By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
For years, they were among the men who refused to surrender to age, injuries or the relentless march of younger generations. But at the US Open in a gap of first two days, two very different defeats have offered a poignant reminder that even the greatest survivors of tennis’s golden era cannot turn back the clock forever.
Tennis great Novak Djokovic, 39, suffered a stunning first-round defeat to Argentina’s Mariano Navone, losing 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a gruelling four-hour, 36-minute encounter. It was the first time in his career that he had lost in the opening round of the US Open and his earliest exit from a Grand Slam in two decades. More worrying for the Serbian was the physical toll. He battled vomiting, cramps, pain and an apparent collapse in his physical condition during the match.
Then came Wawrinka. The 41-year-old Swiss, a three-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 3, bowed out to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in straight sets. The 7-6, 7-6, 6-0 defeat was not merely another first-round loss. It was Wawrinka’s final Grand Slam appearance. He has already announced that the 2026 season will be his last.
Two exits, two generations of champions and perhaps one unmistakable message: the golden generation of men’s tennis is finally nearing its end.
Roger Federer has gone. Rafael Nadal has gone. Andy Murray and Dominic Thiem have also walked away. Wawrinka is now preparing for his final farewell.
And what about Djokovic? He has given no indication that he is ready to announce retirement. But his latest defeat inevitably raises the question. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is still capable of producing extraordinary tennis, but the physical demands are becoming increasingly difficult to overcome. His US Open defeat came after an opening-round loss in Cincinnati, and his sparse playing schedule has increasingly revolved around the Grand Slams.
Then there are the other survivors of the era.
Stan Wawrinka’s retirement leaves players such as Milos Raonic and others from that generation increasingly distant from the summit they once occupied. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Matteo Berrettini and other former contenders are also reminders of how brutally unforgiving professional tennis can be. A player can reach the top five, contest Grand Slam finals or defeat legends — and then find himself fighting simply to remain relevant.
Berrettini’s presence in Wawrinka’s farewell is particularly symbolic. The Italian, once ranked as high as No. 6 and a Wimbledon finalist, has himself endured years of injuries and inconsistent form. Yet on Monday, he was the man who ended the Grand Slam career of one of the game’s most celebrated champions.
Tennis history is full of such transitions.