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 "Where's Djokovic? Federer? Thought he'd be here. How about that
Scottish dude...Murray. Nadal??? What the heck?!!!"
A showdown between diminutive 24-year-old Japanese Kei Nishikori and
giant, bearded Croat Marin Cilic was not what anyone was really
expecting, whether it be fans, pundits or TV executives anxiously
checking ratings charts.
It was the first grand slam final since 2005 that one of the
so-called Fab Four, be it Federer, Nadal, Djokovic or Murray, was
not present. Usually it's two of them.
Barring a few small shuffles, the furniture at the top table of the
men's game has remained firmly in place for the best part of a
decade.
Now, all of a sudden, the rivalries that have become so familiar, be
it Nadal v Federer, Djokovic v Murray or Federer v Djokovic are
under threat, be it from seasoned campaigners such as Stanislas
Wawrinka, rare talents like Grigor Dimitrov or precocious firebrand
Nick Kyrgios.
The top guys say they welcome the challenge, but for fans, it will
take a little getting used to. For many of them it is like their
favorite TV box set is drawing to a close and they are fretting over
what they will watch next.
LAMENT BEGINS
Some are already lamenting the beginning of the end of arguably the
greatest era in men's tennis - a period which begun in 2003 and has
since seen Federer claim 17 grand slam titles, Nadal 14, Djokovic
seven and Murray two.
Only six of the 45 majors on offer since Federer's breakthrough
moment against Mark Philippoussis 11 years ago have gone elsewhere -
two of them this year with Wawrinka beating Nadal in Melbourne and
Cilic overpowering Nishikori.
The marketing men at the ATP have had it easy, but a gradual
cracking up of the establishment does not mean they'll be hitting
the panic button, far from it according to the men's governing
body's executive chairman Chris Kermode.
"I think it's an interesting, fascinating time for men's tennis
right now," Kermode told Reuters hours before the U.S. Open final.
"We have seen a slight shift in the balance this year with new names
winning majors.
"We had Wawrinka in Australia, (Ernests) Gulbis beating Federer at
the French, Krygios and (Grigor) Dimitrov at Wimbledon and here at
the U.S. Open it's been intriguing watching Nishikori and Cilic go
through the draw.
"It's a refreshing opportunity for these new guys to be in the
limelight and for fans to get to know them more. But I would caveat
all of this because I would be careful to write off the top four too
quickly, like some are doing.
"Nothing happens overnight and the likes of Roger, Novak, Rafa and
Andy won't be holding up the white flag.
"They'll have other ideas. But it does show the depth and talent of
the ATP Tour right now."
The men are not alone in exhibiting their strength in depth.
All four women's grand slam crowns were also claimed by four
different players in 2014; marking only the third time since tennis
turned professional in 1968 that eight different grand slam
champions claimed the eight titles on offer.
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BATTLE SCARS EVIDENT
While only the foolhardy would bet against a counter-attack from
Djokovic and co next season, the battle scars are evident.
Nadal has not struck a ball in anger since his shock defeat by Kyrgios
at Wimbledon because of a wrist injury, Murray is without a title of any
description since winning Wimbledon in 2013 and recently married
Djokovic has gone on record saying his priorities are changing with a
baby on the way.
Federer, the oldest of the quartet at 33 and with two sets of twins to
raise, actually looks the freshest and the Swiss maestro will move into
2015 believing he can still add to his record grand slam haul.
"It's exciting for the game to see new faces like Kyrgios, now Raonic or
Nishikori, you name it," Federer said at Wimbledon this year. "There's
been a few guys knocking on the door now.
I think it's good times in tennis right now. There's a lot of
excitement. Stadiums are always pretty much full on Centre Court, which
is great. I'm really happy playing in this time."
With the big four beginning to creak, any number of candidates are being
put forward to fill the void, whether it be Dimitrov, Canadian big
server Milos Raonic or, on the evidence of the last few days, Cilic.
Former great John McEnroe believes that far from one or two players
hogging the silverware, the next era will see the men's game enter a
state of flux.
"I think the next guy who's going to win multiple majors is going to be
a guy we don't expect, who we don't know yet," the American said in a
recent interview in the Daily Telegraph.
"I'm trying to find out who that guy is, but it's been so difficult for
those mid-20s guys to make progress.
While Cilic's win in New York clearly left some in the crowd
non-plussed, Kermode says they should not fear.
"The gap is closing," he said. "That's the exciting part, to see which
of these young players will continue to break through.
"Roger and Rafa are global icons, not just sporting ones, so that helped
(market tennis) but our top-tier events, the Masters 1000 events have
got so much bigger that people already know the Raonics, Nishikoris and
Dimitrovs.
"This generation coming through have had to live with the realization
that they are going to have to beat some of the greatest players ever to
play the game so that in itself created a desire and a work ethic that
is unprecedented."
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ossian Shine)
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