Time out?

The next generation of tennis champions is hard to spot

Consider this, none of the top five men’s tennis players is below 30 years. From 2004, with the exception of six years, these five men have won all the Grand Slam titles — Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer accounting for the lion’s share. In most years, these five were the runners-up in those tournaments. And they don’t appear to be thinking of signing out as yet. When Nadal defeated Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets at the Roland Garros last week to win the record-breaking “Decima”, or tenth French Open title, without dropping a set in the entire tournament, it was instructive to remember that the combined ages of the two contestants was 63 years.

Two days before this final, Nadal, 31, had demolished, again in straight sets, the upcoming sensation Dominic Thiem, eight years his junior. Five months before, Nadal had been on the receiving end when he lost to another veteran, Roger Federer, 35, in a closely fought five-setter. All told in this tennis season, Messrs Federer and Nadal share a Grand Slam title apiece of the two that have been played and two each of the five ATP Masters 1,000 series, the third highest