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Felix Auger-Aliassime, Lorenzo Musetti and Holger Rune, who won titles in Antwerp, Naples and Stockholm respectively last week, are in the wake of Carlos Alcaraz and represent a young generation that is ambitious, talented and fearless. Especially not of its predecessor, the famous “Next Gen” of Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini, which it intends to supplant.
By dint of seeing Carlos Alcaraz burn up the stages, one would almost forget that he is (very) well accompanied. Already the world’s leading tennis player at 19, the Murcian is also the spearhead of a particularly promising generation. Last week’s results on the ATP circuit were a spectacular reminder of this. Three ATP 250 tournaments were on the schedule and all of them featured players in their 20s: Felix Auger-Aliassime (22) in Antwerp, Holger Rune (19) in Stockholm and Lorenzo Musetti (20) in Naples.
Taking a step back, another observation is worth noting: Rune and Musetti respectively dominated in the final Stefanos Tsitsipas and Matteo Berrettini, two of the spearheads of the famous “Next Gen” that the ATP had so much highlighted a few years ago. Could it be that the new young guns are overtaking the old ones? Although it is probably a bit hasty – and a bit provocative, let’s admit it – the question is worth asking, especially when it comes to Tsitsipas.
TSITSIPAS PAID DEARLY FOR HIS STAGNATION
The Greek is certainly having a very solid season with two titles out of seven finals played, but he has also stagnated in his tennis expression and even regressed in his Grand Slam results. Worse, he has been supplanted by younger players. First by Carlos Alcaraz, of course, who beat him three times in three matches, and then by Holger Rune, who has now dominated him twice in as many matches. And this while he was burning to set the record straight.
“These kids really want to beat me because they are chasing me. I’m also chasing the players in front of me, but I’m not in the same position as them… I’m hungry and I want to beat them too. I’m hungry and I want to beat them too. Even more so now that they’ve beaten me: I want revenge,” said Tsitsipas after his first loss to the Dane in the round of 16 at Roland Garros last spring.
So are these youngsters already stronger than their predecessors? Beware of jumping to conclusions. The Greek is leading against Jannik Sinner (4-1) and Felix Auger-Aliassime (5-3), even though the Canadian unlocked his record in Rotterdam in their last match. Daniil Medvedev has never lost to the best of the new Next Gen: he leads 3-0 against Sinner, 4-0 against “F2A” and even 1-0 against… Alcaraz.
ASSUMED AMBITIONS AND EARLY PROFESSIONALISM
On the other hand, these “kids”, to use Tistsipas’ words, all have a strong character, assume their objectives and do everything to achieve them. Patrick Mouratoglou, who has just joined Holger Rune’s team as second coach, says the same about his new protégé. “He has the ambition to be number 1 and this is not an empty word. He really believes he can be and wants to be,” he told Tennis Majors.
And Mouratoglou added: “He is a very aggressive player who takes his destiny in his own hands. He wants things to be up to him. He doesn’t let the opponent impose his law on the court. He wants to be the boss (…) Physically, he is already strong, especially in the legs. He is tall and gives an impression of power. His intensity in training has impressed me: he hits the ball very hard, it’s crazy, you can feel that every time he hits it, he wants to do something with it. I think he’s going to grow another three or four inches and he’s already 6’2″. And his upper body is still ‘young’ so to speak and will probably still evolve.”
Rune, who also made his mark by handily defeating Alexander Zverev (6-3, 6-2) on his way to his first title in Munich this year, has a strong team around him already. Supported by his mother Aneke and his long-time coach Lars Christensen, the young Dane benefits from the services of a personal physical trainer Lapo Bercchini as well as a statistics specialist (Mike James, on loan from the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy). The latter helps him prepare for his matches by analyzing his opponents, while at the same time analyzing his own performances in order to improve in specific areas.
At 19 years old, Rune is already a model of professionalism, a characteristic he shares with his four talented colleagues of the same age who are already in the Top 25: Lorenzo Musetti (23rd), Jannik Sinner (12th, multiple Grand Slam quarter-finalist who was once a Top 10 player), Felix Auger-Aliassime (9th and semi-finalist at the US Open) and Carlos Alcaraz, winner of the US Open and number 1 in the world of course. Toni Nadal had agreed to help “F2A” above all because he was convinced by the Canadian’s state of mind and work ethic.
AGAINST THE “BIG 3”, THE “NEXT GEN” HAD A TOUGH TIME
Juan Carlos Ferrero made the same observation with Carlos Alcaraz, whose commitment and passion he never stops praising. With the benefit of hindsight, his harsh remarks about Alexander Zverev, with whom he had worked for a short period of time – he had complained about the German’s lateness in training to explain their separation – now have a particular resonance. Mentally, these young wolves are perhaps better armed, but at least they are putting all the chances on their side.
The fact remains that Alcaraz, Sinner, Auger-Aliassime, Musetti and other Rune also have a fundamental advantage: they have not suffered the same fate. If the ATP has put so much emphasis on their predecessors and this famous “Next Gen”, it is because it was looking (sometimes almost excessively) for faces to represent the succession of the omnipotent “Big 3”. The expected Zverev, Tsitsipas and Medvedev – even if the Russian finally broke the glass ceiling at the US Open 2021 – were sometimes criticized too harshly for their inability to topple the modern giants of the game.
With Roger Federer retired, Novak Djokovic sometimes prevented from playing by his vaccination status and Rafael Nadal at the mercy of a bruised body, the space is now clearer to express themselves. This has increased ambitions tenfold, especially for the younger players who feel the opportunities are multiplying. In this perspective, the 2023 season could be a turning point. Because the former “Next Gen” is certainly not lacking in pride and will not let itself be overwhelmed without reacting. And from this emulation, tennis will certainly come out a winner.
