US Open 2024 analysis | Jannik Sinner win confirms changing of guard from big three era

There have been many ‘changing of the guard’ false dawns in men’s tennis.

Every time it appeared a young hot shot was about to seize control, the ‘Big Three’ hit back.

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer – all genuinely iconic players – reigned supreme between 2003-2023, claiming an astonishing 66 grand slam titles from 81 tournaments.

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Finally, after two decades of gluttony, it appears time for Generation Next.

Jannik Sinner (Australian Open and US Open) and Carlos Alcaraz (Roland-Garros and Wimbledon) split the four trophies in 2024, the first time in 22 years that one of the ‘Big Three’ did not taste grand slam success.

Federer is long retired, Nadal’s body is crying ‘enough’ while Djokovic had to ‘settle’ for an Olympic gold medal this year.

Djokovic was stunned in the US Open third round by Australia’s Alexei Popyrin.

“So definitely the changing of the guard,” Jelena Dokic said on Nine’s coverage of the Sinner vs Taylor Fritz final on Monday.

“We’re in for something very special and I think both of these men, both Alcaraz and Sinner, can at least be in the double digits (for grand slams won).

“I can’t wait for next year, especially the Australian Open. I think it’s going to be an incredible rivalry and I think it will push others as well to try and get up to their level.

“But at the moment, it’s all Sinner and Alcaraz. Novak, outside of the Olympics, he really hasn’t had a great year. Can he win another one?

“Well, no-one beyond the age of 37, historically, has been able to get their hands on a major trophy. That’s the challenge for Novak Djokovic. But you feel like his career is certainly not totally done.”

It should be noted that Alcaraz, 21, and Sinner, 23, have had the advantage of avoiding the ‘Big Three’ in their primes.

But they are both delivering when it matters most, yet to lose in a grand slam final (Alcaraz 4-0, Sinner 2-0).

Men born in the 1990s are in contrast 2-19 in title deciders as the likes of Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem consistently knocked on the door but were unable to walk through.

The last time the four majors were won by players aged 23 and under was way back in 1993.

Sinner, meanwhile, became the first man since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first two grand slam trophies in the same year.

“So many big wins for me this season,” Sinner said after Monday’s (AEST) emphatic straight sets victory over Fritz.

“But the work never stops.”