Novak Djokovic Left Out as New Generation Sets Stage for Grand Slam Era.

Posted 2 months ago

This Grand Slam season, led by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, marks a significant shift in tennis, signaling the end of the "Big Three" era. Novak Djokovic is set to be the final year-end number one of this era.

The rule of never writing off Novak Djokovic remains valid, but this year marked a notable shift. For the first time since 2003, Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, and Roger Federer did not win a Grand Slam.

Jannik Sinner clinched the U.S. Open after his Australian Open win in January, while Carlos Alcaraz took the French Open and Wimbledon, marking the first time since 1993 that players under 23 have won all four Grand Slam titles in a year.

“It’s definitely a change, but a nice one,” Sinner said, acknowledging the shift. “It’s great to see new champions and rivalries emerging. It’s good for the sport.”

The "Big Three" had dominated Grand Slam tennis, winning 66 of 81 tournaments from Federer’s first Wimbledon title in 2003 to Djokovic’s 24th major last year. With Federer retired and Nadal injured, Djokovic carried the torch in 2023, winning three of the four majors and finishing as the year-end number one for a record eighth time.

However, Djokovic’s Grand Slam performance this year fell short of his usual standards, starting with a semi-final loss to Sinner in Melbourne and an injury withdrawal from the French Open quarter-finals.