ES Academy News

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray. What a privilege it was to witness, live and in real time, this unrepeatable era of professional tennis. Each of them embodies one of the four fundamental pillars of the ES Academy: Federer represents the technical pillar with his elegance and precision; Murray, the tactical pillar for his competitive intelligence; Djokovic, the physical pillar for his endurance and flexibility; and Nadal, the mental pillar for his strength, tenacity, and relentless mindset.

Djokovic, still active, is on track to break every record imaginable and become the true 360º player: the most complete, the longest-lasting, and the most successful of all time.

It’s also worth noting that Andy Murray trained at the ES Academy, where he began developing many of the skills that later took him to the top.

Here’s a reflection on why this was one of the most extraordinary chapters in the history of global tennis:

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray. What a privilege it was to witness this once-in-a-lifetime era in professional tennis—not just for their level of play, but for everything they stood for on and off the court.

Here’s a reflection on why this was one of the most extraordinary chapters in tennis history:

Unmatched technical, physical, and mental level

Each of them elevated tennis to a whole new dimension of high performance:

• Federer: elegance, precision, creativity. He turned tennis into an art form.
• Nadal: grit, power, relentless fighting spirit. The tireless gladiator.
• Djokovic: flexibility, mental toughness, constant evolution.
• Murray: tactical intelligence, defense, competitive heart. 

Never before had we seen such sustained rivalry between four players with such contrasting, yet equally deadly styles. A masterclass in elite-level international tennis.

Total dominance of the major tournaments

Together, they claimed 66 Grand Slam titles (as of 2024) and over 250 ATP titles. They held firm in the top 5 for more than 15 years, dominating the men’s circuit with unmatched consistency.

This created one of the most demanding and competitive eras in modern tennis. Winning a Grand Slam tournament usually meant defeating at least two of them—an almost impossible feat.

Inspiration on and off the court

Beyond pure sport:

• Federer: global icon, ambassador of tennis.
• Nadal: model of humility and sportsmanship.
• Djokovic: resilient, polarizing, always pushing boundaries.
• Murray: champion of equality and justice in sport.

Each left a deep and unique legacy that shaped fans and future tennis players alike.

Historic rivalries

• Federer vs Nadal: grace vs grit. Wimbledon 2008 is legendary.
• Djokovic vs Nadal: the longest and most even rivalry.
• Murray vs Djokovic: junior friends, epic final foes.
• Federer vs Djokovic: technique vs cold-blooded competitiveness. Intense mental battles.

These rivalries made every match feel like a global event. They weren’t just matches; they were chapters in tennis history.

A gift for tennis fans

Few generations have had the luck to see four living legends competing at the same time—pushing one another, reaching new heights, redefining the limits of the sport.

“We didn’t know we were living in the golden era… until it started coming to an end.”

What now?

Although three have already retired and only Djokovic remains active, their legacy lives on through:

• A new wave of talent (Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune) who grew up watching them.
• The values they instilled as icons of elite tennis.
• The millions of fans they inspired around the globe.

Photos by: Pixabay | Wikipedia Commons | ATP Tour  | Head