Tennis's Finest Hour

As we all try to take in all that happened today in the land Down Under, I cannot help but feel a sense of joy at being privileged to witness men's tennis's finest hour. Engagement with a sport is not just created by the success of a single player but the duels between champions. There is no doubt that Novak, Rafa and Roger are some of the finest to have ever played the game.  I am sure that in any other era Andy Murray would have been a multiple major winner but he seems to have been born in the wrong era! I am sure his time will come soon.  For these four to exist in the same era is a huge treat for fans... and I am sure it brings many more fans into the game. The immaculate performances on court accompanied by their post-match graciousness and exemplary off-court behavior makes these players true champions and role models for the future generations. Tennis, at the end of the day, is the ultimate winner.

It is not a given that at any point of time people on top of the game are legends and the very best to have played the game. One doesn't have to look far. Women's tennis is struggling to find true champions. As Venus and Serena fade away, and Clijsters plays in fits and starts, there is no true champion currently and this will, no doubt, impact the interest in wone's tennis. Hopefully this changes quickly. Till a day back the women's world number one was someone who had not won a single major! 

Golf is struggling immensely as well. In a world here the Tiger-Mickelson duels are possibly a thing of the past. The world is hoping for a Tiger resurgence hoping that Tiger-McIlroy rivalry brings back the fading interest (and ratings) in the sport. In an ironical coincidence, the current golf world number one has not won a major as well.

Back to tennis... In the beginning of the year I had assumed that the effects of injuries would get the better of Rafa and a resurgent Roger Federer would likely re-emerge as Novak's true challenger. However that has not been the case so far this year. Rafa has come back strongly, and how! Novak and Rafa together seem to have taken the game to a higher notch. At Flushing Meadows last year when the two battled for the US Open crown one thought it could not get any better. With the longest Slam final just concluded in Melbourne, they have beaten all expectations!

One can only be giddy with excitement as to what lies ahead this year for tennis and it's fans. This is special.