the end of the twentieth century and over the years they have resisted the onslaught of injuries, the vicissitudes of defeats and the appearance of the new generation, demanding space to occupy the main positions of the ranking or lift the main trophies.

El ‘Big Three’

The magnificent three, or the Big Three, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, not only share the affection of the fans, they also each offer their own peculiar style, personality and influence in the current era of tennis. There is no doubt that we are witnessing one of the brightest eras in tennis. Today, loaded with years, they continue to collect titles. Due to their performances and achievements, they become paradigms for the new tennis generations. It would seem that the statistics presented by each one are a very high bar. The wins achieved have numbers never seen before. It is enough only to stop at the triumphs achieved to realize the magnificence of their careers: Djokovic, with 20 Grand Slam, 36 Masters 1000, 5 ATP World Tour; Nadal, with 20 Grand Slam, 36 Masters 1000 and an Olympic gold medal; and Federer, 20 Grand Slam, 28 Masters 1000 and 6 ATP World Tour.

The most remarkable thing is that each one shows their strength and specialty. Federer has always been considered strong in hard court and grass tournaments, while Nadal is the king of clay and Novak Djokovic is the best suited to any surface; It is easy to determine how your character has to do with your style.

Federer, elegant, harmonious in movement, with a power that, although he does possess it, takes a back seat to the viewer, due to the distinction of his aesthetics. The Swiss rounds out his tennis with his great formality and coldness of his gestures and expositions. Is sensible. He explained it himself: “I cry when I win, because those tears flow, because I remember those coaches who told me that I would not achieve anything in tennis and who almost convinced me.” Nadal forges his tennis in the mixture of power, passion and talent. He sustains his power by the great physical waste, fast, unattainable and he is also a gladiator. Sometimes it seems that you lose points to show that you are not perfect. His great spirit and willingness to sacrifice create great synergy with the viewer. And Djokovic is the ultimate expression of how to implement authority, strength, character and irreverence. He is capable of drawing mental energy when the preference of those present is for his rival. The Serbian does not flinch internally with an adverse result during the match, even if he shows on the outside that he is a boiling volcano. Carrier of a lethal forehand and an indescribable two-handed backhand. He has declared his eagerness to become a legend if he wins the Golden Slam this year, as Steffi Graf did in 1988, when she won all four major tournaments and the Olympic gold medal.

The magnificent three are in force. Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. They are the heroes who invoke epics worthy of earthly worship to distinguish them from the sacred. They are the best of all time until tennis takes care of giving birth to new idols. (OR)

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