Racquet Sports
Cliff Notes
The Show Goes On
By Cliff Drysdale
The 2024 season has proven to be nothing short of transformative for tennis, and for racquet sports as a whole. Another year has come and gone, and the prevailing thought in my mind is that the show simply goes on, no matter what.
Just a few years ago I wrote about the uncertain future of the sport amid the inevitable end of the Big Three — Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. That era, which will likely go down as the greatest in the sport’s history, lasted for nearly two decades. I remember thinking to myself, how could anyone follow this level of dominance and popularity?
In October, Rafael Nadal became the second member of the Big Three to announce their retirement. Every one of these all-time greats has impacted the sport in a major way, but Nadal totally changed the way the game is played. Rafa fought for every single point in a match with every last drop of energy in his body. There were no moments where an opponent could relax, regardless of the score or situation. He also was the primary needle mover for increased physicality in the sport. When you played him, you had to be ready to play for five hours, and that was just as intimidating as his whipping forehand.
One of my favorite things about Nadal was that he was constantly problem solving during a match. As his career went on, his backhand went from a weakness to a clear strength. He began returning serve from 10-15 feet behind the baseline. We now see a lot of players trying the same tactics. And finally, he brought such passion and emotion to the court. Tennis, obviously, will miss him.
We should also spare a thought for Andy Murray, who pushed to make it a “Big Four” for over a decade. His retirement at the 2024 Wimbledon feels like an eternity ago already, but his love of the game kept him playing despite obvious physical limitations over the last few years. He was an incredible competitor at heart, just like Nadal, and he accomplished more than almost anyone else in the era of all-time greats.
Fast forward to today, and we have an incredible budding rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Both had remarkable 2024 seasons and the game’s relevance continues to surge. We had four Americans in the semifinals of last year’s U.S. Open, including Emma Navarro, who nobody would have predicted a year ago at this time. The crowds only seem to get bigger, tennis continues to play a bigger role in pop culture, and the overall sense is that the sport is experiencing strong growth.
As we look forward to 2025, it’s going to be another fantastic year, even if we will no longer see the legends of the sport competing week in and week out. The tour has new stars, new stories, and the show must go on. Let’s enjoy the ride.
