Wimbledon 2015: Writers Awards – Best Male Player

3. <p>This one had me puzzled for a little while.  Should I give it Richard Gasquet, who turned back the clock to 2007 with his appearance in the Wimbledon semifinals?  His grueling upset over Stan Wawrinka in the quarterfinals certainly merited consideration, as did his entertaining and extremely bizarre win over 2014 quarter finalist Nick Kyrgios.</p> <p>Another possibility was Roger Federer.  For several seasons now, analysts and commentators have been discussing the inevitable decline of Federer.  Despite all that talk, however, Federer still is a force to be reckoned with, highlighted by his clinical dismantling of Andy Murray in the semifinals.</p> <p>He played an excellent tournament and his serve was next to impossible to break—well, until he met Djokovic in the final.  Even his valiant effort against Novak Djokovic in the final certainly made me closely consider giving him the award. Despite those two extremely worthy candidates, I chose to give this to the aforementioned <strong>Novak Djokovic</strong>.</p> <p>After a stinging defeat at the hands of Stan Wawrinka in Paris, denying Djokovic another time the opportunity to achieve the career Grand Slam, Djokovic rebounded nicely at this tournament.  Additionally, Djokovic even faced adversity in this tournament, falling behind giant server Kevin Andersen two sets to love, rallying to even the match at two sets apiece before nightfall.</p> <p>After Djokovic got through that match the next day, there seemed to be very little chance of stopping him.  He rolled through Marin Cilic in the quarterfinals and Gasquet in the semifinals before facing Federer in the final.</p> <p>Importantly, after squandering six set points to lose the second-set tiebreak to Federer, Djokovic played a very good third set.  While I wondered if he would have a mental breakdown due to his extreme anger at himself for losing that second set, he, if anything, came out even stronger.</p> <p>For his third Wimbledon title and ninth overall Grand Slam title, I’ll give the Best Male of the tournament award to Djokovic.</p>. Writer. Lob and Smash. CHRISTOPHER WEIS