Serena & Federer won, now what?
By Paul Newman
Traditionally the tennis landscape can look very different at the end of an Australian Open. This year’s tournament produced more than its fair share of surprises – most notably the early defeats of Novak Djokovic, the defending champion, and the two world No 1s, Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber – but what was most notable about the latter stages of both singles competitions was the fact that the shocks were generated by members of the old guard. It was the first Grand Slam tournament of the Open era in which all four singles finalists were aged 30 or over.
The two champions were both aged 35, Roger Federer beating 30-yearold Rafael Nadal in the men’s final the day after Williams overcame her 36-year-old sister Venus, who was playing in her first Grand Slam final for eight years.
Delaying the changing of the guard at the top of the game may have a short-term benefit given the enduring popularity of the current generation of players, but what will happen when they finally leave the stage? T he Association of Tennis Professionals, which runs the men’s tour (but not the Grand Slam events or Davis Cup), has been doing its best to promote the game’s new talent and in November will launch the Next Gen ATP Finals, featuring the world’s best 21-and-under players, in Milan.
Alexander Zverev, the world No 22, is such an exciting prospect that he might qualify both for the new competition and for the World Tour Finals in London the following week. The 19-year-old German has a star quality about him that suggests he can become a major figure in the sport, but how many of his contemporaries have the same potential? Players like the Americans Taylor Fritz (aged 19) and Frances Tiafoe (18) and Russia’s Karen Khachanov (20) are likely to be strong contenders to play in Milan but have yet to prove they can perform at the very highest level or that they can appeal to the public in the way that the current top players do.
Much will be expected of the Zverev generation given that those who have had the misfortune to follow the “Big Four” of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray, as well as 31-year-old Stan Wawrinka, have so far struggled to make their mark. Milos Raonic (aged 26), Kei Nishikori (27) and Juan Martin del Potro (28) have all been repeatedly thwarted by their physical frailties, while Marin Cilic (27) has not built on his 2014 US Open triumph.
At least Grigor Dimitrov (25) proved with his run to the semi-finals here and his thrilling performance against Nadal that he might yet realise the potential that has been talked about for so long. Britain’s Kyle Edmund (aged 22), and Croatia’s Borna Coric (20) should also have their best years ahead of them, but this Australian Open cast further doubts on whether Nick Kyrgios (21) will ever reap the rewards that his talent suggests he should deliver. As well as his outrageous ability, Kyrgios has more box-office potential than any player of his generation.
With his showmanship, his edgy hair-cuts and clothes – not to mention his outspoken comments – Kyrgios appeals to a younger audience, which is what men’s tennis needs. However, his continuing failure to appoint a coach, his often lackadaisical attitude on court and his apparent lack of love for the game do not inspire great hope for the future.
Serena Williams, meanwhile, shows no signs of any decline. By winning her 23rd Grand Slam singles title here she eclipsed the Open era record she had shared with Steffi Graf. Now she needs only one more triumph to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record. Traditionalists and romantics would no doubt love Venus Williams to build on her remarkable achievements here, particularly at the All England Club this summer, but it has to be said that the five-times Wimbledon champion had luck on her side over the last fortnight. With so many of the top names losing early, Venus did not face a top 20 player until she met her sister in the final.
Angelique Kerber’s apparent unease at occupying the No 1 spot in the world rankings always suggested she might struggle here, but now that the 29-year-old German has a target to chase again she might recapture the form that took her to three Grand Slam finals last year.
What of the next generation? Karolina Pliskova (24), who was runner-up to Kerber at last year’s US Open, Garbine Muguruza (23), the French Open champion, and Madison Keys (21) all have the ability to win Grand Slam titles, but there is arguably no greater prospect in the women’s game than Johanna Konta (25), who will have learned much from her quarter-final defeat here to Serena Williams.
Traditionally the tennis landscape can look very different at the end of an Australian Open. This year’s tournament produced more than its fair share of surprises – most notably the early defeats of Novak Djokovic, the defending champion, and the two world No 1s, Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber – but what was most notable about the latter stages of both singles competitions was the fact that the shocks were generated by members of the old guard. It was the first Grand Slam tournament of the Open era in which all four singles finalists were aged 30 or over.
The two champions were both aged 35, Roger Federer beating 30-yearold Rafael Nadal in the men’s final the day after Williams overcame her 36-year-old sister Venus, who was playing in her first Grand Slam final for eight years.
Delaying the changing of the guard at the top of the game may have a short-term benefit given the enduring popularity of the current generation of players, but what will happen when they finally leave the stage? T he Association of Tennis Professionals, which runs the men’s tour (but not the Grand Slam events or Davis Cup), has been doing its best to promote the game’s new talent and in November will launch the Next Gen ATP Finals, featuring the world’s best 21-and-under players, in Milan.
Alexander Zverev, the world No 22, is such an exciting prospect that he might qualify both for the new competition and for the World Tour Finals in London the following week. The 19-year-old German has a star quality about him that suggests he can become a major figure in the sport, but how many of his contemporaries have the same potential? Players like the Americans Taylor Fritz (aged 19) and Frances Tiafoe (18) and Russia’s Karen Khachanov (20) are likely to be strong contenders to play in Milan but have yet to prove they can perform at the very highest level or that they can appeal to the public in the way that the current top players do.
Much will be expected of the Zverev generation given that those who have had the misfortune to follow the “Big Four” of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray, as well as 31-year-old Stan Wawrinka, have so far struggled to make their mark. Milos Raonic (aged 26), Kei Nishikori (27) and Juan Martin del Potro (28) have all been repeatedly thwarted by their physical frailties, while Marin Cilic (27) has not built on his 2014 US Open triumph.
At least Grigor Dimitrov (25) proved with his run to the semi-finals here and his thrilling performance against Nadal that he might yet realise the potential that has been talked about for so long. Britain’s Kyle Edmund (aged 22), and Croatia’s Borna Coric (20) should also have their best years ahead of them, but this Australian Open cast further doubts on whether Nick Kyrgios (21) will ever reap the rewards that his talent suggests he should deliver. As well as his outrageous ability, Kyrgios has more box-office potential than any player of his generation.
With his showmanship, his edgy hair-cuts and clothes – not to mention his outspoken comments – Kyrgios appeals to a younger audience, which is what men’s tennis needs. However, his continuing failure to appoint a coach, his often lackadaisical attitude on court and his apparent lack of love for the game do not inspire great hope for the future.
Serena Williams, meanwhile, shows no signs of any decline. By winning her 23rd Grand Slam singles title here she eclipsed the Open era record she had shared with Steffi Graf. Now she needs only one more triumph to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record. Traditionalists and romantics would no doubt love Venus Williams to build on her remarkable achievements here, particularly at the All England Club this summer, but it has to be said that the five-times Wimbledon champion had luck on her side over the last fortnight. With so many of the top names losing early, Venus did not face a top 20 player until she met her sister in the final.
Angelique Kerber’s apparent unease at occupying the No 1 spot in the world rankings always suggested she might struggle here, but now that the 29-year-old German has a target to chase again she might recapture the form that took her to three Grand Slam finals last year.
What of the next generation? Karolina Pliskova (24), who was runner-up to Kerber at last year’s US Open, Garbine Muguruza (23), the French Open champion, and Madison Keys (21) all have the ability to win Grand Slam titles, but there is arguably no greater prospect in the women’s game than Johanna Konta (25), who will have learned much from her quarter-final defeat here to Serena Williams.
