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The Indian Wells final will feature two players the world of tennis, indeed sport, is far too familiar with: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
It is with mixed emotions I bring you news of the looming depression that is setting in on the ATP tour.
It’s not a distaste of the current guard that disappoints me with their continuous success; I’m a die hard fan of the ‘Big Four’ and forever will be, but rather, a continuous frustration for the lack of improvement and grit shown by the next generation of players.
For ten years now Federer and Co. have dominated world tennis like no other generation before them, lavishly partaking in finals of every slam together year after year.
Since 2013 there have been whispers and signs that the party is closing down.
Federer floundered through 2013, hampered with typical old-man problems (back pain and four children) finishing with an abysmal ranking of world number 6.
Murray and Nadal both missed much of that year with back and knee injuries respectively.
Only Djokovic has been free of trouble since then, with his only black spot being a lack of grand slam success given his regular forays to the final.
Last year we saw two members from the ATP world tour (that group of players known as ‘the other guys’) break through for maiden grand slam wins. Stan Wawrinka (Australian Open) and Marin Cilic (US Open) both defeated Big Four members to break the status quo of men’s tennis at Grand Slams and inject a sense of mystery and excitement for the 2015 season.
Sure Roger Federer had a resurgence that included a Wimbledon final and return to world number 2, but the feeling among many was that 2015 was the year. The year that youth finally prevailed, that age took its toll on Federer. Those fearless youngsters would swing freely to titles over doubting, tired veterans.
Well it’s mid March now and you’d be forgiven for thinking we’re in the midst of the GFC and the iPhone 3 is fresh out of China. Little has changed. Novak won in Australia, Federer is the only bloke challenging him, and two other familiar names round out the top four in the rankings.
I hate to say it, but the perfect word to describe being a tennis fan right now is ‘nice’. It’s nice. That’s it. You know who’s going to win. You know who will put up a little challenge and then step aside. We’ve rehearsed this for years now.
Nice little stories are being forged, it’s nice seeing Roger do so well in his twilight years, it’s nice that the Big Four continue to face each other in finals and add to their legacy, it’s nice that the youngsters are winning the odd match here and there in a quarter-final over their heroes. It’s really nice.
As a tennis fan, I’m already worried. I can’t sit back and enjoy this nice time in the game because just over the hill is a sign that says ‘Wrong way! Turn back’. What on earth will happen to tennis when these four leave us? Of course it will go on, but you know what I mean. It’s depressing.
I constantly hear people say, “The sport’s bigger than (insert member of Big Four)”.
What?
I know that. I remember Sampras and his band of rivals from the 90s. I know there were a few years where our own Lleyton Hewitt snuck a few slams in before the next big generation took over. I know.
The problem is, the Big Four nearly is bigger than tennis. They have accounted for 37 of the last 40 grand slams. 37 out of 40! That is ridiculous. That will not happen again in my lifetime, I’m sure of it.
I’ll look forward to tomorrow’s final; I love watching Federer v Djokovic on any surface. I’ll sink into my couch lazily while these two put on a display of outrageous tennis. They rarely disappoint.
Once it’s over, I’ll go back to anxiously looking for a challenger. Someone to look forward to years down the track. Someone to drag tennis out of the impending tennis doldrums.
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