Tennis Feature: Should tennis worry about the declining viewership after Roger Federer and Serena Williams retire?

Then, Roger Federer retired after losing his final match in the Laver Cup – doubles encounter alongside friend and rival Rafael Nadal. And Federer gave a post-match speech where the waterworks flowed.

Even Nadal couldn't hold back his tears when Federer finally announced his departure.

In the long run, it remains to be seen whether or not their void on the tennis tour can be filled, and if so, what impact that will have on viewership.

The first and most obvious thing to address is that there will be a dip in viewership worldwide. Federer and Williams were transcendent athletes, players who were well-known to casual and non-watches of the sport.

We wouldn't have this discussion if it were easy to replace athletes like these. But it is a task – players like these don't grow on trees, after all.

On the talent front, one can argue that the ATP and WTA tours will have plenty of players keen to step up and fill the void these two game giants have left.

Indeed, the sport is teeming with young talent now, and with Federer gone and Nadal's long-term future uncertain, they would be keen to stamp their mark as the next ones to watch out for.

Carlos Alcaraz has won the US Open and become the world's number one in the process. But he isn't the only one – and in that sense, tennis is well off.

Of course, it will take time for the next generation to develop the game and the star power to match the likes of Williams and Federer.

But that will happen in due course, and as far as talent goes, there is no issue. But the sport must brace itself for a time wherein interest of casual fans of the sport will drop off ever so slightly.

That is the unfortunate nature of sport as a whole. Hardcore fans will turn up to watch for the love of the sport; casual fans will turn up to see big stars perform extraordinary feats.

Tennis is in a unique position, having lost two massive stars in the same calendar year. And this will undoubtedly impact viewership interest, especially in the non-traditional tennis markets.

However, there is less concern in the long term. Tennis is reasonably popular and, what's more, has several younger players waiting to step up to the plate.

Yes, Federer and Williams will be missed. However, the same can be said about the many stars who came before them and defined greatness in the sport.

They will be missed, no doubt. But the world will keep turning – and new stars will take their place in due course.