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Five players ready to consign tennis’s big four to history Five players hoping to consign tennis’s big four to history
(35 minutes later)
Maric Cilic’s US Open victory over Kei Nishikori broke all sorts of records, chief among them that it was the first grand slam final in almost ten years not to feature Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray – the so-called big four. It was also the first between two first-time finalists ranked outside the top 10 since 1997. Indeed, since Marat Safin won the 2005 Australian Open, the big four had won 36 of the subsequent 38 grand slams until Cilic and Nishikori broke their spell. Recent history suggests that the new wave of talent has been bubbling under the surface for a while however, including these five ready to put the big five out to pasture. Marin Cilic’s US Open victory over Kei Nishikori broke all sorts of records, chief among them that it was the first grand slam final in almost 10 years not to feature Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray – the so-called big four. It was also the first between two first-time finalists ranked outside the top 10 since 1997. Indeed, since Marat Safin won the 2005 Australian Open, the big four had won 36 of the subsequent 38 grand slams until Cilic and Nishikori broke their spell. Recent history suggests that the new wave of talent has been bubbling under the surface for a while however, including these five ready to put the big five out to pasture.
1. Marin Cilic1. Marin Cilic
Few would have predicted the gangly Croat as the 2014 US Open champion at the start of the year but there are some who would argue Cilic’s first grand slam is overdue. He won many admirers in reaching the 2010 Australia Open semi-final and was tipped to crack the big four’s hegemony, only to slip back into the shadows. Appointing Goran Ivanisevic, his long time mentor, as coach in late 2013 has paid dividends however, not least for his serve, and at 25, Cilic has the variety to his game – and seemingly now the consistency – to ensure he is no one-slam wonder. Few would have predicted the Croat as the 2014 US Open champion at the start of the year but there are some who would argue Cilic’s first grand slam is overdue. He won admirers in reaching the 2010 Australia Open semi-final and was tipped to crack the big four’s hegemony only to slip back into the shadows. Appointing Goran Ivanisevic, his long-time mentor, as coach in late 2013 has paid dividends however, not least for his serve, and at 25 Cilic has the variety to his game – and seemingly now the consistency – to ensure he is no one-slam wonder.
2. Grigor Dimitrov2. Grigor Dimitrov
Long since used to the limelight as the 2008 junior Wimbledon champion – not to mention as Maria Sharapova’s other half – Dimitrov’s has been a career waiting to catch fire. Adding Roger Rasheed, the task master behind Lleyton Hewitt, to his team in October appears to have provided to spark. Dimitrov has since added steel to his unquestionable style and in February claimed his second tour-level title in Acapulco, becoming only the second player born in the 1990s to do so. A further win at Queen’s was backed up with an ice cold dismantling of Andy Murray in their Wimbledon quarter-final this year. The 23-year-old was ultimately undone by Djokovic, but he will not be the last to suffer that fate, and his progression with Rasheed, coupled with his unquestionable talent, means he could be the next to break into the winner’s circle. Long since used to the limelight as the 2008 Wimbledon boys’ champion – not to mention as Maria Sharapova’s other half – Dimitrov’s has been a career waiting to catch fire. Adding Roger Rasheed, the task master behind Lleyton Hewitt for four years, to his team in October appears to have provided to spark. Dimitrov has since added steel to his unquestionable style and in February claimed his second tour-level title in Acapulco, becoming only the second player born in the 90s to do so. A further win at Queen’s was backed up with an ice cold dismantling of Andy Murray in their Wimbledon quarter-final this year. The 23-year-old was ultimately undone by Djokovic, but he will not be the last to suffer that fate, and his progression with Rasheed, coupled with his unquestionable talent, means he could be the next to break into the winner’s circle.
3. Milos Raonic3. Milos Raonic
The first player born in the 1990s to win two tour-level titles and also a Wimbledon semi-finalist this year, Raonic is another 23-year-old knocking on the door. Born in former Yugoslavia, representing Canada and residing in Monaco, Raonic is a big-serving right-hander with a booming forehand. Subtlety has never been his strong point but brute force certainly has and his movement has vastly improved. His world ranking has swiftly improved from 151 in 2010 to the top 10 three years later, after reaching Montreal Masters final, and so has his grand slam record. This year’s French Open saw a first quarter-final appearance before losing to Djokovic while at Wimbledon he one better before running into Federer in inspired form. He was just edged out in a five-set epic – something for which he is getting a name for – by Kei Nishikori in the US Open fourth round, but he is another for whom it seems a case of when, rather than if. The first player born in the 90s to win two tour-level titles and also a Wimbledon semi-finalist this year, Raonic is another 23-year-old knocking on the door. Born in the former Yugoslavia, representing Canada and residing in Monaco, Raonic is a big-serving right-hander with a booming forehand. Subtlety has never been his strong point but brute force has and his movement has vastly improved. His world ranking has swiftly improved from 151 in 2010 to the top-10 three years later, after reaching the Montreal Masters final, and so has his grand slam record. This year’s French Open saw a first quarter-final appearance before losing to Djokovic while at Wimbledon he went one better before running into Federer in inspired form. He was just edged out in a five-set epic – something for which he is getting a name for – by Kei Nishikori in the US Open fourth round, but he is another for whom it seems a case of when, rather than if.
4. Kei Nishikori4. Kei Nishikori
The US Open final proved one match too far for Nishikori but the 24-year-old will take solace being the first player to deny Djokovic a place in the final at Flushing Meadows since 2009. More pertinently, he also dispelled the myth that physical fragility will always deny him a place at tennis’s top table. Not only did Nishikori defeat the No5, No3 and No1 seed to reach the final, he beat Djokovic having gone hammer and tongs with the previous two – Raonic and Wawrinka – over five sets. While Li Na has been flying the flag on the women’s tour, Nishikori was the first Asian man to reach a grand slam final and is now primed to deliver on the potential highlighted when he was named the 2008 newcomer of the year. He is also coached by Michael Chang, who remains the youngest ever male grand slam champion since his 1989 French Open title. It was initially a short-term arrangement but the pair hit it off and are surely now unlikely to part any time soon. The US Open final proved one match too far for Nishikori but the 24-year-old will take solace from being the first man to deny Djokovic a place in the final at Flushing Meadows since 2009. More pertinently, he also dispelled the myth that physical fragility will always deny him a place at the top table. Not only did Nishikori defeat the No5, No3 and No1 seed to reach the final, he beat Djokovic having gone hammer and tongs with the previous two – Raonic and Stanislas Wawrinka – over five sets. While Li Na has been flying the flag on the women’s tour, Nishikori was the first Asian man to reach a grand slam final and is now primed to deliver on the potential highlighted when he was named the 2008 newcomer of the year. He is also coached by Michael Chang, who remains the youngest ever male grand slam champion after winning the 1989 French Open title. It was initially a short-term arrangement but the pair hit it off and are surely unlikely to part any time soon.
5. Ernests Gulbis5. Ernests Gulbis
The bad boy of tennis who has his very own private jet and is never afraid to air his, often controversial views, the Latvian is showing signs of finally bringing some maturity to his game. His two best grand slam performances have come at the French Open –reaching the semi-final earlier this year and beating Federer along the way – suggesting he likes the red stuff but he has found a consistency to advance up the world rankings to 13 in the most recent list with a career high of 10th back in June. Last year he was quoted as calling Djokovic, Federer, Nadal and Murray ‘boring’ in an astonishing tirade against the big four and their moribund performances in front of the cameras but he does have the talent to ruffle the quartet off the court as well, if only the man reportedly named after Ernest Hemingway can regularly apply it. The bad boy of tennis who has his very own private jet and is never afraid to air his often controversial views, the Latvian is showing signs of bringing some maturity to his game. His two best grand slam performances have come at the French Open – reaching the semi-final this year and beating Federer along the way – suggesting he likes the red stuff but he has found a consistency to advance up the world rankings to 13 in the most recent list, with a career high of 10th back in June. Last year he was quoted as calling Djokovic, Federer, Nadal and Murray “boring” in an astonishing tirade against the big four but he does have the talent to ruffle the quartet off the court as well, if only the man reportedly named after Ernest Hemingway can regularly apply it.