Final chapter for tennis legends? - Out of the "Big Three's" domain, Sinner and Alcaraz emerge.
Following his disappointing exit at the French Open, Novak Djokovic faced another setback. The renowned Serbian tennis champion had to undergo surgery on his meniscus in a Parisian hospital, making it unlikely for him to compete in the Wimbledon grass-court classic in early July.
Adding to his woes, the tennis sphere eagerly anticipates the semifinal matchup between rising stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Injured title defender Djokovic seems to be barely missed.
If Djokovic were to tune in to this encounter on TV, he could find plenty of inspiration for his eventual comeback. In the past, Djokovic has described Sinner and Alcaraz as awakening "the beast" within him. But now, they're no longer emerging talents; they're established stars in the realm of men's tennis. Due to Djokovic's knee injury, Sinner took over as the world's top-ranked player - a first for an Italian.
Sinner's Italian roots celebrated this accomplishment: "Australian Open champion is the pride of Italian sports," proclaimed Gazzetta dello Sport, while La Repubblica hailed a "messianic wait" coming to an end. Even Giorgia Meloni, the Minister President, acknowledged the "champion" on her messaging service and snapped a selfie with Sinner.
The 22-year-old Sinner felt thrilled by the news after defeating Grigor Dimitrov in three sets. "Being number one in the world is a dream for every player," Sinner shared. However, his Parisian mission isn't complete yet. Friday brings a "very important match" that has his undivided attention.
Meanwhile, the 21-year-old Alcaraz has transcended the label of rising talent to full-fledged tennis sensation. "This boy is simply too good," acknowledged Stefanos Tsitsipas, the ninth-ranked player. "When I play against him, I'll remember how much I still have to improve as a tennis player." Those were sentiments that Djokovic's opponents often expressed.
Over the past 20 years, the "Big Three" of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer reigned supreme on the tour, but, for the first time in two decades, they won't feature in the Parisian semifinals. While Nadal (38) bid farewell to his likely Parisian swan song after a disappointing first-round loss to Alexander Zverev, Federer (42) retired from tennis 1.5 years ago. The dawn of a new tennis era seems imminent, with players like Sinner, Alcaraz, and 21-year-old Danish tennis prodigy Holger Rune threatening to dethrone Djokovic.
Despite the challenges, Djokovic derives strength from this situation. "Young players who are very hungry and eager to play their best against me in significant matches are a motivation unto themselves," he stated. He'll need that motivation for his return.
