Roger Federer, along with his formidable rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, has long dominated the tennis world. However, the Swiss icon believes a shift in the sport’s landscape is underway.
It’s been over two years since Federer played his last match at the 2022 Laver Cup, where he teamed up with his friend and rival Nadal for Team Europe before delivering an emotional farewell speech to the audience.
Federer was the first of the “Big Three” to retire, marking the end of an era in which he, Nadal, and Djokovic reigned supreme, with Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka as their primary challengers.
Nadal has since announced his retirement, with the 22-time Grand Slam champion set to compete in his final tournament at next month’s Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, his home country.
Federer’s retirement, Nadal’s ongoing physical struggles, and Murray’s decline due to a severe hip issue allowed Djokovic to dominate for several years. However, after Djokovic captured three Grand Slam titles and the ATP Finals in 2023, the landscape shifted this year.
Despite finally securing the Olympic gold medal that had long eluded him, Djokovic did not win a Grand Slam for the first time since 2017. Instead, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz shared the 2024 Grand Slam titles, with Sinner winning both the Australian Open and the US Open, while Alcaraz claimed his first French Open title and a second Wimbledon crown.
Djokovic remains a formidable presence in men’s tennis, as evidenced by his run to the Shanghai Masters final, where he was defeated by Sinner. Nevertheless, Federer recognizes Djokovic’s accomplishments at the Olympics while also noting that a transition in the sport is underway.
“You can sense a shift in the guard. With Serena Williams and Andy Murray both retiring, and Rafa nearing the end of his career, it’s clear things are changing. Novak has had a challenging year overall, but winning the Olympic gold medal—something he’s long sought—was a remarkable achievement for him.”
Federer shared his thoughts on the changing of the guard before Nadal officially declared his retirement, and those insights have gained even more significance in light of Nadal’s announcement.
The eight-time Wimbledon champion highlighted the achievements of Sinner and Alcaraz, who each secured two Grand Slam titles this season, as clear evidence of the new generation of players emerging. He also expressed his admiration for Alcaraz after observing his performance at the Laver Cup.
“So yes you feel that everything is shifting and then honestly. I mean, Sinner and Alcaraz winning each two Slams, that shows you that the wave is truly coming now and the changes are happening. They are consistent and they’re fantastic to see play.”
“Seeing Alcaraz live at the Laver Cup in Berlin was very impressive. He’s a wonderful player and I think a lot of people are going to have a lot of fun watching him in the future too.”