2020 was an interesting season for men’s tennis, with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal winning one Grand Slam apiece. Someone between generations finally won his first Grand Slam after coming so close at the Australian Open. A rangy Russian, who was in a bit of a funk after a brilliant 2019 season, by winning the ATP Finals proved that he has enough game to not just hang but even dominate the best. Out of those in the 18-23 age bracket, some who were tipped by their peers to succeed did so. Others who were solidly in the top 20 until recently are displaying signs of rust either because of injury or that a younger generation has caught up with them. 2020 is over, though, so it’s time to look ahead at what 2021 will bring.
Proven contenders
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, barring any injury, will again be in contention at every tournament in 2021. So will Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev. Thiem with his shot-making and superb athletic gifts, Medvedev with his endless reach, and Zverev with his serve and ball striking all have the capability to take it to Nadal and Djokovic at the latter end of big tournaments. Stefanos Tsistsipas too will be dangerous wherever he plays and might sneak out a win at a Masters, but he needs a little more experience and maturity before we can call him a Slam contender.
Always Lurking
If healthy, a peak Stan Wawrinka can steamroll anyone, especially if it’s in the latter stages of a grand slam tournament. He is truly a cometh the hour, cometh the man type of a player, who just needs a little motivation at times. Nick Kyrgios, another player in the mold of Wawrinka in terms of motivation, has enough game to take the racquet out of anyone’s hands. His serve is that big and his shot-making is that flashy. Monster server Milos Raonic is another one to look out for and will be a threat everywhere but don’t expect him to win a Slam or a Masters. Roberto Batista Agut is another steady baseliner, similar to Djokovic minus the otherworldly flexibility, but he is a dogged competitor with winning records against Thiem and Medvedev and three wins against Djokovic.
NextGen
Much talked about youngster Jannik Sinner won his first title in 2020 and is showing a lot of potential. Watch out for him in 2021 as gains more experience, fills out his frame, and applies his uncanny ability to find acute angles and control the baseline. Alex De Minaur will also be in contention due to his incredible foot speed, but he needs to add a few more weapons and become a more proactive player instead of just running to the ball and keeping it in play. Hyeon Chung if healthy and confident like before can hang with anyone from the baseline and we hope he is injury-free and confident to display the potential he showed in 2019.
The Unknowns
Richard Gasquet, David Goffin, Marin Cilic, and Grigor Dimitrov–a group that includes a Grand Slam champion and an ATP Finals winner–haven’t been able to display the kind of consistency and form for the last two years or so. I strongly feel that this rung of players will struggle in 2021 to recapture their glory days with more depth now on the tour than before. An injury-free Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has enough weapons to once again have a strong year, and if Kei Nishikori gains some confidence after a year where he suffered injuries the year will be more interesting.
Federer
The biggest unknown for next season will be Roger Federer. He has been away for so long that it needs to be seen if father time has finally caught up with him. Of course, he will still be bringing his unreal hand-eye coordination and serve with surgical precision, but how he holds up against those who can rally till the sun goes down needs to be seen. Within the span of a couple of tournaments, Federer should have a good idea about his overall game and if the results don’t match up to his lofty standards this might be his final season. Expect him to make a good run at Wimbledon if he gets a good draw, otherwise it might be another 2002.
Main Photo from Getty.
