Djokovic, Federer, Murray and Wawrinka: 2015 in review
The Big 4 of 2015With the extravagant and star studded International Premier Tennis League currently underway, it is time to take a look at how the men’s tennis season went by.The 2015 ATP season was essentially dominated by Novak Djokovic, who held on to his No. 1 ranking and Swiss GOAT Roger Federer made history by becoming, at 34, the oldest player to finish in the Top 3.It was a year which saw Great Britain win the Davis Cup following a 78-year gap, as Djokovic ran away with a record 6 masters titles.Lets take a look at how the top 4, i.e Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka fared in 2015.
#1 Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic’s supreme 2015 season has made the G.O.A.T debate a three horse one. The dominance and excellence portrayed by the World no. 1 has left everybody dumbfounded. Unless Nadal makes a comeback next season, it is almost certain that Djokovic is going to overtake his Grand Slam tally very soon (the Serb is currently at 10, while the Spaniard has 14) and give serious competition to Roger Federer’s till now unprecedented 17 slams.
The 2015 season for the Serb is arguably the best season ever played in the Open era after Federer’s 2006 season. Just like the GOAT debate, fans are not going to stop arguing about which of the two seasons was better.
Breaking numerous records over the year, Djokvoic finished the year with a staggering 16585 points, almost double of the next in line Andy Murray.
He began the season on a low note as he was defeated by big-serving Ivo Karlovic in the quarter finals of Doha. It looks like that loss just spurred him on as he reached the finals of every other tournament he played in throughout the season.
He broke the record he shared with Rafael Nadal for most Masters 1000 level titles in a single season by winning six in 2015.He was world no. 1 for the whole year for the first time in his career. He was ruthless in the Grand Slams as well, winning the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S Open – all in 4 sets each.
The Serb’s chance at a Career Slam, which might have well been a Calendar slam, was stopped by an inspired Stan Wawrinka at Roland Garros, with the Swiss in beast mode for those 2 weeks.
Djokovic also had the opportunity to win a Career Golden Masters at Cincinnati, but was stopped by Switzerland’s (and the world’s) finest in Federer.
He sure did take his revenge on Federer by defeating him when it mattered most – in 2 Grand Slam finals - the US Open and the Australian Open – as well as the ATP World Tour Finals, which he won for a record 4th time in a row.
Djokovic has been a complete player on the court . He undoubtedly has the best defense on the tour and his ability to turn a point around in his favour has made it immensely difficult to break him down.
It will be a mountain of a challenge for him to defend all these titles next year, but by the looks of it, it sure as well looks like he is going to be up to the challenge
Djokovic’s titles in 2015:
Australian Open
Indian Wells
Miami Open
Monte Carlo Masters
Italian Open
Wimbledon
US Open
China Open
Shanghai Masters
Paris Masters
Win/Loss –
82-6