March is here and we have a good figure of the sharpest players. The TOP-10 shows the men, who are dominating the tennis world. From Murray to Federer, 9 players have started their career in Tarbes.
Unchanged duo of the leaders
The two leaders of the ATP ranking haven’t start the season as good as they did last year. Still, they are strongly installed at the top.
The two players are from the same generation. If the Serbian has been a terrific N°1 for so long, Sir Andy Murray succeeded in reversing the situation and took the the throne at the end of last season.
What an opportunity to remember one of the most breathtaking quarterfinals of Les Petits As. It was in 2001, when Andy was called Andrew, he defeated the young Nole before to fail in the final.
Federer and Nadal back at the top
This is already the momentum of this season. The Roger Federer’s victory on the Australian Open has surprised everyone. At 35 years and after 6 months without competition, no one has bet on his briliant return.
The Swiss took part on Les Petits As in 1995 before to reach his 18th Grand Slams this January. The most titled player of the Open era defeated his best rival Rafa Nadal.
What an atmosphere in Tarbes around this historical final. All the village has thrilled during a stuffy morning. The public, gathered around the big screen, was behind the spanish legend. There is no player more iconic of Les Petits As, than the 2000 edition’s winner – Rafael Nadal.
During watching the significant tennis moment, our young players have realised that in Tarbes they are walking by the steps of the greatest legends.
The group of followers is leaded by an impressive Tsonga
Behind these four players, whom we used to call “The Big Four” during their hegemony, the followers are still motivated and heterogeneous. Wawrinka’s backhand is always ready to shine, Raonic has proved that he is not anymore just a “serving player”, Cilic has won a certain regularity and Thiem affirmed himself as the leader of the new generation.
Nevertheless, from all these followers, Tsonga did the best beginning of the season with 2 titles in Rotterdam and Marseille. Tsonga participated on Les Petits As in 1999, but he has stayed in the shadow of another French talent: Richard Gasquet. Today, Jo-Wilfried’s shadow is much larger than before.