<p>Wow! This is the first time since 2006, maybe even 2005 that a Grand Slam final has not had at least one of the “Big 3”. Let us hope Cilic and Nishikori are up to the task. If they play as well as they did today, it should be a good final.</p>
<p>Tired, So it was you that jinxed Roger! 
</p>
<p>Seriously, I hope so. Federer - while amazing he is still getting to semis/finals of GS at 34 isn’t getting any younger. Rafa cannot play a whole season anymore because of injuries, Djoker is obviously more vulnerable now and Murray is Murray - a whining twit who was never in the Big 3’s league and his game is a mess now. </p>
<p>AO 2005 last time a final without one of those boys was played - Hewitt-Safin. But Roger had a match point against Marat and played a tweener which he didn’t have to hit that way - so it could have easily been Roger in the final that match, too. </p>
<p>I think it’s great that the youngsters are starting to make their mark. I expect it to continue but there will still be the occasional slam where one of the big 4 makes the final. </p>
<p>Adje Marin! </p>
<p>Murray is a miserable git, isn’t he?? </p>
<p>I can’t even watch Roger live because I get too nervous. I’ll never forget him making Andre Agassi look like, well, me out there in Houston at the clay court tournament. </p>
<p>I wonder if Roger will be satisfied getting to the finals/semis/quarters and not winning. I wonder when the tipping point will be? As you said, it’s amazing that he’s still getting so far in tournaments - and amazing that he’s still making it to all the Grand Slams. I think even with the mono and the back problems he didn’t miss one, did he? </p>
<p>I can’t watch Rafa, either, but that’s because he’s so exasperating, I don’t like his game OR his Uncle Toni, and I start feeling sorry for him with all his tics even while I’m pulling for whoever’s across the net. </p>
<p>Wonder if Caroline can beat Serena? I think it will be #18 for S.W. but C.W. is looking pretty sharp.</p>
<p>Perfect description of Murray. He has been that way forever. </p>
<p>I’m not a fan of Rafa’s game either (or Uncle Toni) but I always want him to win if he is playing Djoker - who I dislike intensely. </p>
<p>Once Roger had more GS than Sampras I’ve been able to watch his matches. That was the record I most wanted him to beat. Everything has been gravy after that. </p>
<p>Yep. Never missed a slam. 60 consecutive. </p>
<p>He still seems to want to keep playing and seeing that he is healthy and still better than 95% of the guys on tour, I don’t see him stopping until at least after the Rio if he stays healthy. </p>
<p>Yesterday’s match reminded me a lot of the final against JMdP. He gets troubled by players with monster serves and who are powerful from the baseline (versus a player like Raonic, Isner - who serve huge but suck from the baseline and can’t volley to save their life.) </p>
<p>I would love to see Caroline win but it’s highly unlikely, imo. Hoping it is competitive and who knows Serena has gotten tight in a lot of GS matches this year. </p>
<p>Today I am rooting for The Bryans and Caroline (or at the very least a competitive women’s match). </p>
<p>^ I am rooting against evil chestbumpers and for Sunshine. </p>
<p>Tiredofsnow, it will take more than one occasion to declare a “changing of the guard”. Naturally, a change is inevitable. Federer is past his prime, even if he is still very dangerous and capable of winning on any given day. At this point in time, it is unlikely that he will remain competitive in Majors for very long. I have been following tennis since the late 70s, and I cannot recall a single Grand Slam champion who was 33 years old (or older). Agassi’s win at the AO in 2003 at the age of 32 was considered extremely unusual. </p>
<p>Nadal’s body may not be able to take his punishing style of play for long. Assuming he returns to form, I think that Nadal and Djokovic are going to remain atop the tennis world for the next 2-3 years. They will not be as dominant as the Big 3 have been for the past decade, but they will win the a fair share of the majors through 2016. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if Nadal does not make a full recovery, it will leave only Djokovic on top, and this will inevitably make room for some of the younger players, like Cilic, Del Potro (if he returns to health), Dimitro, Nishikori, Raonic etc…There is also the next generation of players. Kids like Kyrgios.</p>
<p>Serena played great. She deserves number 18.</p>
<p>Caroline is awesome.</p>
<p>Serena ties Evert and Navratilova with 18 majors.</p>
<p>Up next is Andre Agassi’s wife, Steffi Graf. Fraulein Forehand</p>
<p>Bleugh. Boring match. </p>
<p>Alexandre, that’s why I said “the BEGINNING of the changing of the guard”. I was just wondering how long it will continue to be fun for Federer since his results even now are what most players could only dream of.</p>
<p>Evil chestbumpers, indeed. Oh well.</p>
<p>Vesnina was so annoying in that women’s doubles match (I only saw about a set.) How is that screaming not a hindrance when she screams AFTER she hits the ball? Hingis looked fit and happy, which was good to see.</p>
<p>No surprise but I had hoped Caroline could give Serena more of a match.</p>
<p>I think it is the changing of the guard. The big 3 are all past their peak now. </p>
<p>I was rooting for Caroline. Her speech after the match was so nice. Losing had to be hard for her and she handled herself with such grace. </p>
<p>Serena played great. I give her credit. Looks like it is pretty difficult to win 1 major. Now she has won 18 majors! </p>
<p>She should win at least one more. </p>
<p>I disagree dstark. Djokovic is very much in his prime, and will remain there for the next 2-3 years, barring health issues. Considering that he is quite fit, I do not foresee any trouble in his case. I think it highly likely that Djokovic will win 3-6 more majors in the next 3 years, depending on how healthy Nadal is. </p>
<p>Nadal also is in his prime stamina-wise, but the concern with him is his body. If it holds up, he too has another 2-3 years, although that is a big if. </p>
<p>Federer is past his prime.</p>
<p>Alexandre, you might lke this link.</p>
<p><a href=“Age Records of Slam Winners”>http://www.tennis28.com/slams/agerecords_winners.html</a></p>
<p>Look at the age of the winners. </p>
<p>Compare age 28 to ages 24 and 25. Novak wins that semifinal in the US Open if he was 2 or 3 years younger. His prime was in 2011-2012.</p>
<p>And if you take out Ken Rosewall…</p>
<p>I don’t think there is any question that going forward the Big 3 will not be as dominate in collecting GS titles. This year is pretty much proof of that - as two slams will have been won by non Big 3 players and now we even have a slam title being contested without any of them reaching the final. Also, too many young guns coming into their prime. In addition, the vulnerability of the big 3 (plus Murray) is felt in the locker room and they now belleve they have a shot of winning a Slam. </p>
<p>Article in today’s NYT on changing of the guard. </p>
<p><a href=“Tennis World Wobbles as Competitive Axis Begins to Shift - The New York Times”>http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/08/sports/tennis/tennis-world-wobbles-as-competitive-axis-begins-to-shift.html</a></p>
<p>dstark, I have been watching Novak for a while. He is still in his prime. The problem is not physical, it is mental. I have never seen him play so bad as in the month of August, although he is clearly rebounding. I think winning Wimbledon and getting married have overwhelmed him. His focus is off, but he is seems to be managing the distractions better now than he was four weeks ago. But between October 2013 and July 2014, he won virtually every tournament he played in (which includes Shanghai, Paris, London, Indian Wells, Miami, Rome and Wimbledon). His three notable losses prior to his wedding in July were the AO (which he lost in the QF in 5 sets against an uncharacteristically good Wawrinka), Monte Carlo (which he lost to Federer in the SF) and the FO (where he lost to the god of clay in the finals). He did not play in Madrid because of a wrist injury. </p>
<p>That is clearly a player in his prime. I think the euphoria of July (Wimbledon and marriage) have taken their toll in August. Let us see what happens in the coming months, but I would not be surprised if Novak has a similar post US Open year end this year as he did last year. Keeping my fingers crossed, much to Emily’s chagrin, I am sure! ;)</p>
<p>That being said, things are clearly going to shift with the inevitable aging of Federer and Nadal’s mounting injuries. </p>
<p>Unlike Emilybee, I like Novak. He is past his prime. He is still great. Novak has won 7 majors. For Novak to win 6 more majors would be …</p>
<p>There are always excuses why the older guys dont win as many majors, but they dont. </p>
<p>This is a nice chart that complements the other link.</p>
<p><a href=“Happy Birthday Nadal! You’re Probably Too Old to Pass Federer | FiveThirtyEight”>http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/happy-birthday-nadal-youre-probably-too-old-to-pass-federer/</a></p>
<p>I hear you dstark. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. ;)</p>
<p>Alexandre, I still love Michigan. :)</p>