YOUNG GUNS ARE NOW THE BIG GUNS

Djokovic's lacklustre year suggests end of Big 3 era, but Australian Open is best test

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An epoch-shifting Grand Slam season dominated by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz has provided the clearest sign yet that the "Big Three" era of men's tennis is finally over.

The golden rule that you should never write off Novak Djokovic still holds true but, after he, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer had won at least one Grand Slam title between them every season since 2003, this year there were none.

Sinner, 23, lifted the US Open title on Sept 8 following his breakthrough Australian Open triumph in January, while the 21-year-old Alcaraz won the French Open and Wimbledon to mark the first time since 1993 that men aged 23 or under had swept the Grand Slams.

"It's a bit different, for sure. It's something new, but also nice to see," said Sinner, who overcame the distraction of a doping controversy to help usher in a new age.

"It's nice to see new champions. Nice to see new rivalries. I feel it's good for the sport to have some new champions."