Novak Djokovic admits the next generation of players are edging closer, but tennis's Big Three remain one step ahead as they aim to extend their dominance at the Australian Open.
Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have kept a tight grip on the Majors over the past decade, with the Serb and the Swiss particularly prolific at the year's opening Grand Slam.
Between them they have won 13 of the last 16 tournaments at Melbourne Park. This year, defending champion Djokovic is gunning for his eighth crown and Federer his seventh, having last lifted the trophy in 2018.
Adding spice is the prospect of Nadal breaking through for only his second win in Melbourne to equal the 38-year-old Federer's all-time record of 20 Grand Slam wins.
All players may also have to deal with hazy conditions caused by Australia's raging bushfires, after practice was suspended on Tuesday when air pollution soared to hazardous levels.
"Obviously the Australian Open has been my favourite tournament. It's the tournament where I've played my best tennis," said Djokovic, who is coming off six straight wins during Serbia's victory at the ATP Cup.
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"You have obviously Federer, Nadal, myself because of the experience and everything and the rankings, that we get to be probably named the top three favourites.
"But then you have (Daniil) Medvedev, (Stefanos) Tsitsipas, Dominic Thiem that are really showing some amazing tennis," he added.
"So everybody keeps on talking about NextGen player winning a Slam. You know, it seems like it's getting closer. Hopefully not this year. We'll see."
- 'Huge step forward' -
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"He had a great run here. Medvedev has obviously had a great run. Shapovalov is a very exciting player as well."
"The only thing that might concern me a little bit is when I come close to matches I feel like I've lost this competitiveness within me."