As much as the 2017 Australian Open warmed the hearts of the sceptics, it was perhaps the MOST FORCEFUL OF CASES ever made for the triumph of mind over matter. Four players aged over 30 making the final showed tennis’ shallowness it was argued. In fact, as far as one can remember, tennis has been a young man’s game. But the recent Australian Open proved that when physical prowess reaches a saturation point, with modern medicines and recovery techniques available to all, it’s often the mind that plays the decider.
The business end of the 2017 Australian Open, in more ways than one, seemed like a throwback to the yesteryear. There were Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Venus Williams as the last four players standing. These were four 30-somethings in a sort of an old school reunion, smiling their way in front of the camera, after having thrown open all the gates which all but seemed virtually clanged behind them forever. All four were together in a Grand Slam tournament final way back in 2008 at Wimbledon.
With it came a plethora of statistics and trivia for the romantics to consume. The first time the Williams sisters met was as teenagers and here they were almost two decades later, once again facing off on the biggest of stages. The first time Federer met Nadal was in 2004 and here they were after eight Grand Slam finals between them, the last being in 2011 at Roland Garros.
FEDERER WAS GUNNING to become the oldest major champion since Ken Rosewall. Serena was merely hoping to rewrite that record after having twice broken it already. Federer was inching closer to the ‘Greatest of All Time’ tag. Serena wanted to slam the door on any further debate on the same by getting to her 23rd major and thereby going past Steffi Graf’s 22.
IN THE END, all of this happened. Serena got her wish, even signalling the number 23 emphatically after beating Venus rather easily. Federer, at the ripe old age of 35, nearly five years after his previous title, clinched his 18th crown following yet another titanic tussle against nemesis Nadal. Tennis needed it, it was said. The world needed it, it was said. After all, in a time of great strife and anger all around, there is still place for romance, isn’t it? What better way than sport to showcase that?
Denne historien er fra February 11, 2017-utgaven av Sportstar.
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Denne historien er fra February 11, 2017-utgaven av Sportstar.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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