"The Next Generation is Coming": How the ATP Sought to Prepare for the Post-Big 3 Era with the Next Gen Masters

In 2016, facing the uncertainty of the post-Big 3 era, the ATP bets on innovation: a tournament reserved for players under 21, designed to propel young talents into the spotlight.

© AFP

Jules Hypolite

le 08/12/2025 à 21h15

1 min to read

Extraits de Dossiers

In 2016, a climate of uncertainty reigns within the ATP regarding the succession of the Big 3.

Chris Kermode, head of the men's tennis governing body, then decides to launch the Next Gen ATP Finals, a tournament conceived as an essential tool to prepare for the succession of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray.

The competition enriches the calendar starting from the 2017 season.

The concept is reminiscent of the ATP Finals, which bring together the eight best players of the season. But this time, it's the newcomers and young hopefuls, all under the age of 21, who will have the chance to be in the spotlight.

"The next generation is coming, we need to highlight these new talents"

Eight players, including a wild card, are invited to Milan, the host city for the first five editions of the event.

"The ATP has a responsibility to promote more players to a much wider audience," explained Chris Kermode, before adding: "We have superstars who have transcended the sport over the past decade and have become true global icons. But the next generation is coming, and we must highlight these new talents."

The full investigation available this weekend

Find the investigation "The Next Gen Masters, laboratory of tomorrow's tennis" on TennisTemple on Saturday, December 13.