Murray, Djokovic are new age warriors now

Thanks for the memories Roger and Rafa, but it's the Novak and Andy show now. Andy Murray's Wimbledon triumph on Sunday, when he beat Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 in the final, was the first by a British man since Fred Perry in 1936. But it also re-emphasised the new dominance at the Grand Slam level of the world's two top players, both aged 26 and born just seven days apart. Djokovic and Murray have now contested three of the last four Grand Slam finals. Meanwhile, Roger Federer, the deposed champion of Wimbledon who was knocked out in the second round this time around, will find himself at number five in the world on Monday, his lowest ranking for over a decade. Until he won his seventh Wimbledon 12 months ago, the 31-year-old had not won a major since the 2010 Australian Open, a 10-tournament gap at the majors. Rafael Nadal, like Federer a former world number one, was shocked in the first round at Wimbledon for his earliest ever exit at a major in 10 years as a professional. The 27-year-old Spaniard, who was off tour for seven months before his barnstorming return saw him capture a record eighth French Open, has not won a major away from Paris since the 2010 US Open. In all 33 of the last 34 Grand Slams have been won by Djokovic, Murray, Federer and Nadal, but seven of the last 11 have been taken by the world number one Serb and the world number two British player. This year alone, Djokovic has won his fourth Australian Open, lost a tight five-setter to Nadal in the French Open semi-finals before his runner-up spot to Murray at Wimbledon. Murray was runner-up to Djokovic in Melbourne and skipped Paris because of a back injury. But Federer, the holder of a record 17 majors, was a beaten semi-finalist in Australia and a quarter-finalist at the French Open. Nadal missed the Australian Open through injury and is under pressure never to play Wimbledon again to protect his increasingly troublesome knees. Mats Wilander, the Swedish star who won seven Grand Slam titles in the 1980s, believes Murray and Djokovic are now the undisputed superpowers of the sport. "I think Andy Murray can win six, seven, eight, nine, 10 majors. The only man that can stop him is Novak Djokovic," said the Swede. "These two are going to decide who gets ahead in the history books. I hope they both decide this is a rivalry that's just going to grow and become great on all the different surfaces, in all four majors." Federer has seen his decision to slim down his schedule in 2013 backfire. But he has surprised many by deciding to play two low-profile claycourt events before the American hardcourt swing at Hamburg from July 15 and Gstaad the following week. Having defeated just one top-10 player all year -- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Australian Open quarter-finals -- Federer is desperate bounce back from his Wimbledon misery, where he lost in the second round to Ukraine's 116-ranked Sergiy Stakhovsky in what was his worst Grand Slam defeat for a decade. His shock Wimbledon loss ended his run of 36 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearances, having not gone out of a major before the last eight since the 2004 French Open. Federer is adamant that he will be back next year at Wimbledon when he will be six weeks short of his 33rd birthday. If he were to win a record eighth Wimbledon in 2014, he would become the oldest man to clinch the title, surpassing Arthur Ashe who was six days away from his 32nd birthday when he triumphed in 1975. "I still have plans to play for many more years to come," said Federer. Nadal had played 35 Grand Slams coming into Wimbledon this year without ever having lost in the first round. But the tournament, part of just a four-week grasscourt season, has always asked the most searching questions. He did not play in 2004 or in 2009 when more knee trouble, which had contributed to his only career loss in Paris, forced him to tearfully give up on the defence of a title had won for the first time in 2008. Furthermore, his defeat to Lukas Rosol in the second round in 2012 meant he missed the Olympics, the US and Australian Opens. Nadal refused to blame his knee for his defeat or even discuss the make-up of his schedule for the rest of the year. "This is sport, it's not a tragedy," he said. "I am confident that I will have a good recovery and be ready for the next tournaments." Britain's Andy Murray (L) embraces Serbia's Novak Djokovic after Murray's victory in the men's singles final on day thirteen of the 2013 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 7, 2013. Djokovic and Murray have now contested three of the last four Grand Slam finals. Britain's Andy Murray (L) poses with the winner's trophy next to runner up Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the presentation after the Wimbledon men's singles final at the All England Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 7, 2013. Djokovic and Murray have now contested three of the last four Grand Slam finals. Britain's Andy Murray celebrates winning a point against Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the men's singles final on day thirteen of the 2013 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 7, 2013. Djokovic and Murray have now contested three of the last four Grand Slam finals.