The new tennis generation is increasingly coming to the fore. The Wimbledon final, which Carlos Alcaraz dominated against Novak Djokovic, is the best example of this.
Carlos Alcaraz said goodbye to Wimbledon as champion in fine clothes with a little dance. And with the announcement that he wanted to reach the spheres of the biggest stars. Novak Djokovic was puzzled about his chances of making the Olympics. With the class difference in the final, what is probably the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world ended with a clear indication that the time of the Big Three, of which Djokovic was the remaining title contender, seems to be finally over. Tennis increasingly belongs to the new generation – with Alcaraz as the leader.
“With Roger Federer retired and Rafa Nadal on his way to ending his career, Carlos Alcaraz dealt Novak Djokovic another blow on Sunday,” wrote the Spanish newspaper “AS”: “And with it the spirit of the ‘Big Three’, who for almost two decades dominated world tennis in a tyrannical manner with the Swiss, the Spaniard and the Serb.” Now, at 21 years and 70 days, Alcaraz has won four Grand Slam titles – and is therefore ahead of the Big Three in terms of timing.
The upcoming games in Paris, with what is probably Djokovic’s (37) last chance for Olympic gold, Rafael Nadal’s (38) possible last appearance on his favorite court and Andy Murray’s (37) likely last match before the end of his career, could clearly demonstrate the generational change.
Djokovic, Nadal, Federer shaped two decades
But the Wimbledon final did that too. “Wow! I love Djokovic, but is this perhaps the first time we can talk about a ‘changing of the guard’?!?!” commented the Australian 2022 Wimbledon finalist and Djokovic’s top training partner, Nick Kyrgios, on the unequal duel in the final act in London.
For two decades, Djokovic (24 titles), Nadal (22) and the now retired Roger Federer (20) shared the majority of Grand Slam titles between themselves. In 2024, the winners will be Alcaraz, who secured the Wimbledon triumph with a 6:2, 6:2, 7:6 (7:4) win against Djokovic just over a month after the French Open title. And Jannik Sinner, who won the Australian Open and rose to number one. Djokovic has not won a title this year, not even on the ATP Tour.
Alcaraz: “I don’t know where my limits are”
The new generation is taking over. “I think it’s good for tennis when new faces win the big things and fight for the big tournaments,” said Alcaraz.
The 21-year-old left no doubt about his goal of achieving a similar Grand Slam collection: “I have to continue on my path. At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table as the big boys,” said the Spaniard: “I don’t know where my limits are. Let’s see if at the end of my career it will be 25, 30, 15, four.”
The fact that he announced that he wanted to improve everything in his game and that he wanted to get better every year should not only be a warning to Djokovic. “At 21, a genius in all shots, he has matured but has kept his joy. Now let’s see who can stop him, whoever that may be, certainly no one,” wrote “El Mundo”. It will also depend on whether Alcaraz’s body holds up.
And the question will be who, alongside Alcaraz, will have a say in the future in the battle for the Grand Slams. Will it be Sinner (22) in the long run? Or Daniil Medvedev (28)? Can Alexander Zverev (27), who is scheduled to compete in Hamburg this week after his knee injury, secure his first Grand Slam title? What will become of Holger Rune (21)?
Or can Djokovic improve again once he has shaken off his knee injury? The age and experience advantage that has often spoken in Djokovic’s favor seemed to be a burden in the final this time. “He played every single shot better than me,” Djokovic admitted. “He was simply better than me in every aspect of the game.”
Stars say goodbye at the Olympics
He will have to improve to have a chance at Olympic gold, one of his last failed goals. “Let’s wait and see how I feel physically and mentally,” said Djokovic. “I need everything I have and more to get to the final of the Olympic Games.” Adversity usually spurs him on to become stronger.
Three of the former Big Four, Djokovic, Nadal and Murray, will be together again in Paris. Only Federer has long since retired. As for Murray, the Olympics will be one of the last major highlights of Nadal’s career. The Spaniard returns this week in Bastad after his first-round defeat at the French Open against Zverev with a very special generational clash. His Olympic test begins against Leo Borg (21), son of tennis legend Björn Borg.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
