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At an average of just over 31, they would be the oldest side to win a 50-over World Cup but we live in an era of Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Tom Brady.

Their departures follow more high-profile ones in 2022 from Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Ash Barty, who won the Australian Open last January and stepped away in March at age 25.

That captures the vibe around tennis lately, what with the retirements of Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Ash Barty all arriving in 2022.

“I don’t know there’s another stadium in the world that can say they’ve had Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, Patrick Mahomes and U2 and Jay-Z and Beyoncé and Messi and Neymar all at the same venue.”

Serena and Venus Williams, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were absent at once for the first time in 25 years, and though it seemed that void would be much too big to fill, the young players piled in gleefully.