A thrilling match earlier this week concluded the US open and the 2012 Grand Slam season. Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic went the five set distance, tying the record for the longest championship match at the US Open.
Murray took the first set in a 25 minute tiebreak and captured the second set 7-5 after breaking Djokovic three times. Novak stormed back and took the third and fourth sets forcing the final and deciding set. In the fifth set Murray took the momentum back and at the 4 hour and 54 minute mark watched as a Djokovic shot sailed long to give him his first career Grand Slam Singles title.
After losing four grand slam finals, Murray was finally able to get the monkey off his back and silence his critics. Murray’s victory marked the first time a British man has won a singles major since 1936 when Fred Perry captured both Wimbledon and the US Championship. In addition to this, Murray’s victory marked the first time since 2003 that four different men won each of the four grand slam tournaments in the same year. So is this the first sign of the men’s game opening back up as it did in the late 90s and early 2000s?
As Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi were winding down their careers, the ATP saw a revolving door of champions very similar to the current state of the women’s game. From 2000 to 2003 there were no repeat major champions in the same year and names like Thomas Johansson, Goran Ivanisevic, Alberto Costa and the charismatic Andy Roddick took this opportunity to grab hold of their one and only major championship. It was an exciting time to see fresh faces posing next to the trophies and for those who root for the underdog, it was a better time. After 2003, however the one-two punch of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal began to take a stranglehold on the game, winning 24 of the next 28 majors from 2004 to 2010. Last year Novak Djokovic proved that his 2008 Australian Open title was not a one and done scenario, winning four of the next five grand slam tournaments and muscling his way into company with Roger and Rafa. Now that Murray has broken through as well, it seems that the next few years will see a changing of the guard and perhaps another influx of new champions.
There are a few factors that, in addition to Murray’s triumph, are pointing towards a new wave. Though Roger Federer did manage to win a Wimbledon title this year, he has been surpassed on the hard court by Murray and Djokovic. The greatest tennis player of all time, in my opinion, may be able to squeeze out one or two more majors and should continue to be a constant presence in the quarter and semi finals but his best tennis is behind him unfortunately. As for Nadal, at 26 he should have many more years ahead of him but his body continues to be an issue. The style of play that he utilizes does not lend itself to a long career and though he will likely own the clay the next couple of years, I believe his body will prevent him from holding his dominant position in the game.
While Murray and Djokovic dominate the hard court, there are other names lurking in the weeds to try to rise to the top. Juan Martin Del Potro has recovered from his devastating injury a couple of years ago and is looking to get his second major. David Ferrer has been very close on numerous occasions and will look to capitalize especially on clay if Rafa falters. Young guns such as Alexandr Dolgopolov, Bernard Tomic and Canada’s ace machine, Milos Raonic are beginning to turn heads and at least one of those three should be able to break through eventually. There are also pesky fighters such as Janko Tipsarevic and Tomas Berdych who seem as if they are on the cusp as well. Of course with Andy Roddick’s retirement, John Isner and Mardy Fish will look to rekindle the American tennis flame.
All in all, 2013 should be a very interesting year as penciling in Federer and Nadal as champions is not as safe a bet as it used to be. It could be the Andy and Novak show or we could see some new blood. I’m expecting that at least one major will not go to the top four, who will win it is a more difficult question. I’ll be cheering for Milos.
