Forgive Novak Djokovic if he's just a little bit tired of hearing about, and being asked to address, how much longer he, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer can stay at the top of tennis.
Or, put another way, whether a younger generation of men finally is poised to consistently win Grand Slam titles.
"I mean, I said it a thousand times. I don't know how many times people want me to repeat it. Of course the ‘Next Gen'" — a marketing slogan pushed by the ATP — "is there, is coming, whatever. But here we are, still winning the biggest tournaments and Slams. I don't know what to tell you other than that," Djokovic said.
"I'm not focused on the ‘Next Gen,' even though I know ... it creates a story. People like to talk about it. Fine. The guys are there. They are already establishing themselves in the Top 5, Top 10 of the world. Nothing new," he continued, then noted with pride: "But we are still there."
When the French Open begins in Paris on Sunday, it will feel in some ways like order restored after the 2020 edition was altered in two significant ways because of the coronavirus pandemic: Only 1,000 spectators were let into Roland Garros per day, and competition started in September instead of May. Back in its rightful spot on the calendar — well, delayed by a week because of COVID-19 concerns, but close enough — and with about 5,300 fans allowed in each of the first 10 days, then 10,000 or more each of the last five days, could the clay-court championship serve as the setting for a symbolic changing of the guard?