Andy Murray has been tipped by Boris Becker to close the gap on tennis’ big three thanks to the coronavirus lockdown.
Murray has not played since picking up an injury on Davis Cup duty for Britain towards the end of last year. But Becker argued tennis’ the enforced break was aiding the three-time Grand Slam champion while the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic would be frustrated.
The German told Laureus.com: “I think Murray will benefit because he isn’t fully fit yet after his hip injury and the long break is actually good for his recovery, so he’s not losing ground.”
Becker said the other beneficiaries of potentially no more Grand Slams in 2020 – the US Open and French Open both remain in doubt – would be the sport’s rising stars.
He added: “Maybe 2020 will see the breakthrough of the young guns because they will be a year more experienced and the older players are another year older.
“I would like to see the top three still at their best and being beaten. I don’t want the young generation to take over when the top three won’t play anymore or are actually too old. “I want to see a final between a 22-year-old and a 33-year-old. That would be the best thing in tennis. I think it’s for the younger generation to step up.”
