John Isner explains why he believes tennis was tougher in 2012 than it is today, ‘it’s ridiculous’

Former Wimbledon semifinalist John Isner stated on the 'Nothing Major' podcast that men's tennis was significantly tougher in 2012 compared to today. Isner explained that the presence of the Big Four alongside elite players like David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych, and Juan Martin del Potro created an era where qualifying for the ATP Finals was exceedingly difficult, effectively leaving only two qualification spots open for the rest of the tour each season.

Co-host Sam Querrey agreed with Isner's assessment, noting that current top spots are dominated primarily by Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Alexander Zverev, leaving roughly five spots open. The report contrasts 2012, when each Big Four member won a Grand Slam title, with 2026, where several players such as Flavio Cobolli, Frances Tiafoe, and Arthur Fils are positioned to make ATP Finals debuts.