Written by Ravi K
To achieve a feat in the prime of life more or less equates with a predictable success, but claiming a singles Grand Slam with an aged, injury-stung build is no ordinary sensation. Imagine with the knee muscles lacking former power, toes sore, body drained and hands worn out, someone is still making inspiring strides in their respective showground just as they pocketed laurels in their heydays. Courage! The task becomes even more strenuous when it keeps putting them in an agony of a five-set game, not once in a while but time and again.
Last year, the tennis stuff was erratic but superlative because it highlighted the players out of tune for some time. Roger Federer, 36, and Rafael Nadal, 31, unpredictably got their tennis shots back. Despite being a considerable distance from the days of vigour and vivacity, the all-time leading tennis luminaries looked far from ageing. Both continued to forge ahead, showed no symptoms of vulnerabilities, and rebutted the prophecies of the experts in their patent style. No matter how hard, grassy or clayey the court was, the sporting prowess of the Swiss-Spanish rackets was rustproof. Rafa’s impressive successes at Roland Garros and in the US Open, and Roger’s impeccable display in the Australian Open and at Wimbledon were the unprecedented examples of artistry. Reviving their past magic, the never-ageing Swiss and the Spaniard shared two majors apiece, taking their tally of singles Grand Slams to 19 and 16 respectively until 2017.
Having produced an exceptional piece of tennis all the way through 2017, they have got off to a flyer this year too. Unfortunately, the hip problem made Nadal walk off the court with sore disappointment in the fifth set of the semi against Marin Cilic, which allowed Roger Federer a relatively easy passage to the Australian Open title for the sixth time. But before the semi of the Australian Open, the Spaniard was noticed replicating the last year’s performance, so he cannot be written off at least for the clay season.
2017 Majors
The Australian Open as usual got underway in January last year and with this cropped up the omens of defeat for the seeded and unseeded players alike for the rest of the year as it scripted the rebirth of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, which climaxed with the former’s victory, fetching the fifth Australian Open title and 18th overall. At his most threatening, Federer swept aside the chances of Nadal’s resurgence by showcasing his unmatched skills in a five-set nail-biter 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. Not many people would have fancied Roger’s chances on the verge of his retirement, but contrary to the guesses he pulled off a rare, major score against his arch-rival and avenged the 2009-defeat on this very court. It was physically as well as mentally challenging because to put down the matador like Nadal’s grit demands as much art as power and strength.
After the rout at the hands of Roger Federer in Melbourne in January, Rafael Nadal on his way to ‘La Decima’ marked his comeback with a sweeping win against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka in straight sets 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 in the final at Roland Garros where he ended his two-year barren patch to seal his almost unassailable 10th French Open trophy and 15th overall. He ensured the title without giving away a single set in the entire tournament. For not a single moment here he looked as if he were the same player lacking skills to compete in 2016. Moreover, his unyielding persistence in continuing the quest for another crown throughout the championship contradicted the age of over 30 and injuries that were once expected to curtail his professional career. Perhaps, the orange-ish dust at Roland Garros bolsters his agility enough to bring down the opponent across the net –thank God there is not any orange-ish or brick coloured grass on courts.
In spite of the Australian Open bagged earlier, the Swiss calculatedly skipped the French Open for Wimbledon, the most esteemed amphitheater of sport. Apart from being experienced, he this time was cautious too, not letting his body be encumbered by the impact of age. As silken as ever, Roger with his vintage ability was back in London and ready to whip his racket. The respite paid off and as a result he lifted his eighth Wimbledon title by flattening Croatia’s Marin Cilic in straights 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 – the most number of Wimbledon titles by any man till now. The Swiss machine unleashed the whole portfolio of his exquisite strokes and indicated that the strength might have declined but the nous as to executing tennis is still up his sleeve. If he is to play in the remaining 2018 major tournaments as he did at Wimbledon, there is no one thwarting him in multiplying the number of trophies.
After three major tournaments, it was time for the finale of the championships in New York. Everyone set off to eye the US Open, but it was most likely that anyone of Juan Martin Del Potro, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal would outstrip their opponents. With Roger Federer being prematurely crashed out of the US competition, Rafael Nadal, welcoming the opportunity, beat the tall-bodied Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 in the semi-final and the South African Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in the final. Thus, he wrapped up the season with two majors to go into 2018 with some confidence and conviction under his belt.
A Copybook Start to 2018
The tale of heroics for Federer began again this year. He towed his form and fire into 2018 to extend the lead of majors over Nadal’s 16 titles (10 French Open titles, 3 US Open titles, 2 Wimbledon titles, and one Australian Open title) with a well-fought win 6-2, 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 over Marlin Cilic from Croatia in the final of the Australian Open – the only championship so far played this year with three more to be contended for. He now relishes the cachet of being the record holder of 20 Grand Slams (8 Wimbledon titles, 6 Australian Open titles, 5 US Open titles, and one French Open title).
Federer has once again opted out of it and will ensconce himself on grass courts in summer. It is premature to say whether this move will bring him any good. But tactically, this choosy approach worked in his favour last year.
Of late, the Spanish hotshot has also won his record 11th Monte Carlo Masters against Kei Nishikori from Japan. Monte Carlo was his first appearance after the injury that he picked up earlier this year. If injuries do not flare up, he will clearly be the odds-on favourite for the French Open
To put it simply, it has been an unbelievable affair of how R. Federer and R. Nadal have resurrected themselves to delay the retirement at least until they cease winning majors. Amid fitness and age woes, it is a recovery par excellence. At some point before 2017, when neither of them on any court was able to cope with the in-form breed of the day, their careers could have come to a stumble. In particular for R. Nadal, it has been a tough ride since multiple injuries (knee issues, back niggles and wrist problems) told on his performance, even scratching him from the tournaments a couple of times. However, the resilience and tenacity of the ‘Bruised Bird’ perched him at the top of the pile –he is currently the world’s number one ranked tennis player. Not only Nadal but the 36-year-old Federer, currently ranked No. 2, has reasonably prevailed over the dip that he had been going through since 2012 Wimbledon.
Now, when all the odds have been overhauled and the lost touch restored, the exhibition of forehand and backhand volleys on the run, banana shots, and inside-out strokes from the athletes is on the cards. The appetite for playing the game still coexists with them. The application along with visionary moves is also there, and considering the form enjoyed at the moment by the duo, it can well be the onset of another thrilling year for tennis freaks.
