Roger Federer
Much has been said about the Swiss over the course of his enduring career, and it is not without reason that he is considered the greatest of all time.
12 years after he was first World No. 1, Federer is World No. 3 – a testament to his enduring skill.
Federer is known for his dynamism and constantly changing his game – and last year, bringing on Ivan Ljubicic in place of Swedish icon Stefan Edberg, Federer did exactly that.
Known for being a proponent of the serve-and-volley style of play, as was his coach Edberg, Federer quickly focused his game more on the baseline – and it has stood him in good stead.
Still at peak fitness with no signs of slowing down, Federer dropped only a single set going into the semis, and although he was thoroughly routed by Djokovic barring the set he scalped off the Serb, Federer has competed with those younger than him, many of whom are moving quite quickly up the ranks – and defeating them with relative ease.
It is more a sign of Djokovic’s utter dominance than any suggestion of Federer’s waning skill that he did not progress to the finals - but for asserting himself and changing his style of play, especially at an age most tennis professionals are wrapping up their careers, Federer gets top marks.
And when he says he has ‘another Slam still in me,’ it is still very believable.
Serena Williams
World No. 1 Serena Williams. 21 Grand Slam-winning Serena Williams.
At the Australian Open this year, she was widely expected to take her 22nd – and in the processs, equal Steffi Graf’s Open Era record.
If you judged her prior performances in the Open, you would not be remiss to think she would win, and win resoundingly to win her 22nd slam.
She has won 6 titles in Australia in the past – and did not drop a single set during the course of the tournament – until the final.
Only ever really tested at the tournament in her first round match, Williams either bageled or breadsticked each of the opponents she played at the tournament this year.
Her serves were on point. Her attacking stance more aggressive than ever. She came to the net with the same power she had always had, with her opponents standing no chance. Serena, like Djokovic, has dominated the sport entirely, with nobody able to really come close.
But suddenly, the armour, nay, the Kevlar that Serena Williams appeared to be made of suddenly became penetrable.
Williams has never been at her most comfortable against left-handed players, but has taken them on nevertheless. With barely any of her opponents able to break Serena at the Open, Kerber took a march and broke her in the very first set.
Flummoxed by Kerber’s shots all across court, Williams played an error-filled game – one she managed to rein in the very next set.
But it is perhaps her aggression at the game that is also her downfall. Evidently passionate, Williams is also prone to anger and repeatedly berates herself when she misses points.
Yet again, Williams has missed out on a Calendar Slam, denied last year at the US Open as she crashed out in the semi-finals.
But given her form, it likely will not be very long before she equals and sets new records herself.
It would be unfair to call her game inconsistent - despite not having played any tennis on the circuit last year following the US Open, Williams still retained her top ranking.
But it is within games that she lets anger and a temporary blip get to her far more than it should, and it is perhaps this that was her downfall in the final.
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