Thank you Stan, Kei and Marin - What does the future of tennis hold?
Year of surprises
What a year it has been for men’s tennis, especially in the Grand Slams! After years of dominance by the ‘Big 4’- Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, we are now going to have two first time Grand Slam champions in the same year. Granted that they may not be the youngest around, and for all you know, may not go on to even reach another Slam final in their careers.However, for a tennis fan like me(and I may well be in a minority), it is such a refreshing change which leaves me with a sense of anticipation towards 2015 that I haven’t felt for years.
While Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic have performed exceedingly well in reaching the final of this year’s US Open, credit must go to one man for starting it all. Long after the memory of Juan Martin Del Potro’s US Open triumph had faded away, Stanislas Wawrinka, having lived so long in the shadow of his highly celebrated countryman, Roger Federer, surged into prominence with a stellar 2013, running seven time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic close, first at the Australian Open and then later that year at the US Open.
Most people thought that that was the end, Stan couldn’t capitalize on his chances and he’d never get them again. But boy, did he prove them wrong, becoming the first ‘Non big 4’ winner of a Grand Slam since 2009, as he masterfully beat Novak Djokovic and then scored his first ever win over Rafael Nadal, sending the tennis world into a frenzy.
The Big 4 status
Cilic has himself credited Wawrinka for his run at the US Open so far, saying that he made him believe it could be done, by ‘the others’. Does this now spell the end of the top 4 dominance and will we finally have an open field which we have been yearning for for the past few years now? It very well may be the case. Roger Federer has had a stellar season, but will find it harder and harder every year now as his spirit remains, but his body gets older.
Rafael Nadal is always a contender, but his injury issues cast doubts on how long he will be able to continue, especially as he turns 29 next year, which is old in tennis terms. Djokovic and Murray have, quite frankly, been a shadow of themselves this year. Djokovic seems to be focusing more on his wife and future baby at this stage, having clearly stated that his family is now his top priority, while Murray seems to be lost after his debilitating back injury last year and his split with the coach who gave him stardom, Ivan Lendl.
And then, there are young guns who must be so motivated after seeing how this year has gone. Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic have found some sort of consistency in their game, and both reached the semifinals at Wimbledon this year, the former dismantling defending champion Murray in the quarterfinals in a display that evoked awe and shock in equal measure.
Ernests Gulbis was another one who managed to reach a Grand Slam semifinal this year, at the French, and if he manages to keep his head together, could easily take that next step, he has the game to do so. And how can we forget the likes of Tomas Berdych, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils, who played so well at the US Open, only to be undone by the mastery of Federer.
Men’s tennis has been predictable for a long time now. Thankfully, this has changed. Thank you Stan, Kei and Marin.