"The toughest top-10 in history": Bernard Tomic reflects on competing against Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic
ATP
Bernard Tomic spoke about his best years competing against the Big-3 and stated that the top-10 a decade ago was much stronger than it is today. Tomic managed to compete against players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, reaching world No. 17 as his highest ranking.
Born in Germany, Tomic won the 2008 Australian Open junior title and then the 2009 US Open junior title. From there, he was seen as one of the talents to watch on the ATP Tour. He reached world No. 27 at just 19 years old, but it didn’t last long, and he spent a few years outside the top-50.
Tomic had a second wind when he broke into the top-20 for the first time in 2015. It seemed like the moment the Australian would find stability among the best, but he progressively fell in the rankings and has been far from the top level since.
Tomic, who has mainly been playing Challenger tournaments and is currently outside the top-200, responded to a recent interview with Punto de Break and stated that today's top players are not at the level of the Big-3's golden era.
"When I was at the top, the top-10 and top-20 were the hardest: you had Federer, Rafa, Novak, Murray. There were also names like Berdych and del Potro. This was the hardest top-10 or top-15 in history, it was crazy," said the talented Australian.
"Nobody could make it to the quarterfinals or semifinals of a Grand Slam. If another player made it to the semifinals, we’d think, ‘Wow, who is this?’ It was always those four or five names," the 32-year-old added. "Everything has changed a lot, but ten years ago, players ranked in the top-600 or top-700 didn’t beat players in the top-100. Now, every week we see elite players lose in Challengers to guys ranked in the top-600 or top-700.”
"Everyone is really good. Generations are changing, and everyone is getting better. The depth is incredible, you have so many good players in the top-300 or top-400. Let’s see how I do in the next two years.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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