Serena Williams' US Open withdrawal latest sign tennis is near end of star-studded era

[marmar]

(ESPN) The US Open begins on Monday, and while many of the world's best players will return to New York after a pandemic-impacted tournament in 2020, as will a near-capacity level of fans in all their rowdy glory, it will be who isn't in attendance that might be felt most of all.

Serena Williams announced Wednesday that she wouldn't be playing in the year's final Grand Slam, joining Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on the star-studded withdrawal list. Williams said her torn hamstring still hasn't fully recovered since Wimbledon, while Federer will need yet another surgery on his right knee and Nadal declared he'll miss the rest of the season with a recurring left foot issue.

It will be the first major where none of the three will participate since the US Open in 1997. If that feels like a lifetime ago, well, it's because it was -- five players currently ranked in the WTA's top 10 weren't yet born.

Since then, the trio have combined for 63 major singles titles -- with Williams adding another 16 in doubles and mixed doubles -- and an astounding 838 weeks atop the world rankings. While Novak Djokovic is considered the third member of the sport's Big Three and could very well ultimately surpass all of them in titles and records, Williams has been the true owner of the distinction for the better part of the past two decades alongside Federer and Nadal. .................(more)

https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/32084047/serena-williams-us-open-withdrawal-latest-sign-tennis-end-star-studded-era

[moose65]

1. The era is ending

I used to not like Serena, but in the last few years I’ve become a fan. I’ve been a Federer fan for years and thought that he had the greatest of all time title sewed up, but in the last 5 or 6 years Djokovic has really surprised me. There’s no doubt in my mind that we have been watching the three greatest male players over the past ten years, and I really do like all 3 of them.

[tishaLA]

3. Those three have been astonishing, each in his own way

I'd still take Federer over the other two, but Nadal and Djoker have earned my grudging respect. And when Fed and Rafa are gone from the tour, a huge part of the tour's grace and class will also leave.

[moose65]

8. Me too

Federer is still the greatest, to me. His grace and utter beauty on the court has no equal. He is certainly the greatest grass court player of all time, and Nadal is the greatest on clay.

The debate about the greatest female player is more interesting, at least to me. When I was a kid I actually enjoyed the women’s tour more than the men’s!

[Moebym]

6. It doesn't matter if he ends up with 30 Grand Slam titles

Djokovic will never be a GOAT to me. Character should factor into discussions about great athletes, and his anti-vax stance and entitled behavior on the court say a lot about his character, none of it good.

Federer forever.

[marmar]

9. Federer is my favorite male player, but objectively Djoker is going to be the GOAT.

[tishaLA]

2. I saw something today on Reddit

that the last time Roger, Rafa, and Ms Williams didn't participate in a major....

In tennis
- Pete Sampras and 17 year old Martina Hingis were the world number one players
- Naomi Osaka was not alive
- 4 players in the ATP's top 11 were not alive (Zverev was 4 months old)
- US Open and Australian Open were played on a fully green coloured court
- ATP Finals were held in Germany (its since been to four different locations)
- Only one male player (Laver) had won all four majors since the beginning of Open Era
- Only one male player (Borg) had won 10+ major titles in Open Era

In sports
- MJ was in the middle of his second three-peat
- Kobe (RIP) had just wrapped up his rookie season
- Tyson bit off Holyfield's ear
- Tiger Woods had just won his first Masters title (more on Reddit)

Also, Venus Williams, who had gotten a wildcard entry into the USO, withdrew because of injury today, too.

[PortTack]

4. The Open decided no masks and no vaccine mandates to attend..maybe they just don't want Covid

[Lovie777]

5. No masks, no vaccine verification. . ..

[Moebym]

7. Fine by Novak Djokovic, apparently n/t