We talk in tennis of a transition game, moving from one set of strokes to the next, moving seamlessly up the court from one position to another. Professional tennis is undergoing a more cosmic transition game, pivoting from the Big Three/Serena Williams Era—where four bankable, historically great players each won more than 20 majors—to an era of many stars, if not quite at the same wattage.
This was thrown into relief during Week 1 at Roland Garros of 2025. The first day featured a pitch-perfect retirement ceremony for the great Rafael Nadal, the Big Three and Andy Murray—three of them in retirement—appeared in street clothes to toast the 14-time Roland Garros champ and usher in the post-Rafa Era. Then, play commenced and attention turned to active players.
