The History of Men's Tennis (Open Era)

Arguably it’s the most important tennis event in the first half of the 80s. 25-year-old Bjorn Borg, the best player of the last two seasons, notched a third straight defeat in major finals to his biggest rival – John McEnroe, which cost the Swede losing the No. 1 in the world. It was Borg’s ninth failed attempt to win in New York – the only big title he missed in his stellar career (Australian Open wasn’t considered as a huge title at the time; Borg never played there since 1974). These factors, entwined with personal issues, caused his retirement in the following season, he did not play another major afterwards. The new king, McEnroe became the first US Open champion in three consecutive editions since 1925! Read more… 

This week I’ve added a new page Ranking-Top 20

Unprecedented time in the Open era, never before (afterwards too) a player without a Grand Slam title was such a huge favorite to get the first one as 27-year-old Thomas Muster in Paris ’95. The Austrian had won 23 consecutive matches on clay in 1995 (four titles) prior to the Roland Garros leaving an impression of invincibility, thrice during that streak he won from a match point down. In Paris, unexpectedly, he was also close to defeat in quarterfinals as he faced 19-year-old unheralded Albert Costa. The Spaniard was two games away from a sensational 4-set victory, despite the loss his near-future triumph in Paris seemed very plausible, however, he had to wait another seven years to lift the trophy. Read more…

I see resemblance in tennis elite at the beginning of 1994 to that what happened ten years later. When the Australian Open ’94 started, there were three guys seemingly playing at very similar level (Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Michael Stich). Ten years later we can assign it towards a trio: Federer, Roddick, Ferrero. Both in 1994 and 2004, the Australian Open champions – Sampras and Federer respectively, established their supremacy for many years to come over the toughest challengers… Relatively speaking it was the last good big event of the most successful players at majors of the previous decade – 30-year-old Mats Wilander, and four years older Ivan Lendl; the former Aussie Open champions reached the Grand Slam fourth round for the last time in career. Read more…

I am planing to begin adding Grand Slam tournaments of the XXI Century in the second half of 2013, but this year will be two exceptions of 2003, namely US Open and Roland Garros, as a part of farewell of Andy Roddick & Juan Carlos Ferrero, two former Nos. 1, each had won his only major title nine years ago, both went into retirement this season. I’m going to implement a different look for years 2000-10  than I’ve done it for 1980-99 –  bigger font and colorful pictures.
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Changing of the guard in American tennis: a defending champion – Pete Sampras, 14-time Grand Slam winner, officially announced his retirement on day one (2000 champion Marat Safin withdrew too), the following day joined him other American player of the “golden generation” – Michael Chang. It opened the gate for much more younger Americans to get into the biggest courts at Flushing Meadow drawing attention of fans. It was a great opportunity especially for 21-year-old Andy Roddick, who had won 3 out of 4 tournaments on American hardcourts before the US Open ’03, which established him as a main favorite. He was on fire, with a little help of officials, spectators and pure luck captured his only major title beating Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final. For the Spaniard it’s also memorable tournament because he reached No. 1 in the world advancing to that final. Read more…