Djoker praises Murray

It has been an ongoing debate in the tennis world — does the current 'golden era' for the game feature a 'Big Three' or a 'Big Four' including Andy Murray?

Some have argued that there is simply a 'Big Three' of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, given that Murray has yet to win a Grand Slam tournament.

Others have hedged their bets, suggesting a 'Big Three Plus One' given the distance Murray has set between himself and the rest of the ATP Tour. But after the Briton's heroic battle in defeat to Federer in the Wimbledon final and then his Olympic final triumph over the Swiss world number one, the question is being asked again.

Talking about the 'golden era' the game is currently going through, five-times Grand Slam singles champion Djokovic casually referred to a leading four.

"You have four players who are I think winning 90 percent of all the major tournaments that you have on the tour," Djokovic told reporters on Tuesday while preparing for his opening match at this week's Cincinnati Open.

"I mean, so many titles and so much competition going on and so many great rivalries, great matches, history and all these things that are, I think, making this era a golden era."

But does that make for a 'Big Four'? Djokovic seems to think so. "Andy was always part of that group of the top players. For about the last four, five years he's been in top four in the world. Now he has won Olympic Games. He deserves to be up there."