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WHEN the 2016 tennis season unfurled Down Under and Novak Djokovic were the unchallenged champions of their elite orbits. By the end of the year, the No. 1 players had been unseated in shocking fashion by two exceptionally late bloomers, Angelique Kerber and Andy Murray.
Williams was the WTA’s top-ranked player for 186 consecutive weeks, equaling Steffi Graf’s Open era record. Djokovic occupied the ATP World Tour throne for 122 consecutive weeks.
Collectively, that’s nearly six straight years of dominance. The year-end obituaries of the fallen No. 2-ranked players, however, sounded a bit shrill.
As 2017 rapidly approaches, we can report that Williams – now a doddering 35 – and the 29-year-old Djokovic are still breathing. In fact, it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine them winning multiple Slams and reclaiming their No. 1 rankings.
Amid all the hype and talk of change, it’s easy to forget that Djokovic won the first two majors of the season and made the final of the fourth; Williams lost to Kerber in the final of the Australian Open and beat her in the Wimbledon final.
In retrospect, it’s now clear Serena spoiled us with a late-career surge that has no historic parallel. After turning 30, following the 2011 US Open, she won nine of the next 20 Grand Slam singles titles – dominating women’s tennis over a five-year span in spectacular fashion.
She and Djokovic still have their supporters.
“It’s Jananuary 30, the Monday after the Australian Open ends,” said Brad Gilbert, who coached Andy Murray, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick.
“And you tell me that (Serena/Djokovic) double happened. No, I wouldn’t be surprised – at all.
“Djoker has won six of those titles. Serena’s like a stock – how do you predict it? The fact she’s played as little as she has – she’s 35, and she’s probably the betting favorite. Sort of like Tom Brady and the Patriots. Don’t focus on the age; look at the history.”
Both Djokovic and Williams struggled with injuries, which led to diminished confidence – their signature weapon in recent years. Heading into this year’s US Open, Williams was still a favourite, and with a title, would have strung together another excellent year. Instead she got beaten by ascendant Karolina Pliskova in the semifinals.
“I wasn’t able to move the way I wanted to move,” Williams told the media afterward. “When you’re injured, you’re thinking of other things when you should be just playing and thinking of your shots. My mind was just a little bit everywhere.”
So was her season. Djokovic nursed a nagging arm injury and, after winning the French Open to complete his career Grand Slam, tailed off drastically.
After losing to Murray in the final of the ATP year-end event, Djokovic looked and sounded weary.
“Right now,” he said to the media, “the goal is just to rest a little bit. It’s been a long season, a very nice year, a lot to reflect on, a lot to take in. It’s time to leave the racket aside for a little bit, just recover.”
There will be no recovery for six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker, the coach who was the most notable collateral damage after Djokovic’s second-half swoon. After three years with Djokovic, Becker was terminated at the end of the season.
Because they’re getting a bit older, both Djokovic and Williams will be playing in 2017 with an enormous sense of urgency. What must Serena and Djokovic do to successfully hit the reset button?
Pam Shriver, and ESPN analyst who won 21 Grand Slam doubles titles, said they need to make an immediate impression.
“I think they have to play well in Australia – maybe not win it but go deep in the draw,” she said. – ESPN.
Online Reporter
Tinaye Agere