Third Serve
Talk Tennis Guru
We hear a lot of talk about most competitive seasons (AKA stronk eras), most dominant seasons (AKA weak eras), and such, but I wanted to create a thread to help us look back at some of the history of tennis. Which season, if there was any, do you believe was the most enjoyable for you to watch as a tennis viewer?
Best matches, best tournaments, best stories, best comebacks, best moments, etc. So if you think that in some certain season, you were consistently entertained by the tennis being put on display and some of your favorite players did well, then by all means nominate it here.
What about me? As a Fed fan and a lover of tennis in general, I'd have to go with 2009. Every Grand Slam had its own story/stories to go with it.
AO: Who can forget Verdasco's unforgettable semis run and that epic with Nadal? The same Nadal who later went on to defeat Federer in another match for the ages for his first hard court slam? That was one of the most epic wins ever, speaking objectively. The trophy ceremony was one that most Fed fans (myself included) would rather forget, but it's the moment that sparked the rise, as the very next slam can attest.
RG: Just like that, Soderling tossed the four-time defending champion Nadal out the window. He then made it to the final as well. And then we have Federer's amazing run to the title. 4th Round, Haas is on the other side of the court. 0-2, 3-4, 30-40, Fed is serving. I have no doubt that that inside-out forehand is etched in the minds of many a Fed fan. Next match, Delpo is up 2-1 in sets, but clutcherer strikes again and takes the win. This tournament was definitely one of the greatest mental feats I've ever seen from any athlete.
Wimbledon: Poor Roddick. That sums this tournament up very accurately. Federer had returned as the defending finalist, possibly coping with the stress of breaking the coveted Slam record. But while Nadal pulls out injured, another of Fed's old friends stepped up to the mantle. Andy Roddick discovered a newfound resurgence in this tournament as he took apart Berdych, Hewitt, and Murray to reach the Wimbledon final. That match, despite the heartbreaking end, was a fitting successor to the 2008 final, and equally dramatic. It might be the only time I ever found myself guilty rooting for Roger. But in the end, the Slam record got broken and Federer has stayed atop that lofty mountain ever since.
USO: I don't have as much to say about this one, but as Delpo is one of my favorite players, this one Slam win was also pretty cool, despite how Federer choked the final away. You gotta give it to the guy, though, crushing Nadal in straights and then going on to clutch through in five against the newly crowned GS king is an awesome achievement, and it's really interesting when you look at his progression from getting double-bageled at the AO earlier that year. It's a crying shame that injuries have screwed up his career so much.
So yeah, I loved 2009. I think that's obvious. I think the only two "problems" with it were Nadal's injuries and Djokovic's slump in form for part of the year. Even so, they had their share in the action (Madrid 2009, folks?).
Thoughts?
Best matches, best tournaments, best stories, best comebacks, best moments, etc. So if you think that in some certain season, you were consistently entertained by the tennis being put on display and some of your favorite players did well, then by all means nominate it here.
What about me? As a Fed fan and a lover of tennis in general, I'd have to go with 2009. Every Grand Slam had its own story/stories to go with it.
AO: Who can forget Verdasco's unforgettable semis run and that epic with Nadal? The same Nadal who later went on to defeat Federer in another match for the ages for his first hard court slam? That was one of the most epic wins ever, speaking objectively. The trophy ceremony was one that most Fed fans (myself included) would rather forget, but it's the moment that sparked the rise, as the very next slam can attest.
RG: Just like that, Soderling tossed the four-time defending champion Nadal out the window. He then made it to the final as well. And then we have Federer's amazing run to the title. 4th Round, Haas is on the other side of the court. 0-2, 3-4, 30-40, Fed is serving. I have no doubt that that inside-out forehand is etched in the minds of many a Fed fan. Next match, Delpo is up 2-1 in sets, but clutcherer strikes again and takes the win. This tournament was definitely one of the greatest mental feats I've ever seen from any athlete.
Wimbledon: Poor Roddick. That sums this tournament up very accurately. Federer had returned as the defending finalist, possibly coping with the stress of breaking the coveted Slam record. But while Nadal pulls out injured, another of Fed's old friends stepped up to the mantle. Andy Roddick discovered a newfound resurgence in this tournament as he took apart Berdych, Hewitt, and Murray to reach the Wimbledon final. That match, despite the heartbreaking end, was a fitting successor to the 2008 final, and equally dramatic. It might be the only time I ever found myself guilty rooting for Roger. But in the end, the Slam record got broken and Federer has stayed atop that lofty mountain ever since.
USO: I don't have as much to say about this one, but as Delpo is one of my favorite players, this one Slam win was also pretty cool, despite how Federer choked the final away. You gotta give it to the guy, though, crushing Nadal in straights and then going on to clutch through in five against the newly crowned GS king is an awesome achievement, and it's really interesting when you look at his progression from getting double-bageled at the AO earlier that year. It's a crying shame that injuries have screwed up his career so much.
So yeah, I loved 2009. I think that's obvious. I think the only two "problems" with it were Nadal's injuries and Djokovic's slump in form for part of the year. Even so, they had their share in the action (Madrid 2009, folks?).
Thoughts?
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