Men’s tennis is finally seeing a change of guard. A new era has begun. Roger Federer won his first slam in 2003. For years and years after that, players came and players went away, but Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic held sway. A stationarity – and inevitability – came to characterise men’s tennis. Its on-court possibilities were circumscribed by the brilliance of three men, and its overall popularity was overshadowed by their global appeal. Say tennis and the next person may have given a nonplussed look. But casually mention Federer, Nadal or Djokovic, and the contours of that face immediately realigned to indicate a recognition of greatness
In more ways than one, however, their era now finally seems to be ending. Federer has already retired, Nadal is on the precipice, and Djokovic is struggling in comparison to his lofty standards. More importantly, however, the era is ending because Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz has finally and truly transformed from just being a generational talent to a big-occasion match winner. The baton has passed.
Arrival of the next great
A change of guard is an inexorable process in any sport but it happens in different ways. Sometimes, a legendary generation/player retires or fades away, and the new generation/ player that replaces them fails to replicate the magic of the predecessor. A new legendary generation/player emerges only after what seems like aeons in fans’ memories. The baton of greatness doesn’t get passed as much as it gets mummified to be recovered later.
Sometimes, however, the transition is more seamless. The new legendary generation/player snatches away the baton while the earlier one is still there. With his victory over Djokovic in the 2024 Wimbledon final, that’s what Alcaraz has finally done. He has announced the arrival of the next great. It’s true that his talent has been evident for some time now, and that he started winning slams in 2022 itself. But his latest win is different from all his previous slam victories – including the one over the same opponent at the same venue last year. In yesterday’s final, Alcaraz didn’t just beat Djokovic in straight sets, he demolished him in a way very few have.
Alcaraz has now made it unambiguously clear that in all subsequent meetings between the two, Djokovic – yes, the great and fearsome Djokovic – will not be the favourite. To understand what has truly happened in just one year, let’s recall the 2023 French Open semifinal between Alcaraz and Djokovic.
In what was expected to be a cracker of a match, Alcaraz started cramping, lost tamely, and later confessed that it could have happened due to the “tension” of competing against an opponent like Djokovic. He did beat Djokovic soon after at Wimbledon in a close match, which could have gone either way. But unlike this time, the Serbian tennis legend lost last year with his aura intact.
One can argue that Djokovic was returning from an injury lay-off, which may have led to his underperformance. However, he reached the final exhibiting the same clinical precision he always does, dismantling opponent after opponent, only to be completely blown off the court by Alcaraz.
He finally looked his age. Djokovic’s aura, the aura that signified inevitable victory and often made players such as Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Dominic Thiem surrender even when they were in winning positions, was absent against Alcaraz. And to a certain extent against Jannik Sinner too, who comprehensively beat Djokovic at this year’s Australian Open and seems to be charting his own path toward greatness, although a bit slower than Alcaraz.
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Age doesn’t hit you until it does
At this point, let me emphasise that by talking about Djokovic’s loss of aura against Alcaraz and Sinner, I am not trying to undermine him in any way. He is a bonafide legend of the game, who, along with Nadal and Federer, redefined tennis and greatness for a legion of fans. His recent losses in big-ticket matches are more a reflection of his age than anything else. And in sports, age doesn’t hit you until it does. You are winning everything until you are not.
It happened with Federer, Nadal, and Serena Williams. It is now finally happening to Djokovic. If anything, it’s a testament to his greatness; the effects of his age, even now, manifest against only two opponents and no one else. He still remains among the favourites at all slams, just not the only one anymore.
The end of an era and the dawn of a new one is often a moment to rejoice. Tennis fans must do that. It’s time to move on from the Big 3 and celebrate the big-stage arrival of Alcaraz (and hopefully Sinner). It’s time to relive the making of another tennis legend. Anyone cynical about this claim just needs to see Alcaraz in action or read what Djokovic said about him last year:
“I think people have been talking in the past 12 months or so about [Alcaraz’s] game consisting of certain elements from Roger, Rafa, and myself. I would agree with that. I think he’s got basically the best of all three worlds.” If still cynical, read this: Alcaraz has won four slams by 21. Nadal achieved this feat at 22, Federer at 23, and Djokovic at 24.
The writer works with a leading global consulting firm. He tweets @mishraachyut. Views are personal.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)