Djokovic, Nadal, Federer - Who Can Challenge The Tennis World's 'Big Three'?

Novak Djokovic, having just won the US Open at Flushing Meadows, only lacks the French Open title as he goes for a career Grand Slam of tennis majors.

In the history of the men's game only seven players have achieved this feat.

Don Budge: First player to complete the Grand Slam in a single season

Fred Perry and Don Budge did it way back in the 1930's... Rod Laver and Roy Emerson in the 1960's.

In the last few years Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have all won the quartet of tennis Slams - the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open titles.

Djokovic, by defeating Rafa Nadal in the New York final, has now added the US Open to the Australian Open he won in 2008 and the Wimbledon title he took in July. The 24-year-old Serb just needs the French Open for the 'full-house'.

Is This A 'Golden Age' For Tennis?

With Nadal, Federer and Djokovic all playing at the same time, some might say we're living in truly exceptional times... the men's game never being better.

Others, however, might disagree.

Currently, on the ATP Tour, there are only seven Grand Slam winners actively playing. Just a mere seven guys who have ever won a major.

That's Djokovic, Nadal and Federer of course... plus Juan Martin Del Potro (US Open 2009), Juan Carlos Ferrero (French Open 2003), Andy Roddick (US Open 2003) and Lleyton Hewitt (US Open 2001 & Wimbledon 2002).

Five years ago, in 2006, that figue was 10 with guys like Kuerten, Safin and Agassi still around.

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Go back 10 years to 2001 and it was 12 players... with Sampras, Rafter and Kafelnikov all in action on tour.

In 1991 it was 14 as McEnroe, Connors, Wilander, Becker, Edberg and Lendl were all competing at the highest level.

Are Djokovic, Nadal And Federer That Good?

Having won every single major for the past seven years bar the 2009 US Open (Del Potro) and 2005 Australian Open (Safin) you'd have to say these guys are good.

But as we've seen. With so few other 'great players' on the scene at the moment... maybe their domination is just a little exaggerated.

Ok, they can only beat what's out there. But maybe what's out there ain't that good!

Who Will Be The Next New Grand Slam Champion?

That's a tough question.

Andy Murray, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, is the obvious choice. However, the Scot is always priced up accordingly.

One To Watch: 18-year-old Australian Bernard Tomic is a player for the future

The breakthrough might then be made by someone at bigger odds... Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Robin Soderling, Tomas Berdych. All these guys have made Grand Slam finals before.

But outside of the top four in the ATP rankings, and away from the top ten, the challenge to the 'Big 3' does look weak... for now.

The new breed like Milos Raonic and Bernard Tomic are certainly worth consideration in this respect.. but how long are we going to have to wait until they really start to compete in the latter stages of the majors.

So for now, sadly, 2012 might see little change at the top of the men's game.

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