Column: Professional tennis is at a crossroads. Who will perform at the Paribas Open in Indian Wells?

The BNP Paribas Open kicks off this week as professional tennis comes to a crossroads and without the great rivalry between the ‘Big Three’ Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic on the men’s side and without the charisma of Serena Williams and without the great rivalry between the Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic’s “Big Three” navigates an uncertain future, historic achievements to set standards for the women.

Stars appear, culminate, fall. This is the cycle of athletic life on the track, ice, field or field. But with the main draw starting Wednesday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, the sport is facing the absence – permanent or temporary – of many of its most prominent stars from one of its biggest stages.

Tennis desperately needs successful, magnetic players to fill the void as an exceptional generation disappears. Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, last year’s US Open men’s champion aged 19, and Iga Swiatek of Poland, who won the women’s titles at Indian Wells and the US Open last year, are leading the conversation for the next generation, but have lost their longevity not yet proven. . They would change the conversation significantly by winning at Indian Wells where everyone was No. 1.

Williams, who opted for “development” rather than “retirement”, left the company last year with 23 Grand Slam titles. Naomi Osaka, who looks poised for a big career after winning four Slam titles, is being held back by mental health issues. She is now going on vacation while pregnant. Ash Barty retired last year after winning her third Slam championship in her native Australia.

The male landscape is also dramatically different. Federer retired last year with 20 Grand Slam titles. Nadal, who is regularly injured, has a leg problem that keeps him away from hard court events in Indian Wells and Miami. After Indian Wells, he drops out of the top 10 for the first time since April 2005.

Djokovic, who recently broke Steffi Graf’s record for most weeks at No. 1 when he reached 378, pulled out of Indian Wells after failing to get an exemption from state regulations requiring non-citizens to check before entering the United States , should be vaccinated against COVID -19. That rule will likely be lifted ahead of the US Open, where he can break his tie with Nadal at 22 Slam titles apiece, but his absence this week will add to the heavy losses tennis has suffered since the Big Three took the Big Three. Two defeated. became. And in Indian Wells, a big zero.

“Our greatest curse and also our greatest blessing has been the dominance of these three great players. These guys are legends,” said Paul Annacone, a former tour player who commentates on the Tennis Channel and coaches defending Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz.

“What we’re used to now has never happened in the history of the game. They have three guys who together have over 60 major titles. It’s the most ridiculous thing in tennis history,” said Annacone. “We’re used to it. It feels normal because we’ve seen it for the past year and a half or two.”

Welcome to a new normal. That’s not entirely bad when players take the paths opened up for them in slams and tournaments like Indian Wells, widely regarded as the fifth major. At the top there is room for new faces.

Some are well on their way down this path – including Swiatek, who is ranked No. 1 and prefers to defend his title. NO. 3 Jessica Pegula is the top ranked American. Coco Gauff, ranked No. 6, is in the same bottom quarter of the draw as No. 2 seed and recent Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka. Somewhere out there is someone who will end a drought in the US men’s singles Grand Slam that dates back to Andy Roddick’s win at the 2003 US Open.

Nostalgia is good, but anticipation is also powerful. “Conversely, it is also very exciting now, the possibility of ‘Who’s next?’ Annacone said. “Now, as a tennis fan, I’m like ‘Which one of you is capable?’ And it’s exciting for me as a fan. For me as a coach, it’s really exciting because I can see who can lead this environment best.

“How many of you can handle that possibility and not necessarily the physical ability to do it? I think there are a lot of players who can handle it. But I think there are very few who can handle the mental expectation and mental pressure and I think whoever can do it best will be the one who delivers.”

That person could be Alcaraz, who showed mental and physical stamina at last year’s US Open. But he suffered a hamstring injury that saw him miss a tournament in Acapulco, Mexico and an exhibition in Las Vegas, leaving his fitness unclear.

The last man standing could also be Daniil Medvedev, who last year became the first man besides Djokovic, Federer, Nadal or Andy Murray to become world No. 1 since 2004. Seeded No. 5, he has a streak of 14 games. Winning streak with a win over Djokovic last week in Dubai and three consecutive titles.

It could also be Fritz, who is considered the best No. 5 in the world and was seeded No. 4 at Indian Wells. Annacone is biased, of course, but he believes the Southern California native, who won the title last year, reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, won a tournament in Tokyo and reached the semifinals, is ready to take things a step further. after surviving the year-end tournament. .

“I think he is at the top of all young people in terms of handling big moments, confident himself in big moments and playing his best tennis in big moments,” said Annacone.

The sooner such players appear on both tours, the better. Not to make anyone forget Williams or the rivalry between Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, but to honor them by striving for their level of excellence.