"The sport was a little bit cruel to them" - Former US Open champion on how injuries hindered Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray

The trio of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray all faced injuries during their careers that prevented them from performing at the peak. Former World No.3 Marin Cilic shed some light on how three members of the Big Four were unable to reclaim their high level of play after succumbing to these ailments.

Federer retired in 2022, after dealing with knee injuries that led to him having multiple surgeries. Murray underwent numerous hip surgeries, with the British star having his hip replaced with a metal one before calling it quits at the 2024 Olympic Games. Nadal dealt with several wrist and hip injuries during his career, taking time off during his final years on tour before retiring at the 2024 Davis Cup.

Having undergone numerous surgeries over the past few years himself, Cilic was able to empathize with his colleagues. In an interview with Tennis Majors, the former US Open champion discussed how a sudden injury can change a player's life on tour.

“With Roger, Andy, and Rafa, it happened quite suddenly," said the Croatian. "So you never know, it’s very similar to life. You have to do the best you can. I think it was a bit of a pity to see Roger and Rafa doing well and then being out like that. Same for Andy when he was at the top, then having to go through these hip surgeries.
“The sport was a little bit cruel to them: how much they gave to the sport, and yet it was gone in a second. I hope I can still be competitive, just to give myself a chance. I would love to play another two or three seasons. I will try to take care of the scheduling by maybe playing fewer tournaments. The motivation is still there."