The way forward for males’s tennis is in good palms. And whereas in simply whose palms that shall be is but to be decided, it will likely be a complete lot of enjoyable watching it play out following this transformative fortnight in Queens.
A brand new technology shouldn't be solely banging on the door however insisting on busting via it. For the second, the face of the longer term is that of Carlos Alcaraz, the 19-year-old who defeated Casper Ruud, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3, to seize the U.S. Open championship and the world’s No. 1 rating on Sunday, capping an electrifying two weeks of labor on Ashe.
However you already know who's going to be lurking as quickly as January in Australia? Novak Djokovic, that’s who, after his eligibility for the primary 2023 Slam was confirmed on Sunday by Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley. The 21-time Slam champion, in fact, was barred from each the 2022 Australian and the Open due to his determination to not obtain the COVID-19 vaccine.
So Alcaraz, the youngest U.S. Open champion since Pete Sampras in 1990 and the eighth teenager to say a significant within the Open period, will know in a rush what's to be the hunted.
Alcaraz by no means fairly reached the heights of his five-set victory in Friday’s breathtaking semifinal over Frances Tiafoe however was not required to take action with a purpose to prevail. He was not fairly as dynamic as he’d been in that one, however the King of Will get had an excessive amount of pace, too many weapons and manner an excessive amount of internet recreation — 34 of 45 factors gained on the internet, 15 of 21 on serve and volley — for the 23-year-old fifth seed from Norway.
However then, the slight dip in Alcaraz’s recreation that very properly may need been a operate of getting been on the court docket for 13 hours and 28 minutes over his three, five-set victories on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It may need been a operate of getting performed 225 video games (together with 5 tiebreakers) via his first six matches.
Djokovic was not right here. Roger Federer, who at 41 has not performed aggressive tennis since Wimbledon final 12 months whereas rehabbing from his third proper knee surgical procedure in 18 months, was not right here both, although the Swiss is scheduled to play within the Laver Cup two weeks from now in London. Nadal was right here however exited following his Spherical of 16 defeat by Tiafoe.
Regardless of that, this was a fascinating match. The emergence of Alcaraz and Tiafoe energized the grounds. The 26-year-old Ruud established himself as a pressure with whom to be reckoned in making a second Slam last, following his defeat to Nadal at Roland Garros.
The brand new Nick Kyrgios took out defending champ and now deposed No. 1 Daniil Medvedev within the Spherical of 16 however fell flat on his face in a quarterfinal defeat to Karen Khachanov, after which he reverted to kind with a racket-slamming tantrum. Nonetheless, Kyrgios comes out of this Grand Slam season considered a lot a possible contender as a novelty act.
There’s a line forming behind Alcaraz in a males’s universe that has been dominated for twenty years by three males. And earlier than we get too far forward of ourselves, Nadal and Djokovic have mixed to win six of the final 9 and eight of the final 12 Slams. Neither is more likely to go quietly into the evening.
Tiafoe’s ascension was uplifting to the USTA people and a legion of followers, particularly within the aftermath of the nation’s high seed, Taylor Fritz, flaming out within the first spherical. If Tiafoe shouldn't be distinguished among the many group that shall be chasing Alcaraz world wide, that will signify a disappointment.
There isn't any one who has been extra intently recognized with U.S. males’s tennis over the past 45 years than John McEnroe, who in fact was in his ESPN analyst’s seat for this one. All of us suppose we all know McEnroe, who has been a continuing within the tennis world and in our lives because the Jimmy Carter administration.
However we don’t. Not likely.
There's a cannot-miss documentary merely titled, “McEnroe,” streaming on Showtime Anytime by which the 63-year-old(!) bares his soul to the bone and leaves these of us who grew up in his period saddened, disturbed and finally feeling an excessive amount of empathy for him and his household. It's McEnroe explaining McEnroe.
Years of self-examination, plus the assist and love from his spouse, Patty Smyth, seem to have created a measure of serenity in his life. “McEnroe,” written and directed by Barney Douglas, is a exceptional take a look at the journey of one of many sport’s enduring legends and evolving people.
McEnroe, in fact, was a teenaged terror when he went to the Wimbledon semis in 1977 as an 18-year-old. Alcaraz emerges from the Open as a teen angel.
Now, they'll all be coming after him. Together with Djokovic, in Melbourne.
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