Federer, 41, hasn't played since Wimbledon in July 2021 and had a series of operations on his right knee. He is slated to return at an event in Switzerland in October, and says he hopes to play at the All England Club in 2023, but not much is known beyond that about what he has left.

There is no reason to think Djokovic, 35, will not remain a Slam contender for some time — when he can get into the country hosting the tournament, that is. He did not get vaccinated against COVID-19 so he was kicked out of Australia in January and barred from entering the United States, too.

Djokovic and Nadal combined to win this year's first three major titles and 15 of the past 17 overall. Add in the other member of the so-called Big Three, Federer, and it's 20 of the last 22. Take it back further, and it's 63 of 76. The only other men with more than one in that span are Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka, with three apiece.

Federer's first triumph came less than a year after Sampras won the US Open in what would be his final match.

"Before this generation, we lost another great generation. Obviously, there will not be a Rafa or a Roger or a Serena. We know that. There are always ups and downs. But there were great champions in the past and there will be again. I'm not worried. It's part of sports. It's part of life," said Caroline Garcia, a 28-year-old from France who beat 18-year-old Floridian Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-4 in the quarterfinals on Tuesday night.

"Great champions leave and others arrive," Garcia said. "You have to give young players the time to get to the top of the game and get mature and everything. The fans have to be ready for a new generation, as well." Whether or not TV executives and tournament ticket-sellers agree, that is a popular sentiment among current players: Tennis will be fine. "Unfortunately for all of us," Murray said, "the sport moves on."