Czech Tomas Berdych is comfortable in the shadow of the big four but says tennis will be better off when someone can break their grand slam stranglehold.
The world’s four top-ranked men – Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, who is missing the Australian Open through injury, and Andy Murray – have between them won the past 12 majors and 30 of the past 31.
The only other grand slam champion in almost eight years is Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, who won the 2009 US Open.
Berdych, the Open’s fifth seed, has come close – beating both Djokovic and Federer at Wimbledon in 2010 before losing to Nadal in the final – and is confident his time will come.
But the 27-year-old, who overpowered American journeyman Michael Russell 6-3 7-5 6-3 in the first round on Monday, was happy for Djokovic, Federer and Murray to hog the attention in the meantime.
“It’s maybe even better for myself,” Berdych said.
“Let’s leave all the pressure on them.
“Everybody’s talking how many grand slams this guy can win, that one.
“You get so much pressure on the court and you don’t (need to) have to have it around as well.
“Once the day’s going to come, all right.”
Berdych said a stroke of luck would be needed, along with skill, for someone outside the top four to break through.
Nadal’s absence in Melbourne will help, as it means the Czech will have to beat at most two of the top group to triumph.
“We’re in the best era of our sport ever. That’s how it is,” he said.
“It’s the same for everybody. We all try our best to break that huge barrier in front of us. You know, let’s see.
“If this happened once at least then it would be, I would say, at least 10 times better than it was before.”