This Word Means: Big Four (Tennis)

Between 2008 and 2016, four names cemented their dominance of the game in all formats – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

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While the trio of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have been considered prolific until date (earning the Big Three moniker), Murray was regarded as their closest challenger in all the biggest competitions until 2016.

Several commentators have described the period during which all four players were active as the ‘Golden Era of Tennis’.

SOME STATS

The trio of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic dominated tennis between 2004 and 2020.

Among these, Djokovic has been ranked Number 1 in Men’s Singles tennis for 428 weeks, followed by Federer for 310, and Nadal for 209.

The trio dominated the Grand Slam tournaments in this period – either winning or reaching the finals of the Australian Open, the US Open, Wimbledon Open and the French Open.

The trio have raked the maximum wins in Grand Slams – 24 in Grand Slams. Nadal is second at 22, and Federer has 20 Grand Slam wins.

All three have completed the Career Grand Slam, meaning they won all four competitions at least once. Nadal achieved this twice, and Djokovic thrice, even achieving this within a non-calendar year.

Murray was regarded as the closest challenger for the biggest competitions, attaining the top rank and reaching the finals of all four Grand Slams, as well as the ATP Finals and the Olympics.

Between 2008 and 2012, the Big Four held the top four ranks in Men’s Singles at the year’s end, and held the top rank between 2004 and 2022, as well as the top two spots between 2005 and 2021.

Federer, who was the first to be ranked the year-end Number 1, held this position for five years. Nadal too held the top rank for five years, and Djokovic, a record-breaking eight years.

WHO IS RAFAEL NADAL?

Best known for his dominance on clay courts, the Spaniard broke out as an 18-year-old into the top 10 of the ATP rankings in April 2005 and would remain there for 912 consecutive weeks, until March 2023.

Of his 22 Grand Slams, 14 of them came from the French Open, making his retirement at the Roland Garros court on Sunday extra special. He has won 112 matches at the ground, losing only four matches.

An enduring feature of his game has been his aggression and spinning, lefty forehand, at one point a subject of contrast to the graceful game presented by former Number 1 Federer. That, with his sharp movement and supreme athleticism, made him a formidable opponent, according to 1989 French Open winner Michael Chang.

“He has the uncanny ability of being able to hit a lot of forehands and move very well on clay,” Chang told BBC Sport. “He knows how to manipulate the angles to build to get people out of position…He’s the one manipulating, making you move and putting you in awkward positions to the point where he has easy cutaways.”