JC22
Midfield
Tennis is in a bit of a strange place at the moment and there really is such a big contrast between the 2 sides.
Djokovic and Nadal were (/are) so far ahead of the rest this tournament and although there was a masterclass on display, even their anticipated final was a bit of a damp squib. The younger generation are generally doing better, but once they faced the finalists, they were all soundly beaten - ADM, Tiafoe, Tsitsipas, Shapovalov, Medvedev. Novak is superb and surely the favourite now to end his career with the most slams, but while clearly respected, he's not loved in the same way as the other 2 and him (in particular) dominating is probably putting people off the sport, certainly on this forum anyway - there's very few regular posters now and while it was obviously one sided and a slightly early start, there was pretty much no activity during that final. Murray barely playing these last 18 months has obviously contributed, but you go on to the NFL thread, when matches are on at 2/3am or even Brighton vs Watford and it's so much more popular than a men's slam final.
It is and has been my favourite sport for a while now and a large part of that is down to the women's side. I get the BO5 thing, the 'principle' of liking women's sports, the less physical / 'put them in with a bloke in the 300's and they'll barely win a point', etc. etc. but at face value, that side is in generally in a lot better position. You've got a 21 year old #1 in Osaka who's just put together back to back slams and who's worldwide profile is so much higher after 'that' US Open final, you've got a 20 year old Sabalenka who's won 3 titles in less than 6 months and will be in the top 10 in tomorrow's rankings. You've got the big names who will put bums on seats in Venus, Serena and Sharapova still winning matches, but not dominating, and you've got a whole host of slam winners in their prime years like Halep, Stephens, Muguruza as well as Kerber and Kvitova who are a few years older. Plus, and probably most crucial, you've got one of the most talented crop of 17/18 year old's that I can remember in a very long time in Yastremska, Anisimova, Andreescu and Potapova who are all currently in the top 80 and won at least one match at the Aussie Open, 2 and 3 matches in some cases. So did 17 year old Swiatek who will be at #140 tomorrow and might just be the best of the lot of them.
Could really do with the likes of Draper, Loffhagen and McHugh (young British male players) progressing and one of those crashing the top 10 and become a genuine contender as the likes of Edmund, Evans and Norrie qualifying for slams and winning a match here and there isn't going to change much.
It’s a strange one with Djokovic as he just doesn’t really get the love the other two get with tennis fans when in reality, he’s probably gunna be right up there with the two of them at the end of his career if not in with a shout of GOAT. He’s playing at an insane level right now and should he continue this run then I honestly don’t think anyone can stop him.