Best of 2017: Top moments in men’s tennis
Any list of the best tennis moments from 2017 is of course going to include Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, which was the sports story of the year. But there were also some new contenders who emerged as well with some first major wins for a few NextGen players who broke through the pack.
There was so much to love about men’s tennis this year. Here are some of my favorite moments. We begin, of course, with the two players who set most of the narrative all year long, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Roger Federer wins his first grand slam in five years, in a five set thriller over Rafael Nadal
The incredible year began right here, in Australia, with rivals Federer and Nadal coming back from a long injury hiatus. Both veterans were written off the previous year as injury-prone has-beens. What no one knew was that unlike most people on their days off, both legends worked with their new coaches and experimented with different styles of play. But they knew once they powered through Top Ten opponents like two freight trains set for destiny, Federer with a new backhand weapon, and Nadal with a more nuanced game.
Fate knocked and the two faced each other in the final, against all the odds. The last time they had faced each other in Melbourne, Rafa won, and Federer accepted the defeat in tears during the trophy ceremony. When we got to the fifth set, at 5-3, it looked like it was going the way it had gone so many times in their then-lopsided rivalry. But Fed rallied and miraculously won five games in a row to clinch the title.
No tears this time, instead the then-35 year-old jumped up-and-down like a kid on Christmas morning to defy age, expectations, and change-up the narrative. A truly amazing victory for grand slam #18. These old guys put on quite a show.
La Decima, La Decima, La Decima, and Nadal’s 15th grand slam
The “king of clay” entered the red dirt season and owned it right from the start. Nadal set the record for most titles at a single ATP tournament by claiming his tenth in his first clay event of the year—and a Masters 1000 to boot—in Monte Carlo, his first in his “La Decima” streak. Then he repeated the feet at the ATP 500 event in Barcelona. The Madrid Masters 1000 tourney came next, and he collected his fifth title there. This last Masters crown came with the added bonus of equaling Novak Djokovic’s Masters record at 30.
Nadal being Nadal, he wasn’t done yet. He faced Stan Wawrinka—himself one of only a few who have a French Open slam during the era of Nadal—but this was a resurgent Rafa, and all questions went out the window the second he stepped onto his clay. He won another 10th title at the French Open, his 15th grand slam. The rest, as they say, is history.
Breakthrough #1: David Goffin
It’s not just that the Belgian “wizard” won two titles this year, but how close he came to majors as well. He was one of the few players to offer up a challenge to Rafa Nadal, and on his favorite surface. It looked like he was going to beat the Spaniard in a shock defeat in Monte Carlo until a bad call unhinged him. Still, he forged ahead throughout clay season, until a freak accident at the French Open derailed him.
Others may have sat out the rest of the season with the injury, but the world No. 7 bounced back, winning two titles during the Asian hard court post-slam season. The year culminated in the runner-up spot at the ATP World Tour Finals, where he beat not only Nadal, but also Federer, in the same tournament, the only one to do so this year, and only the sixth in tennis history. Goffin will likely be building on his success this year to further wreak havoc in 2018.
Federer redefines the Nadal rivalry
Prior to the Australian Open, the two icons had met two years ago, in Basel, where the Swiss had won their exchange, the first time in three years. Before that, the Spaniard had won five times in a row. Since their Basel meeting, Federer has repaid the favor with his own five successive victories, including besting his rival in Australia, Indian Wells, Miami Open, and Shanghai this year—three of them finals (AO, Miami, and Shanghai Masters).
As it stands, their head-to-head is now 23-15 in Nadal’s favor, mostly on clay (13-2); but Fed owns their head-to-head on both grass (2-1) and hard courts (11-9) now, a significant indicator of where their rivalry stands. It is clear that Rafael Nadal is no longer a monkey on Federer’s back and that Rafa has not figured out the formula to beat this new and improved Federer 2.0.
Del Potro puts on a good show all year
The 29 year-old Argentine ruined the chance to see Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal face each other for the first time at the U.S. Open, but the world No. 11 is such a beloved player on the circuit, it’s hard to take issue with him. Juan Martin del Potro shows such grit and fight in all the tournaments he participates in and the Silver medalist made so many of his matches some of the most riveting ones to watch, even when he didn’t win.
You always wanted him to pull through. An extremely talented player who’s suffered several surgeries to his wrist, it’s great to have the former world No. 4 back on tour.
Breakthrough #2: NextGen players
For decades the Big Four (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray) have had a stranglehold on the top prizes in men’s tennis, but this year a handful of young upstarts shook things up, even in a year where Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal dominated. First there was Alexander (‘Sascha’) Zverev’s two Masters titles, Grigor Dimitrov’s own Masters win in Cincinnati and then achieving the ATP World Tour crown, and Jack Sock’s win in Paris.
But there were a few others who also established themselves such as 18-year-old Denis Shapovalov who became the youngest semifinalist at a Masters 1000 tourney at the Roger’s Cup, 20 year-old Andrey Rublev who beat Top Ten players to make the U.S. Open quarters, and his defeater at the NextGen Finals, 21 year-old Hyeon Chung. We can expect to see much more from these three.
Breakthrough #3: Alexander Zverev
The 20 year-old has been on the tennis radar as the “next best thing” for the last few years, but this was the year when he began to justify his reputation. The only clay title that Rafael Nadal didn’t achieve went to the German, who won his first Masters 1000 crown at the Rome clay event, beating Novak Djokovic. He topped this victory with another Masters title in Canada, beating Roger Federer at the Roger’s Cup in Montreal.
He won five ATP titles in 2017, just behind Nadal’s six. But if there’s one criticism of the German talent, it’s his consistency, as he petered out after the grand slams, but with so much talent and the signs of confidence he displayed this year, he more than justified his career-high ranking of No. 3. He moved down to No. 4 by year end, but we are sure to see even greater things from this incredible player in the future, including reaching his first grand slam final in 2018, I predict.
Breakthrough #4: Grigor Dimitrov no longer a ‘baby Fed’
For so long he’s been compared to Roger Federer due to their similar styles, but with the major titles he won this year, Dimitrov threw off the moniker and justified his career-high world No.3 ranking with first the Masters title in Cincinnati, and then the ATP Final, where he remained undefeated at the event. 2017 was the Bulgarian’s most successful year, with four titles in total. Dimitrov, working with a new coach since last year, does not show any signs of slowing down in 2018. He may reach his first grand slam final yet.
Federer and Nadal split the grand slam haul for the year
First they faced each other at the Aussie Open, where Federer claimed his fifth Australian crown in a fascinating five setter. Nadal proved he’s the greatest clay court player of all time with his 10th Roland Garros. Federer achieved his own record, surpassing the one he shared with Pete Sampras (seven titles) by winning his eighth in a match against Marin Cilic at Wimbledon.
Fans were disappointed that Federer and Nadal didn’t face each other at the U.S. Open: Fed went out during the quarters, but Nadal clinched grand slam #16 by beating Kevin Anderson in three sets at Flushing Meadows. With two grand slams a piece, we ended the slam season exactly where we started, with Nadal (16) trailing behind Federer (19) with just three slam titles, a very close margin.
Breakthrough #4: Jack Sock becomes the first American since Roddick to win a major
Jack Sock went on a tear post-U.S. Open, winning his first Masters 1000 in Paris, achieving the last spot for the ATP World Tour Finals, an event he had no plans to attend originally, canceling his golf trip to make the London tournament. He kept the momentum going by winning two of his matches—against Zverev and Cilic—at the ATP Final.
His most successful year to date had him end the year with three ATP titles, surpass compatriot Sam Querry, and book a Top Ten spot for the first time. Sock sits at world No. 8, a place no one saw coming at all. It is likely that the American will maintain his mental strength to keep the surprises going in 2018.
Introduction of the Laver Cup
Unsanctioned by either the ATP or the ITF, the Laver Cup attracted the top male talent in the game, including Federer and Nadal, but also Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Cilic, and Tomas Berdych as part of elite Team Europe. Team World had scrappy, but exciting (and younger) players Francis Tiafoe, Nick Kyrgios, John Isner, Jack Sock, Denis Shapalov, and Sam Querry. Throw in John McEnroe yelling at his team, but also inspiring them as captain, and his great rival Bjorn Borg heading up Team Europe, it was a tennis lover’s dream.
Named after the great Rod Laver, it was no wonder that the entire event was sold out almost immediately. Team Europe won in the end, but not as easily as you would have expected. The event had Team World’s fun antics on the sidelines, players who usually play against each other embracing and body slamming after teammate wins, and sharing a giant cup of champagne in victory. The event was euphoric fun to watch, it was a rounding success, and is a welcome addition to the tennis schedule.
Rafa becomes the oldest world No. 1
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal battled out the top spot all year long, in a fascinating fashion. Considering that they had started out ranked #9 (Nadal) and #17 (Federer), their return to the top of the ranking spots—with almost 5,000 points above everyone else—was nothing short of miraculous. It also prompted many to ask if it was 2007, not 2017! Federer won seven titles this year to get there, Nadal won six. But perhaps the physical toll of pushing themselves hard all year long, after having sat out half of last year due to injury recovery, left them a bit exhausted, each pulling out of separate tournaments after the U.S. Open.
Once Federer withdrew from the Paris Masters, the No. 1 spot was guaranteed for the Spaniard, who sits more than 1,000 points above his rival. At age 31, he is the oldest world No. 1. By the way, Federer’s the world’s oldest No. 2, at age 36. Becoming No. 1 for the fourth time in his career, three years after the last time, you could tell it mean so much more to Nadal this time around.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as doubles partners
The Laver Cup was a novel disrupter on the tennis circuit and it was not only sold out, but internet gold. There was Team World’s chest pumping and blaring music in the locker rooms. You had Captain Bjorn Borg sitting in a strategy session between teammates Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard also coached Fed during his match against Nick Kyrgios.
Nadal jumping into Federer’s arms as Team Europe celebrated their victory was completely irresistible. But the greatest moment of the event—and of the year—was the time that both rivals—sometimes friends—but always icons of their sport, stepped onto the dramatic blue court of the Laver Cup as doubles teammates. To see both legends—who hold a combined 35 grand slams—play on the same team, clad in the same uniform,
after decades of battling for the greatest trophies in tennis, was a sport experience unlike any other. No surprise that they won their match. And perhaps we shall never get the chance to see it again, but watching Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal combine their talents on the same team was the greatest gift to tennis we received all year.
2017 truly was a Golden Year of men’s tennis. How can 2018 possibly top it?