BENGALURU, Sept 10, V7N – The world of men’s tennis is witnessing a seismic shift as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz dominate this year’s Grand Slam season, signaling the end of the "Big Three" era. With Novak Djokovic set to finish as the last year-end number one of this legendary trio, the landscape of the sport has changed forever.

For the first time since 2003, Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer collectively failed to secure a Grand Slam title this year. Sinner's victory at the U.S. Open on Sunday, following his Australian Open triumph earlier in the year, and Alcaraz's wins at the French Open and Wimbledon, have made history.

This marked the first time since 1993 that men aged 23 or younger swept all four Grand Slam titles.“It’s a bit different, for sure. It’s something new, but also nice to see,” Sinner remarked, highlighting the influx of fresh talent in the sport. “It’s nice to see new champions and new rivalries. I feel it’s good for the sport to have some new champions.”The dominance of the "Big Three" is undeniable, with these legendary players claiming 66 of the 81 Grand Slam titles from 2003 until Djokovic's last win at the U.S. Open last year.

However, with Federer retired and Nadal sidelined by injury, Djokovic faced a tougher challenge in 2024. Despite securing three of the four majors in 2023 and finishing as year-end number one, this year has been a stark contrast.Djokovic’s Grand Slam campaign faltered significantly. He suffered a semi-final defeat to Sinner in Melbourne and withdrew from the quarter-finals at Roland Garros due to injury.

A crushing loss to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final and a surprising third-round exit at the U.S. Open left him without a major title for the first time since 2017.Yet, Djokovic still managed to shine at the Paris Olympics, capturing the long-sought gold medal after defeating Alcaraz in the final. Reflecting on his U.S. Open exit, Djokovic acknowledged the difficulty of the moment but expressed hope for the future.

"It’s hard to see the big perspective right now. You’re just angry and upset that you lost and the way you played. But tomorrow is a new day," he stated.At 37, Djokovic is already past the typical age for Grand Slam success, and finishing the season atop the rankings seems increasingly unlikely.

Currently sitting ninth in the race to the season finale in Turin, his prospects in the upcoming Asian swing appear dim.Looking ahead, Djokovic is eyeing the chance to win a 25th Grand Slam title, aiming to surpass Margaret Court’s record. The Australian Open in January, where he has won a record 10 times, could be his best opportunity."You never want to count him out," seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe noted.

"This is the first time where you could say with some seriousness that you start to wonder if he’s going to win a major again."As the tennis world adapts to this new era, all eyes will be on the young stars and the legendary Djokovic, who continues to defy expectations in a sport that is evolving rapidly.

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