(Toronto) Heads roll and roll at the National Bank Open in Toronto. The tournament progresses and more and more, the names of the best participants fade from the main draw. A growing phenomenon, which proves that men’s tennis is undoubtedly more competitive than ever.
Only three of the top eight seeds reached the quarter-finals this year in Toronto. Carlos Alcaraz (1), Daniil Medvedev (2) and Jannik Sinner (7) are the only numbered players to have survived until Friday.
On Wednesday, Stefanos Tsitsipas (4), Andrey Rublev (6) and Holger Rune (5) fell one after the other.
This tendency to see the best players leave earlier than expected has been seen in the majority of Masters 1000 category tournaments since the start of the season.
In Indian Wells, only four of the eight players in the quarterfinals were from the top eight seeds. In Miami, it was two. Like in Madrid.
The only exceptions are in Monte Carlo and Rome, where respectively six and five favorites sailed to the quarter-finals.
La Presse polled several ATP players on this mainstream trend. The fullest and most illuminating answer came from the mouth of Milos Raonic.
After two years away from action, he returned to action just a month ago. He was therefore well placed to testify to the changes that have taken place on the circuit since his departure. It was interesting to know if in his opinion the circuit had become more competitive than when he himself was dropping the best players.
“I think it’s the opposite,” he chewed at the start of a response that lasted precisely 2 minutes and 36 seconds. Probably the longest answer of his career.
“Before, we had three exemplary and legendary players in the same sport and in the same generation,” he explains of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
“This case defies normality and everyone needs to revise expectations. If we go back a few tournaments, we had these three guys, who played all the time, and who dominated in all the Masters. Seriously, I think we tend to forget that these days, because we just focus on their Grand Slam titles and records, but when I got on the tour, there were quite a few just them. and Andy [Murray]. I would say 60-70% of the semi-finals involved them. »
“I believe we have short memories, and I plead guilty too,” Raonic continued in full swing. Tennis was quite different before Roger arrived and now Novak is still there and he will remain competitive in Grand Slams. But you have to think back to when Andre [Agassi] and [Pete] Sampras were on the circuit. Several players could win majors. In their time, there were several players with only one or two majors. That being the case, three guys completely ridiculed the other players and made fun of the caliber. »
Indeed, after the three musketeers, Agassi, Murray and Sampras follow far behind with 17, 14 and 11 titles each in Masters 1000.
This is a bit of what we will be entitled to over the next few years, he believes. Meaning more parity and a return to normalcy, in a way: “But those three guys were still there and they were winning the majority of the tournaments, but beyond that, I think we saw the same kind of situations as today, where players positioned 16 to 5 could lose quickly. The top 8 don’t make it to the quarter-finals every week. It’s just that three guys completely changed the game and the standards for a long time. »
However, the current situation is striking. It is as if no more classification logic was respected. And this phenomenon, which should grow in the years to come, simply confirms that no game is won in advance.
“We are in a very good tournament, argued Félix Auger-Aliassime. We play with the best players in the world. In matches that I have won during my career, the score was clearly in my favor, but before the match, I did not know if I was going to win or lose. This is the reality of my job. »
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina also put his grain of salt by eliminating Casper Ruud, fifth player in the world, Thursday.
“It’s just that it’s a Masters 1000. All the matches are against high-ranked players. The tables are always complicated to predict, but you have to be prepared for them. »
The fact remains that eliminating a seed will always remain a feat. Davidovich Fokina didn’t know what to answer when asked if advancing to the quarter-finals by beating one of the favorites added to the value of his win.
The Spaniard was speechless. He was desperately looking for an answer, shrugging his shoulders. But sometimes silences are the best answers.
“I’m very happy,” he finally laughed.
“I always say any top 100 player can beat number one,” the No. 37 player in the world said. The level is improving and even more players arrive young and better prepared. »
Moreover, speaking of number one, Carlos Alcaraz had a narrow escape against Hubert Hurkacz on Thursday evening. He almost went there too.
If the table opens for players more in the shadows, it also lights up for players accustomed to the light of the spotlights.
Even if the Spaniard’s potential opponents are lower than expected, this kind of situation has no influence on his preparation.
In the way he approaches the rest of things, Alcaraz has nothing to do with the number appearing at the end of his opponent’s name. He wants to win and he will prepare for this eventuality in the same way, regardless of who crosses his path. “I have to take every player I’m going to face seriously. I don’t like looking at the board and thinking about the future. I prefer to focus on myself. »
Last year, Pablo Carreno Busta was 23rd in the world rankings when he triumphed in Montreal. This year, there is a three out of eight chance that the winner will be ranked even lower.
Even if the spectacle or the interest can be affected, this uncertainty and this unpredictability are the beauty of modern tennis.