For those who watched the finals weekend at the US Open, observing how the semi-finals of the men's draw unfolded would have been an unsettling experience. We are so used to seeing the iconic greats continue to get it done when it matters that a feeling of complacency and comfort after the quarter-finals would have likely set in after Roger Federer overcame a two-set deficit and a couple of match points to beat the entertaining and unpredictable Gael Monfils, and Novak Djokovic seemingly recovered his form in beating Andy Murray. Things seemed to be going according to plan, with all of us marvelling at the longevity and sustained excellence of the big four, as the golden era just continued to glitter. After all, in over a decade, there had been only one occasion where a Grand Slam final failed to showcase at least one of the big four - the Australian Open 2005 where Marat Safin beat Lleyton Hewitt. And with the prime threats - Stanislas Wawrinka, Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov - already out of the equation, one could be forgiven for feeling confident that the US Open finals would feature at least one of the greats that we look forward to watching compete for the records. Their opponents were promising, but could hardly be considered legitimate threats at this stage of the tournament when the guile, experience, grit and greatness overcame any God - given skill and talent that the upcoming youngsters possessed. Federer versus Marin Cilic and Djokovic versus Kei Nishikori was a dream semi-final match-up for the purists, and for the second consecutive Grand Slam, a Roger-Nole final was not just possible, it was more than probable.
But then it happened. First it happened to Djokovic, who was outplayed, out-thought and out-hustled in a back-and-forth match that he never seemed to be in control of against Nishikori - a huge underdog against one of the toughest competitors in the history of the game. But on that day, Nishikori picked apart Djokovic, leaving him tired, muddled and, for the first time in a long while, low on confidence. Nishikori had arrived, and with him came the startling realisation that the depth in men's tennis was no longer just speculation.
But then, we gathered our wits, seeking solace in the knowledge that Cilic had never beaten Roger, that he tended to flame out at the business end of Grand Slams, and that after all, this was Roger's tournament for the taking, given that Djokovic had failed to hold up his end of the bargain. And that's when the golden era was methodically dissected, and brutally ushered out. It was difficult to comprehend that a match could effectively be over in just over an hour - but it happened, as Cilic routed Federer in a way that hasn't been seen since Juan Martín del Potro annihilated Nadal in the 2009 US Open semi-finals. Cilic then went on to rout Nishikori in the finals, losing 20 games in total over the last two rounds.
If ever there was a time to worry for the stalwart icons, it's now. It's now, when the erstwhile greats are relegated to on-court spectators as the genius of the new brutalises their games, and shoves away the potential for adding to records. It was not just the outcome that made one realise that the golden era is now effectively over - rather it is the nature of the outcome. This didn't feel as if it was a fluke or a one-off. There was no fear, no trepidation, no respect for the legend; there was no doubt in the upstarts' minds. What's certain is that there is no "big four" anymore. Strongholds will remain - Nadal remains a favourite at Roland Garros, and Murray, Djokovic and Federer will compete at Wimbledon. But the streak is over, and emphatically so. There are contrasting styles and unearthly athletic gifts that newcomers possess, and one gets the feeling that there will be multiple Grand Slam winners each year going forward. Perhaps it's a good thing for tennis, but for the purists and the radicals alike, it will take some getting used to. And we probably aren't ready just yet for a level playing field bereft of the greats who gracefully maintained order and predictability in the greatest era that men's tennis has ever seen. Not that the upstarts are willing to wait, if the results of the US Open 2014 are any indication.
The writer leads the sports law practice at J Sagar Associates. These views are his own
Disclaimer: These are personal views of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of www.business-standard.com or the Business Standard newspaper
