The Masters 1000 in Shanghai ended with a victory for Jannik Sinner in opposition to Novak Djokovic in a pleasant closing. Among the many different causes for curiosity within the Chinese language event – at all times very appreciated by the gamers – there was additionally the presence of Roger Federer. The previous Swiss champion arrived in China within the final days of the event, took half in a efficiency and a few initiatives together with his sponsors, earlier than attending the semi-finals and the ultimate.
His presence made the followers very pleased, who didn’t cease loving him even after his retirement in 2022. The previous world no 1 has remained in shut contact with tennis over the previous two years, though he loves spending extra time together with his household and doesn’t have an official position throughout the skilled tour.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion has not organized any exhibition match together with his outdated rivals, in all probability as a result of poor situation of his knee. The Swiss Maestro has had a number of surgical procedures in his later years however he was unable to get again on monitor and compete on the ATP tour. Federer saluted skilled tennis on the 2022 version of the Laver Cup, the place he performed his doubles match alongside Rafael Nadal on the O2 Enviornment in London.
A bit reward
Throughout his keep in Shanghai, the King had time to spend with Carlos Alcaraz and his group. Roger and Carlitos – who had already spoken loads in the course of the Laver Cup in Berlin a month in the past – watched collectively the ultimate between Sinner and Djokovic with the presence of Juan Carlos Ferrero at their facet. The 20-time Grand Slam champion additionally organized a small observe session with Carlos and his brother Alvaro. In the previous few hours, Alvaro Alcaraz has printed on his social networks a few footage of his sensible session with the Swiss legend.
Alvaro Alcaraz hits with Roger Federer in Shanghai.
“My dream come true… 🎾🥲” 🥺 pic.twitter.com/OSkWXkitCx
— Carlos Alcaraz Each day (@alcarazdaily) October 16, 2024
Excited by Federer’s presence within the stands, World No.1 Jannik Sinner – who gained the Shanghai event shedding a single set throughout his run – mirrored on the legacy of the Large 3: “What they’ve accomplished within the final years has been wonderful. There usually are not so many issues to say about stress, the stress is at all times going to be there. However, you already know, speaking from my facet, I take into consideration myself, what I’ve to do on the courtroom, what I’ve to enhance, and that hopefully makes it higher as a participant, and likewise a constant participant.
They’ve been very constant all through the years and years and years. There’s not solely been one season or two seasons, they made it for 15 years. So, it’s wonderful what they’ve achieved, what they’ve accomplished. There are numerous issues what we are able to take from them. We can’t evaluate us with them, you already know, that’s not possible, particularly on this second now. I believe all of us had been very fortunate to see the Large Three, you already know, taking part in tennis. And I take into account myself very fortunate to get to know them additionally as an individual and, you already know, to study from them, and, yeah, I believe that’s it.”
The Large 3’s period is over
In 2025, Novak Djokovic would be the solely Large 3 nonetheless in motion on the skilled tour. The Serbian legend is motivated to proceed taking part in regardless of the rise of a number of younger champions. The 37-year-old from Belgrade has not gained a single Grand Slam title this 12 months, however he did win the gold medal on the Paris Olympics.
In an interview with Eurosport, former ATP ace Mats Wilander praised Djokovic’s legacy vs. Federer and Nadal’s: ”I believe Novak will really feel so proud. I imply, unhappy in a means, however he lived by the storm. Sure, he’s youthful than each Roger and Rafa, and Andy Murray and him, I believe, are the identical age or fairly shut, however he survived all of it.
He’s the winningest male tennis participant ever. I believe he would simply be proud. I believe he sees it greater than anybody, the impact that Federer and Nadal have had on Alcaraz and Sinner and the blokes behind him. I believe Novak has felt the impact of the large two, Rafa and Roger, greater than any participant. That’s going to make him really feel so good as a result of he was a part of that. And the impact of Novak may be very clear on the subject of the physicality of all of the gamers at this time.” Tennis is in good fingers because of Jannik Sinner and Carlitos Alcaraz, who’re set to take tennis into a brand new dimension within the coming years. The 2 younger champions have already confronted one another many occasions and their matches had been at all times filled with feelings.