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The 2010-19 decade was one of the best in tennis history, as the fans witnessed cut-throat competition between the top three male players. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic fought intense battles against each other as they entertained the tennis universe with their high-quality skills.
The other member of the Big 4 group, Andy Murray, was also in his prime during the initial years of the decade. However, as time passed, the frequency of his injury issues also increased. The Scot almost called a day on his career but made a comeback in late 2019.
On the other side, there were several new stars like Nick Kyrgios, Dominic Thiem, Stan Wawrinka, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Alexander Zverev who gave the legends a run for their money. Though the top three players dominated the Majors, the youngsters created their own magical moments.
Here's a look at the top 5 male tennis players of this decade.
#5 Stan Wawrinka
The 34-year-old Swiss tennis star Stan Wawrinka was the only player apart from Murray, Djokovic, Federer and Nadal to win multiple Grand Slams in this decade.
As mentioned ahead, the Big 4 ruled the roost at the Majors as the upcoming stars could not challenge them under pressure. Wawrinka was an exception though, as the right-handed player won the 2014 Australian Open by defeating Nadal in four sets.
Next, he won the French Open in 2015 by outlasting Djokovic. And in 2016, he stood tall at Flushing Meadows as he overcame the Djokovic challenge again to win his first US Open title.
Wawrinka has a stellar record in Grand Slam finals, having won three of his four matches. His only defeat came against the King of Clay Nadal in France.
Besides, Wawrinka has performed extremely well in the 2019. He began the year 2018 outside the top 250 but is now a member of the top 20.
#4 Andy Murray
Andy Murray won three Majors in this decade besides winning the ATP Finals in 2016. The Scot even held the numero uno position in the rankings for 43 weeks.
The right-handed counterpuncher captured the US Open championship in 2012. He then finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open the very next year. However, he came back strong at Wimbledon to seize his second Grand Slam title.
Murray couldn't win a single Major over the next three years but he won his second Wimbledon title by defeating Milos Raonic in the 2016 final. Though he has dealt with a lot of injuries, Murray has emerged as a legitimate champion on the tennis court.
#3 Roger Federer
Roger Federer proved his agelessness in this decade as the Swiss legend continued to rule the world of tennis. He spent 48 weeks at the top of the rankings besides winning the decade's first Grand Slam.
Federer won the Australian Open in 2010 to take his overall tally to 16. He also won Wimbledon 2012, but after that it seemed like he had lost his touch and swiftness.
The current World No. 3 worked on his fitness levels to win the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2017. He has reduced his appearances on the court but the 38-year-old has ensured that he is at his best whenever he comes out to play.
Federer did not win a Major in 2019 but still had an upper hand against most of his rivals.
#2 Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal lived up to his 'King of Clay' nickname as he won eight French Open titles in this decade. None of the players could touch the Spaniard at his favorite event as he maintained his winning streak for a long time.
The left-handed player took his Grand Slam tally from 6 to 19 in the last 10 years.
Apart from the French Open, he also won three US Open titles. His most recent triumph there came in 2019 as he defeated Daniil Medvedev in the finale.
Although the Spain-born superstar has spent 158 weeks in the decade at the number 1 position, he was unable to win a single ATP Finals competition.
#1 Novak Djokovic
Just like all the other stars present on this list, Novak Djokovic also took a break from tennis to deal with his injuries. However, he came back from the hiatus with aplomb, reaching the No. 1 ranking again after slipping out of the top 10.
When the 2010s decade commenced, the Serb had only won one Grand Slam championship. However, he decimated most of his opponents over the next 10 years to establish his supremacy in the sport.
Djokovic now has 16 Grand Slams to his name, and he also won four consecutive ATP Finals events this decade. He held the number one rank for 275 weeks, and with 6 Australian Open and 3 US Open wins, he proved that he is the king of hardcourts.
What is the foot injury that has troubled Rafael Nadal over the years? Check here
