Tomas Berydch says descriptions of the top players as the Big Four or Big Five don't fully capture the state of the game.
Other than Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, only Andy Murray and Stanislas Wawrinka hold more than one Grand Slam on tour.
"We are in the tennis era of, you know, the greatest players so far,” he told the press in Dubai. “Even if it's a time of three or four years of domination [from Roger, you know, then ... really great years for Rafa. And now what Novak is proving on the court, I mean, I think it's really like from another world."
The players just below are also looking to get into the conversation, the former Grand Slam finalist added.
"That's how it is,” he said. “I mean, I don't think that we should be counting Top 3, Top 4, Top 5, whatever it is. I mean, everyone [is] trying to do the best [he] possibly can, and the results are just proof of that. For us, I mean, it's always a big challenge. You know, [you try to chase those guys … I think the positive thing on it is they definitely make me a better player.”
Berdych, who fell to Nick Kyrgios in Marseille, lost to him again in Dubai on Thursday. The 29-year-old said he has enjoyed the prospect of playing younger players.
“It's coming up also, these young guys, so it's getting more and more challenges,” he said.
Berdych is No. 7 in the rankings.