‘Maybe six guys could win Slams right now – even though Novak Djokovic is just dominating’
Former WTA star Alexandra Stevenson feels there is a group of “maybe six guys” that could win a Grand Slam on the men’s side currently, even though Novak Djokovic is “just dominating.”
Stevenson – a former world No 18 and Wimbledon semi-finalist – thinks there are “more than a handful of ATP players that are “exciting” and capable of winning on the biggest stage.
Djokovic defeated world No 3 Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in the final of the 2023 US Open earlier this month to win a fourth title at the New York major. The great Serb has now secured a men’s record 24 Grand Slam crowns.
The 36-year-old claimed three of the four Grand Slam tournaments this year, while he has won four of the last six majors held.
Carlos Alcaraz has won the other two: the 2022 US Open where Djokovic did not play; and this year’s Wimbledon Championships, where he overcame the Serb in an epic five-set final.
On an episode of the Match Point Canada podcast, Stevenson – a tennis analyst and commentator for ESPN – named the men’s players she thinks are the main contenders for majors.
“There is now a handful of guys that are exciting, maybe even more than a handful – maybe there’s six guys that could win Grand Slams right now, even though Novak is just dominating (laughs),” said the American.
“But on any given day, look – [Daniil] Medvedev, you have him, you’ve got [Carlos] Alcaraz obviously, you’ve got Novak. You have, I could even throw in [Andrey] Rublev, even though he hasn’t gone past the quarters [in Grand Slams], I mean the guy has gone to how many quarterfinals? (Nine). Yeah that’s impressive.
“So you have got, I mean Ben Shelton. He’s not ready to win a Grand Slam, but who knows? Maybe the draw opens up and he could do it. Frances Tiafoe.”
The 42-year-old, who retired from playing in 2018, also shared her thoughts on the Laver Cup after Team World crushed Team Europe 13-2 in the 2023 edition last week.
“I don’t know, there’s so many Cups going on now. I feel like it’s kind of – it’s still an exhibition. Look, it’s not a tournament. They’re getting paid, though, but they wanna win because it is a team event and they made it competitive. But really, is it 100% competitive,? questioned Stevenson.
“I don’t know, I haven’t played it because they don’t have women (laughs). They should have women. I don’t know, I feel like Europe needs to step it up obviously, but before that the World couldn’t even win any. So maybe it’s just flip-flopping and they have to find their way and balance and it’ll get there.
“I mean, you’ve got Roger Federer and his agent Tony Godsick running it, so we know it’s going to be successful. It’s just, is it going to be successful in America? It’s gonna be tough if they keep holding it know during football season. But in Europe I think it’s more popular. It’s tough competition on North American side, I feel.”
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