Roger And Rafa – The End Of An Era?
Roger And Rafa – The End Of An Era?
Every now and then athletes come along that completely transcend their sport – think of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in football, Tiger Woods in Golf or Michael Jordan in Basketball.
These people are global icons who represent more than just their sport, they represent sport as a whole such is the stature they have.
They are lauded, eulogised by those lucky enough to watch them in their prime, and are regarded as having almost royal status.
However, for all of those highs, there comes a moment when time catches up with them. Their aura disappears and you only have memories of their dominance, rather than current examples to admire.
This year’s French Open has been an example of two sporting legends whose best days are now behind them, and praise has quickly been replaced with sympathy by their adoring public.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have been more than ambassadors for Tennis in the last decade – they have been pillars of sporting society as well. But the evidence is mounting – their time at the top is at an end.
Even the greatest lose every now and then, and that is the beauty of sport. But when players such as Federer and Nadal are eliminated early from a Grand Slam, or any other tournament for that matter, it should raise the eyebrows heavenward – not this time.
In the case of Federer his demise has been long in the offing, stage by stage, competition by competition, match by match. The most successful player in the history of men’s tennis now looks like an outside bet to even come close to winning another major.
Wimbledon 2012 was perhaps the last time the great man looked anywhere near his best, as he claimed his 17th Slam. None have followed since, with just one major final, again at Wimbledon in 2014, to his name.
Even before that period the Swiss maestro’s last major triumph had come two and a half years prior at the Australian Open, with just one slam final at the French Open in 2011 sandwiched between.
In that period, between 2010 and 2014, it was evident that Federer was not quite at the level that he had been in his supreme years when he was the best athlete on the planet. However, there was never a sense that he could not go all the way in one of the sport’s four biggest prizes, as he always had the game to do it should he hit a purple patch, or the draw work out in his favour.
However, since reaching the final of Wimbledon last year, the former world number one has not been a convincing contender for one of the major trophies, and surprise at his exits from these tournaments has dwindled significantly.
The draw for last year’s US Open should have worked out perfectly for him – no Djokovic, no Murray and no Nadal as he shaped up to face Marin Cilic in the last four.
The Croat had never made a major final before, but Federer was to go down in straight sets to the eventual winner, and perhaps the most damning memory of that loss will be the lack of shock amongst the tennis fraternity.
In years gone by, the Swiss number one would have taken advantage of such a generous draw without any fuss, probably not dropping a set on his way to lifting the trophy in New York. But his powers have diminished to the point where even a beneficial draw isn’t enough for him anymore.
An early loss to the unheralded Andreas Seppi in Melbourne at the beginning of the year set the alarm bells ringing. A favourable draw in Paris that should have seen him through to the final ended in dismal fashion with a meek loss at the hands of Stanislas Wawrinka – a man he had swept aside on four previous occasions in Grand Slam clashes.
This tournament has confirmed that the world number two’s demise is no longer being over-exaggerated anymore, it is more terminal than that.
He is not just losing finals in epic matches anymore – he is surrendering far too easily in early rounds to players who were previously fodder for the 17-time Slam winner.
The weight of shot is not what it was, the mentality looks more fragile, with speed of foot and reaction times also seemingly on the wane. Is an 18th major on the way? Don’t bank on it.
As for Nadal, his demise is more apparent than definite, and perhaps not as serious as Federer’s. It has come more recently and after a spate of injuries rather than something that has been in the works for the last few years.
For all we know, it could be temporary. A lack of match practice, a subsequent loss of form, leading to a confidence issue. There could be another chapter to this particular story.
Nevertheless, like his one-time nemesis, the worrying feature of his recent struggles is that they come as a surprise to nobody. When that happens, it normally signals the end of an era, and the general sense is that is exactly what is on the way.
“The King of Clay” has won nine of the last ten French Opens, which is a record that is incredibly unlikely to be repeated. Surely then, a straight sets loss in the last eight this year should leave you gasping in amazement? Not at all, unfortunately.
Yes, he may have been playing quite easily the best tennis player in the world right now in Novak Djokovic, a man enjoying arguably the best form of his career. But let us not forget that the Spaniard had defeated his Serbian rival in the last three editions of Roland Garros, when the world number one was tipped to end the dominance of Rafa.
For the nine-time champ to lose in the French capital is one thing, but to go out for the gain of just nine games is another. Were there any big celebrations from Djokovic? No. Were there shockwaves sent around the grounds of Roland Garros? No. That in itself tells you everything you need to know about the stature Nadal currently holds in the tennis world – he is no longer the feared animal he once was in the dressing room.
His backhand has been exploited, his serve has been exposed as something of a weakness and his biggest strength has been effectively blunted as Djokovic, with many others following his example, has taken the sting out of the world number seven’s forehand.
His defence is not what it was, his previously unbreakable confidence has been shaken significantly and his aura, once a thick fog, has evaporated to a wispy mist.
It may be too early to say that Rafael Nadal is on a slippery slope, but if the last few weeks are anything to go by, the signs are not good at all.
Two legends of the game – one who will never rediscover his best form and one who is looking increasingly unlikely to. It is a sad sight, but time waits for no man and their time at the pinnacle is seemingly over, with Novak Djokovic taking full advantage in clinical fashion.
The Kings Are Dead. Long Live The King.