Young guns Alcaraz, Sinner ready to fire as Wimbledon prepares for new era

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner will take their simmering rivalry at the top of the men's game to Wimbledon, where the two young guns will look to prolong seven-times winner Novak Djokovic's trophy drought in 2024.

Even before the tournament begins, however, Djokovic's quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title is under a cloud with the Serb building match fitness after undergoing knee surgery three weeks ago for an injury that prematurely ended his French Open.

Fellow 37-year-old and former champion Andy Murray is also in a race to be ready for what is likely his Wimbledon swansong after the injury-plagued Briton went under the knife last week for a back issue that was exacerbated during his Queen's Club run.

With Roger Federer retired and Rafa Nadal skipping Wimbledon to focus on next month's Paris Olympics, the potential pullout of Djokovic would ensure the first Wimbledon without any of the Big Three since 1998.

All eyes would then be on Alcaraz and Sinner as they usher in a new era at Wimbledon.

"I don't feel more pressure about playing a tournament that not one of the Big Three is playing in," Alcaraz said last week before Djokovic arrived in London on Sunday to give fans hope.

"I'm just focusing on myself. For me, I'm going to play the same level or I'm going to feel the same pressure being with the Big Three in the tournament or having none of those three.

"It's going to be the same tournament. Of course, as a fan of tennis or to people who are going to watch, it's not going to be the same, not being able to watch those players."

MINOR BLIP

Three-times Grand Slam champion Alcaraz overcame Djokovic in five sets to win the title 12 months ago and will look to defend a major trophy for the