2022 Wimbledon: This Slam was a clear reminder the sport's GOATs are endangered

[marmar]

(ESPN) LONDON -- We're in the twilight of the GOAT era. Rafa Nadal's body is creaking, Roger Federer hasn't played a competitive match in a year and Serena Williams' next movements are unclear. Novak Djokovic is at the peak of his powers but will likely not play another Grand Slam event until May.

Tennis will likely never see their like again, and the chances to watch them are getting rarer.

Friday's Wimbledon men's semifinal round was going to be a blockbuster. Opening with Djokovic against British hope Cam Norrie, then Nadal, now 36 years old, trying to take down mercurial Nick Kyrgios to continue his charge for a calendar Slam. But a tear in a muscle in Nadal's abdomen robbed us of the second half of that draw.

And with that came the growing feeling of transience in the sport, and that gnawing thought at the back of the mind knowing these players will one day retire was moving closer to the front of the mind. .............(more)

https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/34212003/2022-wimbledon-slam-was-clear-reminder-sport-goats-endangered

[Cracklin Charlie]

1. There'll be new GOATs.

Remember Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf?

2 of those names won The Grand Slam.

The game will live on, for goodness’ sake.

[LoisB]

2. A lot of good youngsters around; some with the potential for greatness.

[Cracklin Charlie]

4. Agree.

And I think two of them are playing in the women’s final tomorrow.

[LoisB]

5. I agree. I like seeing the next generation and trying to fathom who will rise and who will fade.

nt

[marmar]

3. Sure the game will live on....

... but there's never been an era like the Federer/Nadal/Djokovic era. Ever.

[caraher]

6. Can we stop calling whoever is best right now the GOAT?

Greatness is subjective, and in any sport there will be generational differences in what constitutes greatness. And sports evolve; cross-generational comparisons are fodder for endless debate in part because what a "fair" comparison is always subject to dispute.