The record books will show Novak Djokovic straight-setted Kevin Anderson in the Wimbledon men’s singles final, but the real “final” was played out in the semis.
In an epic five-setter of 6-4 3-6 7-6 3-6 10-8, Djokovic sent the world No.1 Rafael Nadal packing through five hours and 15 minutes of sensational tennis.
With Roger Federer a shock loser in the quarters to Anderson, also in five sets, the top half of the draw fell apart, and Anderson found himself in the decider when he took six hours, 36 minute to beat John Isner with a 26-24 fifth set.
But the reality is this era belongs to just three players with Federer the owner of 20 Slams, Nadal 17, and Djokovic 13.
Sometime in the future they will be the career big three, with Pete Sampras’ 14 Slams at the moment butting in.
This Federer, Nadal, Djokovic era reminds me of the greatest golfing era when Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson, and Lee Trevino ruled.
There isn’t another tennis era in sight, but there is with golf in Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, and Henric Stenson.
And the talented Australians Jason Day, Marc Leishman, Adam Scott, and Cameron Smith are very capable of joining in when they improve their consistency.
But tennis has a genuine problem started by Nadal years ago, and since joined by Djokovic.
(AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI)
Both are serial time-wasting offenders serving, when the rules say there must be only 25 seconds from the completion of a point until the delivery of the serve to start the next point.
By the time Nadal fidgets his way through touching multiple parts of his body, then bouncing the ball before delivering, a minimum of 35 seconds has passed, sometimes over 40 when he’s under the pump, just to slow the game down to his pace. and make his opponent wait.
Djokovic has a bounce problem with up to 25 that takes him over the 25 seconds without counting ball selection and towelling himself.
But central umpires are loathed to act.
In fact, it would be fair to say they are scared of both players, especially Nadal whose filthy looks when he’s rarely reprimanded have shaken the bravery out of the “offending” central umpire.
Cricket ball-tampering is cheating, so is going beyond the 25 seconds between points.
Kevin Anderson strictly sticks within the rule, but he’s simply not good enough to upset Djokovic.
He was swamped 6-2 6-2 in the first two sets, but had seven break points in the third, and couldn’t convert one of them so he lost the tie-breaker.
Anderson’s biggest problem overnight was his bazooka serve went missing.
He only served 10 aces, and managed just 69 per cent on his first serve to Djokovic’s 76, and 48 per cent on his second serve to the Serb’s 65.
With his ammunition firing blanks he simply couldn’t compete, and the final was all over in two hours 19.
Anderson did strike 26 winners to Djokovic’s 20, but made 32 unforced errors to just 13,
Game, set, and match.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
There's something about Novak that fans can't get emotionally invested in him as they do with Federer and Nadal
CJ
Guest
Yes, re last para, this is a strange phenomenon. Kerber is giving it a bit of a shake though.
Joseph
Guest
Do your homework Pedro the Maroon... I have written more than 50 articles... PAY ATTENTION!
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
You are a little sad. Why don't YOU write an article rather than criticise? Go on - 2000 words (within a couple of hours of the big event finishing) and then click submit.
Joseph
Guest
8 comments (4 of them mine, pointing out this crap piece) in 24 hours David? I rest my case. Zzzzzzz
Barney
Roar Rookie
But take Serena out and women's tennis is actually just as fascinating because any of perhaps 30 players could reasonably expect to win a slam. The men's, when the three obvious legends are involved, usually means semis/ finals are competitive if they are up against each other. Throw Murray and Wawrinka into the mix and one cannot remember the last time someone else beat one of them to win a final. These top players just produce on the big stages and when it counts because they are so used to it. As Gulbis suggested, there really is not as great a gulf in tennis ability as rankings differences suggest but let's see some of the top players produce their top tennis at the Challenger level in front of half a dozen people.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I don't know that this is a point to suddenly break into a massive rant about time-wasting. The fact that the 25 second rule was only brought in a few years ago, and it's difficult to suddenly change years worth of routines like that. So it's understandable that there is some leeway, though you would think they'd push the players to try and improve things a bit at least. However, that's completely missing the point of the whole thing, another great triumph for Djokovic, great to finally see him getting back to his best after a terrible couple of years struggling with injury. It really is an amazing era we are in at the moment, to think that three of the four top mens all-time grand slam winners are currently active players really is pretty amazing. Between these three players, they've shared 50 of the last 61 grand slams. They really have just raised the level of play so much higher, and all other players just need to work their backsides off just to have a chance to compete in this rarefied air. We truly are blessed with the quality in men's tennis over the last 15 years. The fact that all three are around at once, just helps lead to some amazing matches between them, and occasionally with other players who have a match where they are just playing out of their skins. It's one of the disappointing things on the women's side. Serena has gone most of her career without any real challengers. Women's tennis could really have done with another one or two players able to consistently play at that level and have the epic battles with Serena like we've seen on the men's side of things.
Torchbearer
Guest
I can't watch Djokovic because of the ball bouncing- it drives me insane! I watch for an hour- and 15 minutes of that will be watching a Serb bounce a tennis ball .....ARRGH!
clipper
Guest
Bit of a let down after enthralling SF. 15 years on and it's still the big 3 - when are the next guys going to break through - they don't have the consistency to trouble the pointy end of the Slams.
Joseph
Guest
Its not the games that were boring David, it's your expressions in writing this crap piece. Readers are rushing to their jeyboards to comment...NOT!
Aligee
Roar Rookie
Predictable result, anyone but a 7 foot tall server please, boring as batsh!t. The tall guys rarely have the mobility around court and it is just ace after ace then receiving go for a few big winners. when you watch tennis you want to see ralleys and players constructing points
David Lord
Expert
Well done Joseph, just totally ignore the Djokovic-Nadal epic semi that was real tennis, and worthy of final status among the immortals. The Anderson-Isner semi was boring - if you think 102 aces and over 280 unplayable serves was worth the price of admission, you go for it.
Joseph
Guest
Zzzzzzzz. You make the great game of tennis sound extremely boring. Try writing about ice bowls... or nothing at all David.