So large is the shadow cast by the legendary Big Three of men’s tennis that even in their absence they contribute to the narrative; for the first time in 22 years, an ATP Tour season will end without Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic winning at least one of the four Grand Slam titles.
Federer, of course, is long retired, the stylish Swiss officially hanging up his racquet and headband in September 2022 but in actuality, his career came to an end 14 months earlier at Wimbledon. Now 43, the 20-time Grand Slam champion is enjoying life and was present at Flushing Meadows last week to cast an eye over the current generation.
Nadal, owner of 22 major trophies, isn’t far behind. The 38-year-old Spaniard’s chronic injury issues have finally caught up with him and the great man himself has conceded that this is likely his final season.
Djokovic, the Big Three’s last bastion, is most certainly still a factor, the emotional gold medal clinched at the Paris Olympics a sharp reminder of his enduring quality amid a mediocre season by his incomparable standards. Stuck on 23 Grand Slams since last year’s US Open, the 37-year-old Serb will no doubt be aiming to regroup and go again when the Australian Open, a tournament he has won a record 10 times, kickstarts the 2025 season next January.
For several years, there was genuine concern about how men’s tennis would thrive without the transcendent trio, but this year has shown there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic and excited about a post-Big Three world.
As Jannik Sinner lifted the US Open trophy on Sunday, following a masterful straight-sets victory over Taylor Fritz inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, it signalled the continuation of this new era. The 23-year-old Italian has been the most consistently brilliant player of the year, collecting six titles – among them his first major in Melbourne – and surging to the top of the world rankings. His win-loss record for the year now stands at 55-5.
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