"Changing of the guard" - Clijsters, Wilander and Corretja react to US Open final

Eurosports tennis analysts Kim Clijsters, Mats Wilander and Alex Corretja recognized the US Open final as 'changing of the guard moment'.

A new era in tennis has not yet officially started but it's pretty clear to everyone that things are going this way after this year's US Open. The writings have been on the wall have been there for some time but it seems like analysts are now finally realizing it's happening in real-time.

Kim Clijsters was surprised to see it but she thinks it's a great for tennis:

“I am surprised [to see the men’s semi-finalists] because there were a few guys, like a Nick Kyrgios, like a [Alexander] Zverev, like a Dominic Thiem who have done well here in the past. Thiem has won here. But to see the younger generation step up now and be potential Grand Slam champions is incredible. It’s great for the tournament, and I think a lot of people on the men’s side are happy to see the great matches that we have seen here. In a few years we’re not going to see those three guys anymore.”

Wilander added:

“It definitely shows that there’s a changing of the guard going on, and obviously some of it has to do with age - for Roger Federer. Some of it has to do with Rafa not playing enough matches to be ready, and of course, a lot of it has to do with the fact Novak Djokovic wasn’t allowed to come [to the US] because he’s not vaccinated."

Alex Corretja also added his opinion:

“They are showing that they're ready to take the spot. I'm sure that we're still going to have Djokovic whenever he can play, and Rafa next year, for sure he's going to be still fighting for the Slams. It's good to see that, little by little, they're advancing and growing. Of course, you're going to still have Medvedev, Tsitsipas and Zverev next year who are going to be extremely motivated. We will also have Nick Kyrgios in Australia as well. So more gates are opening for many other players – it was locked because of Novak, Roger and Rafa and sometimes Andy Murray."