It might not be quite the end of an era at Wimbledon this year but we appear to be approaching it with Serena Williams only confirming last week that she would play after 12 months out, while Roger Federer is absent from the main draw for the first time since 1998.
Rafael Nadal's participation has been in doubt because of a chronic foot injury that has the potential to end his career, while Andy Murray's preparations have been hampered by an abdominal strain that forced him to miss Queen's.
Defending men's champion Novak Djokovic is due on Centre Court on the opening Monday, but with 2020 women's victor Ashleigh Barty retiring in March, many of the multiple Grand Slam champions have had an anxious build-up to SW19.