London Dec 15 (BNA): The Big Four may be history but two of its remaining members, Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal, have continued to offer stiff resistance to the next generation in a seismic year for tennis.
Reuters reported that Swiss maestro Roger Federer had not played since the summer of 2021, so his retirement in September, at the age of 41, was not unexpected, except that he was still shocked.
A few weeks ago in particular, Serena Williams, like Federer, whose influence has transcended far from the tennis court, made an emotional send-off at the US Open as a 40-year-old.
Williams, whose 23 Grand Slam singles titles make her in most people’s eyes the greatest player of all time – even if she finishes one behind Margaret Court’s record – lost her third round match to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic.
It has led to an outpouring of homages to the American whose journey, with his sister Venus, from the Compton General Courts in Los Angeles to more than two decades of dazzling dominance, was a Hollywood fairytale.
“Congratulations, Serena, for your heart, skill, intelligence, dedication, and grace,” said former US President Barack Obama.
“Few athletes have inspired more people in their sport and beyond!”
Federer certainly did that in a career that included 20 Grand Slam titles, achieved with a skill we may never see again. He took his easy shot to new heights during a 24-year professional career that laid the foundation for men’s tennis’ undisputed greatest era.
Appropriately, he bowed out in London, which saw him record his eight Wimbledon titles, playing doubles alongside Nadal, the Spaniard with whom his playing career linked up admirably.
The two were in tears, and even held hands, after their doubles clash against Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe at the Laver Cup, and there were few dry eyes in the house.
So, there are two voids in tennis to fill in 2023, but Carlos Alcaraz and Ija Swiatek seem poised for the job.
SM