Sun sets slowly on golden age of tennis champions

The wonderful game of tennis has come a long way since wooden racquets and white balls were part of the rules. And it’s come further still since Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Evonne Goolagong and Margaret Court dominated the world’s courts and inspired many of us to get out there and give it a whack.

At least three generations of champions have carved their names onto Grand Slam trophies in the interim, players such as Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova. Names that might be legendary to one generation of fans are fading for the next.

Yet this – right here, right now – is one of the finest eras of tennis. Four names have dominated tennis for the past 20 years, consistently leading the ranks of tennis professionals, slamming home trophy after trophy and demonstrating to all sports fans the finest elements of competitive conduct.

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams do not work hard merely to win. They genuinely love to play and to entertain fans.

These four champions have taken home, between them, more than $US450 million in career prize-money and more in marketing and sponsorship deals. They have generated much more again for tournament organisers.

They are not histrionic. Not discourteous nor offensive. Not self-absorbed nor belligerent. They are finely disciplined athletes who appreciate the opportunity to play. Listen when they say how lucky and honoured they feel simply to be on the court.

The world’s current number one, Nadal, surely the greatest clay-court player ever, has won 12 French Open titles since 2005. He has also won four US Open titles, a couple of Wimbledons and an Australian Open.

Djokovic, the most formidable hard-court player today, has five Wimbledon titles, three US Opens, one French and seven Australian Opens. Tomorrow he will play for his eighth.

The 38-year-old champion all-rounder, Serena Williams, has 23 Grand Slam singles titles to her name, including seven each from Australia and Wimbledon, six from the US and three French Opens.

Despite a lacklustre Australian campaign this summer, Williams remains one of the most powerful forces on the women’s tour, fast and competitive. Currently ranked ninth as she returns from the birth of her daughter, Williams realistically is in the twilight of her career.

So, too, is Roger Federer, the champion among champions, possibly the greatest player to grace the modern game. With 20 Grand Slam singles titles, he is the player his peers respect most: 13 times fellow players have voted him winner of the ATP Stefan Edberg Award for professionalism, integrity and utmost fairness.

At 38, Federer continues to draw sell-out crowds. His talent, good humour and capacity to fight back are a joy to watch. But each time he exits the court, fans wonder if they will ever see him in action again.

Hopefully, retirement is a few years away yet for Federer and Williams. Nadal, at 33, is a comparative youngster, as is Djokovic at 32. But a new generation is shadowing them.

Nick Kyrgios’s ability to rally the tennis world to support Australians affected by fires was commendable. Many fans will wonder, though, if Kyrgios has the discipline to repeat his summer performance: to play courageously and well, to focus on the game instead of capitulating to his own whining weaknesses. If he rises to meet his own talent, Australia may again harbour a global champion.

For grace and sportsmanship on and off the court, it is hard to beat Australian Ashleigh Barty. As the reigning world number one on the women’s tour – as well as Young Australian of the Year – Barty is compelling role model for all young sports people.

The Herald's editor Lisa Davies writes a weekly newsletter exclusively for subscribers. To have it delivered to your inbox, please sign up here.