Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal have undoubtedly reigned supreme during the Golden Era of tennis. With their phenomenal prowess of making unconventional shots, the ‘Big 3’ have clinched a total of 66 Grand Slam titles on the men’s tour. On top of this, the ATP legends have also held the number one ranking in singles for a considerable period of their competitive journey.
Given their unmatched legacies, the tennis greats have remained forces to be reckoned with on the court throughout the modern era. However, a yesteryear legend from the 70s/80s era would have posed a serious challenge to the ‘Big 3’, according to the French tennis veteran Mansour Bahrami’s recent bold assertions.
French tennis veteran issues a major statement concerning the ‘Big 3’
In a recent interview with DH Les Sports, Mansour Bahrami candidly spoke about his views on modern tennis. While comparing it to his own era, the 67-year-old asserted that the game has now changed significantly in terms of pace. He said, “Tennis in my day didn’t go as fast as it does today.”
Meanwhile, the Frenchman mentioned the likes of Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal, who have dominated this modern era of tennis, as the ‘Big 3’. He added, “But if you give a wooden racket to Diokovic, Nadal or Federer, the ball would go at least as fast. Everything has changed. It’s not the same sport.”
However, Mansour also claimed that if the former Swedish tennis player Björn Borg were playing in the modern era, he would have been the best on the men’s tour. The French tennis veteran said, “But I think that if Björn Borg had been born in the 2000s, he would be among the best in the world without any problem.” Mansour’s bold assertions are somewhat justified, given the incredible legacy carved out by Borg during his heyday.
Borg was a formidable force on the court during the 1970s and 1980s
Between 1974 and 1981, the former Swedish tennis pro became the first player in the Open Era to mark 11 major triumphs on the court. Whether it was clay or grass, Björn Borg was undoubtedly a formidable force on all surfaces, given his five titles at Wimbledon and six at the French Open. The former tennis ace’s triumphs further made him the number one ranked player in singles for a considerable period of the 1970s and 1980s era. Later, Borg was also inducted into the Hall of Fame owing to his incredible legacy that he carved out on the men’s tour.
Do you think that the Swedish tennis legend would have posed a serious challenge to the ‘Big 3’ if he were playing in the modern era? Let us know in the comments section.
