And meanwhile, life goes on on the tennis circuit, nostalgic these days for the upcoming departure of Rafael Nadal and which for some time now has been drawing the new profile, the new physiognomy of the present. There are three again, but from very different positions. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, 23 and 21 years old respectively, appear imposing and with all their youth, both already in charge, and there seems to be no greater threat to them than that of the man who defines himself as a lone wolf who sometimes From now on, without the company of the Majorcan or the Swiss Roger Federer, definitely alone in the face of danger, he will have to defend the pride of the old guard. The giants are leaving and only one of them resists the passage of time.
“We knew this moment was going to come sooner or later, but I’m still in shock. When Roger’s retirement was announced a couple of years ago and Andy’s (Murray) retired, I had an unpleasant feeling and I don’t know what to do about it. I still enjoy my career, but a big part of me is gone with them. It is difficult news for the world of tennis and also for sport. Rafa has been an inspiration for millions of children around the world,” says the Belgrade tennis player melancholy, the definitive winner of the most intense and vibrant race in the history of the racket. He has 24 grand totals, compared to Nadal’s 22 and Federer’s 20, and he actually knew that he was going to end up winning because the Spaniard couldn’t get the engine going again. However, emptiness is superior to peace, he admits.
After two decades fighting to unsuspected limits, Djokovic faces a new scenario that will be a colossal challenge for him. At 37 years old, his tennis has not lost a bit of validity, but his physique gave a warning in June – he underwent surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee – and from now on he will jump onto the court without the incentive or the pressure that his two battle companions demanded of him. Although during the last two years he has been more or less assimilating the situation — “I will kick the young people’s asses as much as I can” — Nole now walks alone, in some way helpless because an era like no other has closed and The new winds enter with force, the latest claims, with a gap of more than 15 years between him and the new leaders.
“Your tenacity, dedication and fighting spirit will be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever. “Only you know what you had to endure to become an icon,” he dedicated to Nadal when the Spaniard announced his farewell, which puts an end to the fiercest duel: there have been 60 classics, 31 for the Serbian and 29 in favor of the opponent. Djokovic will no longer have that flame, who will have to consider new challenges; perhaps not so suggestive, but attractive enough to continue and not lose vigor. To begin with, this Sunday (10.30, Movistar+) he has a confrontation with Jannik Sinner and the opportunity to celebrate his 100th title, a barrier so far only crossed by Federer (103) and the American Jimmy Connors (109).
McEnroe’s longing
Of course, the Balkan will arrive at the end of the Shanghai Masters 1000 with discomfort. During this Saturday’s match against Taylor Fritz (6-4 and 7-6(6) he had to be treated for his hip, but he still managed to masterfully prevail against the North American, who falls every time they meet (0-10) In this way, he will try to achieve his fifth trophy in the tournament – more than any, with four wins in as many finals – and the second of the season after the gold won at the Paris Olympic Games. It will not be easy. the number one, who beat the Czech Tomas Machac (6-4 and 7-5) and will land in his eighth final of the course with his personal record of victories (64) under his arm, in addition to having guaranteed to finish this 2024 in the most height of ranking of the ATP, for the first time and as the first Italian.
Sinner continues to fly, unperturbed despite the shadow of doping that has accompanied him since the summer due to the double positive for costball in March, in an analysis carried out in Indian Wells. “It’s an incredible year for me, but it’s not over yet,” warns the champion of Australia, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle, Cincinnati and the US Open. “Our games have always been tough,” he categorizes when referring to the Djokerwho dominates in the face-to-face between the two by 4-3, but who gave in in the only crossing this season (Melbourne) and has been inferior to San Candido in three of the last four they have played. The current king of the circuit has won six of the seven finals he has played this year and only lost the one in Beijing, against Alcaraz ten days ago. For his rival it will be the third, after Wimbledon and the Games.
“I remember that John McEnroe said in a documentary that when Björn Borg retired, he felt that part of him was also retiring, even though he continued playing,” Djokovic noted in March, still excited by the closing of the stage. Last year he claimed that taking into account the situation, it was impossible for him to establish a friendship with Nadal and Federer, but at the same time he pointed out that thanks to both of them he has gotten to where he is today. Also then, he said that when he was little he had a chance encounter with a wolf in a forest and that those ten seconds looking face to face with the animal were the longest of his life. “It was short, but very important because the wolf symbolizes my character,” he said. From now on, the disputes against the other two carnivores are definitively over. Tennis turns the page, there is only one left and life goes on. A different life for Nole.
