w**********5
发帖数: 1741 | 1 Tennis News: Analysis Of Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic And Andy
Murray In 2015
By Jason Le Miere @JasonLeMiere on November 30 2015 5:12 PM EST
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on google_plusone_share
More Sharing Services
Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic completed his dominant year by lifting the ATP World Tour
Finals trophy. Getty Images
The 2015 tennis season officially came to a close on Sunday, with Great
Britain’s win over Belgium in the Davis Cup final. And yet there is little
time for the top players to recover and regroup, with the 2016 campaign
getting underway on Jan. 4, and the first Grand Slam of the year, the
Australian Open, beginning just two weeks later. That provides just about
enough time to reflect on the season that was; one in which the Big Four
showed that they are likely to remain a force to be reckoned with over the
next 12 months.
Novak Djokovic (Year-end ranking No. 1)
The Serbian absolutely dominated 2015, finishing with not far off double the
points of his nearest challenger. Only a shock defeat to Stan Wawrinka in
the final of the French Open prevented Djokovic from winning a Calendar Slam
, having picked up the titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S.
Open. Close to unbreakable, either physically or mentally, Djokovic
completed one of the finest years in tennis history, winning six Masters
1000 titles, the ATP World Tour Finals and 11 titles overall, losing just
six of his 88 matches. At the age of 28, he is now in double figures for
Grand Slam titles and it is very difficult to imagine him not adding to that
haul in 2016.
Andy Murray (Year-end ranking No. 2)
No player was on the receiving end of Djokovic’s exceptionalism in 2015
more than Murray. The Scot suffered six defeats to his long-time rival,
including in the Australian Open final, which was as close as Murray came to
adding to his two Grand Slams. Yet despite those facts, it would be hard to
say that Murray’s 2015 has been anything other than a major success. It
shouldn’t be forgotten that he came into the year after a troubled 2014, in
which he only showed signs of his best in the final weeks.
And yet the year ended with him finishing ranked at No. 2 for the first time
. Along the way, he also claimed his first two titles on clay. Yet 2015 will
undoubtedly be remembered as the year in which Murray led Great Britain to
the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936. The 28-year-old won all 11 of
his matches in singles and doubles, and it was clear that as Britain
progressed, the tournament became Murray’s priority. Fresh from the
emotional boost, Murray will now look to seriously challenge Djokovic in
2016.
Roger Federer (Year-end ranking No. 3)
The very fact that Federer continues to sit near the top of the rankings and
be a serious contender to land Grand Slam titles at the age of 34 is a
remarkable achievement. Picking up six titles, equaling his biggest haul
since 2007, it has been another memorable year. Incredibly, given all that
the 17-time Grand Slam winner has achieved, he has also found ways to
innovate and even improve. Over the past 12 months he has produced some of
the best serving performances of his career, finishing third on the ATP Tour
for percentage of first-serve points won, while adapting a thrillingly
aggressive strategy.
The only disappointment was that he failed to add to his record haul of
Grand Slam titles. For that he has Djokovic to thank. The Serbian beat
Federer in the final of both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. And, while it
would be easy to suggest that his best chance of winning Grand Slam 18 has
passed, it would be foolhardy to write the Swiss great off.
Rafael Nadal (Year-end ranking No. 5)
This year has undoubtedly been the most challenging of Nadal’s career. In
2015, the Spaniard dropped to his lowest ranking, No. 10, in a decade, and
for the first time since 2004 he failed to win a single Grand Slam title.
Indeed, Nadal didn’t even make it into the semifinal of any of the Grand
Slams, with the nadir arriving when blowing a two-set lead to Fabio Fognini
in the U.S. Open third round. The most painful moment, though, was surely
the ending of his dominance at Roland Garros, when Djokovic breezed past the
nine-time champion in the quarterfinals.
And yet there is reason for hope going into 2016. Nadal began to show more
consistent examples of his relentless best in the final weeks of the season,
and enjoyed a straight-sets demolition of Murray in the ATP World Tour
Finals en route to the semifinals. While how long his body can hold up will
always be a major question mark, the 29-year-old appears to be getting his
confidence back in time to become a real threat again in the year ahead. |
|
