'Now Roger Federer just doesn't miss with backhand', says former Top 10

The golden age of men's tennis began 15 years ago, when a 19-year-old Spaniard named Rafael Nadal engaged in one of the sport's most iconic rivalries with then World number 1 Roger Federer. From that moment, the two would have faced each other 38 more times, competing in some epic finals that will forever remain embedded in the annals of tennis. It is no secret that the Federer-Nadal duopoly has brought many people and sponsors closer to this sport, as well as igniting the debate related to the greatest ever. The Swiss and the Spaniard then had to deal with the overwhelming rise of Novak Djokovic, capable of winning 17 Grand Slams and ousting them from the throne of the ATP ranking. The Big 3 have totally monopolized the Grand Slam tournaments, winning 57 of the last 69. Discussing on the Twitch platform with friends Gael Monfils and Benoit Paire, Richard Gasquet praised the three monsters' ability to continue to improve as they age.

Gasquet on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

Former World No. 7 Richard Gasquet, whose best years came at a time when both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were in their prime, is in awe of their ability to keep improving themselves even after crossing 30. "What impresses me the most with the best players is that they manage to keep their motivation, every tournament and every week," Gasquet said. "How gifted they are but that they are, (they are) better at tennis at 33, 34 years of age than they were at 20. When you compare 2005 Rafael Nadal with his current self at Roland Garros, it feels like a different player. He plays twice as fast now and strikes the ball earlier," Gasquet said. "Same with Roger Federer, you couldn't really say that his backhand was great when he was younger, but now he just doesn't miss with it. We keep saying he has a less physical game but he plays the same sport, with the same effort, he just doesn't show it," Gasquet said. Benoit Paire echoed Gasquet's sentiment in his praise for the Big 3. "Obviously they were all very gifted from the start. But what is really impressive is how they manage to stay motivated, every week and for every tournament. They rarely lose first rounds or throw away matches. Despite having won 10, 20 GS each, their motivation remains intact," Paire said. "Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have been winning every tourney for years but they still want it. They're great champions in every way, Djokovic as well with his serve and other things. They kept on improving," Paire added.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/36ao37E