Andy Murray has acknowledged there is a wind of change blowing through men's tennis as he and his peers wake up to the fact that Roger Federer is beatable.
The Swiss was last week deposed as world No.1 by Rafael Nadal, his conqueror in the French Open and Wimbledon, and he will have a tough task on his hands at the US Open over the next fortnight.
Murray, who faces Frenchman Michael Llodra in the second round later on Wednesday, agrees with James Blake that Federer's talents are not on the wane, just that the rest of the tour pros are closing the gap.
"It happens in all sports when someone sets the bar that high," the Scot said.
"That's not going to happen straight away but over three, four, five years, guys have caught up and realised that's the level they're going to have to get to if they want to be competing for grand slams and I think this year has been the time."
"I still think Federer is playing great tennis, but I think just the mindset of the other players has changed because he's lost more this year than he has in the past."
First, though, Murray must put himself in a position to challenge the big guns, starting with his second-round opponent, whom he beat on a hard court last year in their only previous meeting.
"Llodra is really talented," he said.
"He played really well at the start of the year and hasn't had too much success lately, but he's a tricky, serve-volley lefty."
"I played him once before in Metz and won quite comfortably, but I think he's playing a bit better than he was when I beat him."