For the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, Serena, Federer and Nadal will miss the same slam

It has been nearly a quarter of a century since Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal did not participate in the same Grand Slam tennis tournament. That changes this week when the US Open starts in Flushing Meadows with no member of that distinguished and dominant trio.

Williams, whose 40th birthday is in September, retired on Wednesday, joining Federer, who turned 40 this month, and Nadal, who is 35, on the bench due to injuries. Williams’ older sister, 41-year-old Venus, also retired from the field on Wednesday.

Everyone knows they can’t play forever, of course, and that this great era will end at some point. Now fans, other players, tours, tournaments, sponsors, TV executives and the rest of the world are taking a look at what the probably not too distant future holds for tennis.

Is it as daunting as it sounds? “We have been asking this question for many years. They defied the odds with their legacy and dominance in the sport far beyond other champions.

Without a doubt, our sport goes through the passing of the baton, ”said US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster after Serena’s announcement but before Venus.

“The athletes who are here are ready for it. We’re starting to see who the next potential Grand Slam champions will be.

We have been through this cycle before, and our athletes have risen to the occasion and have stood on the shoulders of all champions and taken the sport to the next level. ”

This can certainly be said of the Williams sisters, Federer and Nadal, who have managed to become global superstars and remain relevant for a long time beyond the usual time frame in tennis. Since the 1997 Australian Open, the year Venus Williams made her major debut at the French Open, no Grand Slam tournament has been played without at least one of the four.

As the right hamstring she scored at Wimbledon in late June has not healed sufficiently, Serena will again be unable to pursue what would be a 24th Grand Slam title, tying Margaret Court for the ultimate in sporting history. (As it stands, Serena holds the Open Era score of 23, because more than half of Court’s total came before 1968).

Since returning from motherhood in 2018, Serena has reached four Grand Slam finals, going 0-4. Her 2017 Australian Open title during pregnancy at age 35 makes her the oldest woman to win a major singles championship in the Open era. Ken Rosewall set the men’s score of 37 at the 1972 Aus Open.

Federer, the first man to reach 20 Grand Slam trophies, is on hiatus for 2021 as he needs a third operation on his right knee which was repaired twice last year. Nadal, who equaled his rival’s total by earning his 20th major at the 2020 French Open, is also set for the season, troubled by recurring pain in his left foot.

What no one knows for sure, right now, is when – or, indeed, if – everyone will return. In Serena’s social media post Wednesday about her retirement from the US Open, she closed with this pledge: “See you soon.”

In Federer’s announcement 10 days earlier, he spoke of wanting to “give myself a glimmer of hope, too, to return to the tour in some shape or form”. Nadal, the youngest of the group, promised last week that he still has “a couple of great years” left in his career.

“We are disappointed for our fans.

How could they not be disappointed? They are fan favorites, no doubt. They are simply exceptional champions, “Allaster said.” At the same time, the show goes on. ”