For the first time this millennium, Roger Federer won’t play in the U.S. Open.
The last U.S. Open main draw without Federer came in 1999, when he lost in the second round of qualifying to fellow Swiss player Ivo Heuberger.
For some perspective: During the 1999 U.S. Open, Frances Tiafoe was one year old. The No. 1 song in the United States was “Bailamos” by Enrique Iglesias. Barack Obama was in his second term as an Illinois state senator. Donald Trump was merely considering running for President, not actually running.
The world today is clearly a different place.