John McEnroe lauds ‘official’ changing of the guard in tennis as incredible stat on Federer, Nadal and Djokovic emerges
THE changing of the guard in men’s tennis has “officially” happened and the Big Three Era is over, according to John McEnroe.
Jannik Sinner, 23, bookended the year by winning the US Open in New York, eight months after he won the Australian Open.
His contemporary Carlos Alcaraz, 21, celebrated in the summer months by doing the French Open-Wimbledon double.
It is the first time since 2002 that none of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic had won a Major – the latter losing the Wimbledon final to Alcaraz for the season running.
Those tennis titans dominated the sport with 66 Grand Slam titles between them over two decades – kickstarting their dominance with Federer’s maiden crown at the All England Club in 2003.
And this is the first time since 1993, and only the third occasion in the Open Era, that the four Slams are held by guys aged 23 and under.
America’s seven-time major winner McEnroe, 65, said: “It is the official changing of the guard.
“I do think it will open the minds of other players to think they have got a shot at it as well.
“These guys can’t possibly – can they? – dominate like these last three guys have.
“Alexander Zverev is currently No2 in the world after this tournament.
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“Those guys who have been bypassed, you would think it would increase the hunger to finally get over the hump and win one.”
Sinner is not involved in Davis Cup group-stage action this week in Bologna but will head to China later this month for Far East events.
The world No1 said: “It’s nice to see new champions. Nice to see new rivalries.
“I feel it’s good for the sport to have some new champions.
“I feel the new generation push each other. Now, I’d say the pressure is something nice to have.
“If you don’t have the pressure then it means something is missing. I’m very privileged to be in this position.”
Tennis stars’ new careers
PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring.
But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best…
- I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I quit to become a nun
- I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so now run luxury B&B
- I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to become high-flying lawyer
- I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up bistro with Brazilian model girlfriend
- I’m last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I’m singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts
- I’m former world No1 but quit aged 29 – instead I went on to play professional poker and golf
- I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist