Tennis Forever

[JamesDap]

^^^ Yeah, all four can get to quarters or semis. My point was neither Murray nor Fed look likely to win more slams in the future. Maybe not even finals that often anymore. In that case, it will become Big 2 instead of Big 4. And as you said, Nadal's fitness is a question mark so that leaves only Djoko as the consistent performer of the big four. Even then, already, in 2014, Djoko only won one slam and two non big four players won one each. So it's already begun. You have to go back all the way to 2003 for a year in which members of the big four put together didn't win at least three slams. In other words, the point where Fed first became a title holder! Which goes to show that big four is mainly about Fed and Nadal's longevity at the top. Djoko is younger yet unable to dominate the tour in the way Fed or Nadal did at a similar stage in their career and Murray has already faded a bit. This period will resemble the 2001-2003 phase a bit, imo, but probably somewhat better since Wawrinka and Cilic had to really outplay competition, including top players, to win their titles (i.e not like Johansson preying on an inconsistent Safin).

It could all well be a flash in the pan but somehow I don't see it turning out that way. Djoko looked really exhausted against Nishikori. He was simply not up for another long, physical match in the heat, having just beaten Murray in a mini marathon under the lights. That is very unlike 2012 when he overcame both Nadal and Murray in back to back five setters at Australian Open. Only Nadal looks capable of producing his peak form on a consistent basis...when he is not injured.