New York: Imagine the scenario? A less informed holder of an expensive US Open men’s singles final ticket walks into Louis Armstrong Arena, settles down into a courtside seat and then rubs his eyes in disbelief, checking the small print on his stub.
“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 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 favourite TV box set is drawing to a close and they are fretting over what they will watch next.
Some are already lamenting the beginning of the end of arguably the greatest era in men’s tennis — a period that 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 Mark Kermode.
Fascinating time
“I think it’s an interesting, fascinating time for men’s tennis right now,” Kermode told Reuters hours before the US 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 US 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.”
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.
“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.”
