Generation shift underway, says Djokovic

recent success of younger players on the men’s tour points to an “inevitable” shift at the top of the ATP rankings, said world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.

The last four ATP Masters 1000 events – the most prestigious tournaments outside the Grand Slams – have been won by players outside the “Big Three” of Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer.

Russian Daniil Medvedev, 25, won the ATP Finals and the Paris Masters titles last year and has already displaced Spaniard Nadal from second spot.

Hubert Hurkacz, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev have won the three Masters events this year with Greek Tsitsipas the youngest of them at 22.

Djokovic, 33, told reporters at the Rome Masters yesterday that the results showed there was a generational shift underway.

“There are guys like Tsitsipas, Zverev, (Matteo) Berrettini, (Andrey) Rublev that are winning against all of us and playing a lot and building their ranking points,” he added.

“Medvedev as well, of course, and challenging for the top spots. Dominic Thiem has been there for many years.

“It’s inevitable that it’s going to happen. The change on the men’s rankings, top of the rankings is coming. Whether it’s going to happen in a month or a year or whatever, I don’t know.

“I’m not personally paying too much attention anymore to the rankings as much as I am to my game for the Grand Slams,” he said. “Those are the biggest focus tournaments right now at this stage of my career.”

Djokovic has made changes to his schedule to spend more time with his family and since his Melbourne win has only played the Monte Carlo Masters and an event at home in Belgrade.

He will wind up his preparations for the French Open with this week’s Rome Masters and another ATP event in Belgrade. – Reuters