5 tennis stars and their Star Wars equivalents

Although the tennis season for 2015 is now at rest, the Force has well and truly awakened. With the epic battles of the galaxy now having returned, we explore which tennis players could be characters from the Star Wars Universe, and why:

#5 Darth Vader: Nick Kyrgios

The bete noire of the current tennis scene, Nick Kyrgios has come to define the phrase bad boy. More in the news for his on-court antics and behaviour than what is a strong game, Kyrgios is more infamous than famous.

Who better to compare him to than Darth Vader? Born Anakin Skywalker, Vader had an unusually high midichlorian count, and was a powerful Jedi before going to the Dark Side of the Force.

Kyrgios was a sporting prodigy as a youngster, and trained singularly towards a professional basketball career until his teens, when he decided to switch over to tennis.

The young Australian’s talent was never under question – it was simply his ability to control it. As Yoda put it, Kyrgios looked too hard at the dark side of the Force, and the dark side looked back.

Unable to rein in either his talent or temper, Kyrgios is very much like Darth Vader in that he has slain those more powerful than himself, but is unable to combat his biggest enemy: himself.

#4 Princess Leia: Serena Williams

Powerful, in charge and moving through opponents with a single-minded drive: that is what defines Serena Williams, the undisputed queen and protagonist of women’s tennis. Just like Leia, Williams was born to her sport; Leia, the daughter of Queen Padme Amidala and the adopted daughter of Senator Bail Organa, was always meant to follow in their footsteps, being one of the leaders of the Rebel Alliance and instrumental in their overthrowing the Empire.

Serena, born to two tennis coaches, always had exceptional potential, and was well-versed in the ways of the Force..er, tennis. Just like Leia, Serena has an immensely talented sibling just as experienced at the force as she was.

Both Venus and Serena have been World No. 1, with Serena taking on the role of tennis general like Leia has. Just as mentally tough as Princess Leia, she has laboured through several trials and tribulations to be able to reach the level she is now at, and does not seem likely to relinquish her post anytime soon.

#3 Luke Skywalker: Rafael Nadal

Nadal may not have had the fractured upbringing of Luke Skywalker, Star Wars main protagonist, but he shares several parallels with the Jedi.

Like the young (now old) Skywalker, Nadal was brought up in several respects by his uncle just as Luke was. Sent to live with his uncle Owen and aunt Beru, he was brought up essentially by his uncle as was Nadal, whose uncle Toni has now become part of the former No. 1s tennis lore.

At a crossroads in his life as a teenager, Nadal was asked to move from his hometown of Mallorca to Barcelona for training, a move his uncle refused. It is strangely reminiscent of young Luke Skywalker’s Uncle Owen refusing to let him leave their home planet of Tatooine to become a Jedi.

As Nadal’s career progressed, his uncle’s role transformed, too. From Uncle Toni, he became Toni-Wan Kenobi.

#2 Han Solo: Novak Djokovic

Playful, roguish and highly skilled at what he does, Han Solo was the best smuggler and pilot in the Star Wars universe. He became part of the Rebel fighters as they fought some of the hardest battles of the Galactic Civil War.

From being nothing more than a petty thief in the Star Wars Universe to a full warrior for the Rebel Alliance, he became one of its most well-known fliers and fighters for the Rebel Alliance.

He married another warrior Leia Organa as he ascended to the ranks of the most iconic pilot in the history of the Rebels.

Novak Djokovic likely sees himself in Han Solo, too. Always ready for a laugh or a joke, Djokovic is extremely serious about his craft or he wouldnt be the best in the world! Hes often seen joking around on court, even imitating his coach Boris Becker, indulging in banter with his opponents and mild flirting with those on the sidelines. Despite all his jokes and jest and on-court antics, Djokovic is immensely sure of his own abilities.

Charming, funny and bringing fun to tennis whilst still being the best in the sport, Novak Djokovic is tennis Han Solo.

#1 Yoda: Roger Federer

Hes worldly-wise, sage, and its never mentioned in canon what species he is or what planet he is from. No, we're not talking about the greatest tennis player of all time, but one of the most loved Jedi Masters in the Star Wars universe Yoda.

Jedi Master Yoda was largely responsible for making Luke Skywalker the accomplished Jedi he once was, and had the wisdom of the universe within him; despite this, he maintained a calm, stolid demeanour until he became one with the Force.

Federer himself is exactly like Yoda. A silent assassin, the former World No. 1 has defeated every opponent he has faced on multiple occasions, and never once done so with anything but a smile. Never visibly agitated or affected by anything on court, the Swiss Maestro simply uses the Force.

And just like Yoda, he's revered by his contemporaries, seniors and an inspiration to spectators and tennis players alike and hes in a class of his own, the likes of which will never be seen again.