Could a first-time men’s Grand Slam champion be crowned at this year’s Australian Open?
This is a question asked four times a year at every major event, but with the No. 1 seed Rafael Nadal officially out after the second round, one less tennis giant is in the draw, which gives the up-and-coming men’s players less to worry about.
“The Big Three”—Nadal, Novak Djokovic and recently retired Roger Federer—have won every Grand Slam tournament since Wimbledon 2003 apart from 14 titles won by other competitors. Nadal holds the men’s record with 22 titles, Djokovic has 21 and Federer has 20. So, in the last nearly two decades, there hasn’t been much of a chance for other men’s players to capture a major title.
