Woodbridge: The ‘new normal’ for men’s tennis?

I’ve been well quoted for saying Andy Murray ‘ruined’ the US Open draw (perhaps ruined was a little harsh). But let’s be honest: this year’s the men’s draw has been imbalanced. As a result, plenty of players have had the chance to seize the opportunity presented to them: Sasha Zverev and Marin Cilic are the two that stand out.

They didn’t take it.

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As a result, we might be witnessing the new ‘normal’; a scenario we could see for the next five to eight years on the men’s circuit as we lose Federer, Nadal and perhaps even Djokovic and Murray. That is a period of flux, where different names are able to go deep at the big tournaments.

We have spoken about players like Zverev, Kyrgios and Thiem having the chance to break through, and now we can add Rublev and Shapovalov to the list of young talent.

But as well as these younger guys, there is a slightly older generation with a bit more in their skill-sets that are starting to do well. Kevin Anderson is a typical example: he’s worked hard to develop an all-court game. He’s got a massive serve, is a good volleyer, and has the ability to change tactics up – he’s mature.

Aside from Zverev, though, there is nobody on that list who looks likely to dominate in the future. He’s also the only player on that list who has the X Factor – the potential to be a legitimate drawcard. He’s obviously still building on that, and it will take a little time.

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That said, I’m not worried about the way men’s game is going because the sport has always moved in cycles. And while we have witnessed an exceptional period this last five to ten years, it’s healthy for tennis to have some new blood in tournaments that bring in new markets to the sport.

Shapovalov is going to help grow interest in Canada. Germany were a superpower in my time with Becker, Graf and Stich, but they’ve had some lean years recently. Now Zverev (and maybe Kerber) will take the sport to another level there. That’s important to keeping the sport – and interest in it – global.

Going back to the draw, I don’t see Kevin Anderson or Pablo Carreno Busta winning the US Open. This is a breakout event for them, and a great moment in their careers. But it would be one of the biggest shocks in the last 15 years of the men’s game if they were to do it.