Grand Slam Titles: Accolades or Conspiracy Theories?
In recent years conspiracy theories of ancient societies and olden orders secretly ruling the world have sprung from every corner of the globe. Whether it is young or old, man or woman, everyone seems to have their own theory to explain events which they do not comprehend or rather which does not make sense to them because of their own hampered IQ level.
Science and religion have long been plagued with the theories of the all-powerful Vatican Church, the Illuminati, and the Freemasons. This ideology has now extended to even include wizards and secret magic schools (Thank you J. K. Rowling for complicating things further). With the politics, religion and all the important issues saturated, the man behind the curtain has turned to the world of sports.
Competition the only sacred phenomenon is now tainted. The phrase “survival of the fittest” has lost its meaning. Professionals sportsmen have now become mere puppets in the hands of the higher powers (let’s call them HP from now on) with their every result dictated by the HP’s whims and wishes. Even the game of tennis is not safe from these corrupt HP. Tennis, the only game that came close to the one-on-one gladiator battles of the old days, is now perhaps nothing more than decisions made over drinks. For those of you, who would argue the similarity, please don’t. Professional wrestlers though show more skin like the gladiators, the sport itself has become nothing more than a bunch of testosterone driven drama queens – in one word an embarrassment. Tennis, with two professionals taking to the courts armed with their racquets resembles most to the sport of the olden days.
What was once perhaps a glory filled sport has now become nothing more than a game of back and forth between the “Gamemakers (GM)”. Not Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic but the corporate tournament and federation directors that decide on winners like seeding of a tournament.
With the three giants ruling most of the tennis world for the past few years, one wonders whether their glorified careers are made on the courts or on paper in boardrooms.
Nadal, a former world number one became the only other male professional besides American Andre Agassi in the Open Era to complete a Career Golden Slam after he added the last item to the collection, a US Open title. The Spaniard won the title in 2010 after defeating the newly crowned world number one, Novak Djokovic. Now it boggles the mind how could someone who had been giving Federer a run for his money for a good four years before this, could not have managed a title win at the season ending Grand Slam. A decade into the new century and four years after Agassi’s retirement, it hit the “Gamemakers” that no active player held the Career Golden Slam (CGS). The choice at that time lay between Federer and Nadal. Looking to avoid the same problem in a few years, the “Gamemakers” decided to bless the young Spaniard. Three items short of a CGS, Nadal was “chosen” to win the Olympic gold medal in 2008, the Australian Open in 2009 and then finally the US Open in 2010 to complete the collection.
However, now another problem plagued the GM. Neglecting Federer apparently meant that the winner of most Grand Slam titles may retire and leave a vast void. Conveniently “injured” in 2009, Rafa’s performance took a dump in the year giving Federer a chance at the Roland Garros – Wimbledon combination, followed by another Australian Open win in 2010. However, since then a Grand Slam title has eluded the tennis great. He has, however, always made it to the quarterfinals or more of every event. That was the GM’s way of saying, “We’re done with you but we’re not ready just yet to hang you out to dry.” With sixteen Grand Slams and prime physical fitness despite the age factor playing against him, Federer is the GM’s backup. The cushion they would fall on should Nadal “conveniently” get injured for another season or Djokovic’s success go to his head.
2010 saw another diabolical scheme from the GM. Winning the Roland Garros Wimbledon combination along with the US Open had two purposes. Although it completed Rafa’s CGS, it had another long lasting purpose foreseen by the GM’s oracle. Calling it “Project Break Rod Laver’s Record”, Rafa was decided upon to hold all four Grand Slams at once. This feat was last achieved in 1969 by the Aussie legend, Rod Laver. However, things took a turn for the worse when Rafa was seriously injured in his 2011 Australian Open quarterfinal match against compatriot David Ferrer. This put a damp on “Project BRLB”. Let’s face it, who really loses to a lower ranked compatriot unless there is something really wrong.
Rafa’s injury lit up all sorts of alarm bells in the GM headquarters. An emergency meeting of the Elders was convened and with only four days in the final match, there had to be a new Chosen One. Once more Federer’s age put him out of the running. The two choices left were Djokovic and Andy Murray. Murray was dismissed on the account that he was British since the world still hates the British Empire to have ruled supreme over them for so many centuries. They decided to go with the crowd friendly Djokovic. With a sob story of a war torn childhood and hardships, Djokovic was to be the new poster boy of tennis.
Undoing Federer in the semi-final and then Murray in the final without losing a single set, Djokovic catapulted to world number two and won his second Grand Slam title. Making up for years of neglect, the GM decided to extend their grace. Djokovic became an unstoppable force in 2011 as he moved on ahead to win six more titles clinching them in three separate continents. The Serb emerged victorious at Dubai, Belgrade, Miami, Indian Wells, Rome and Madrid undoing Nadal in the title match in four of these locations – the perfect spice to the mix.
After wrapping up the Masters series, the GM saw another clink in their plans. Should Djoker win the Roland Garros, Rafa’s unbeatable streak there would be broken. Determined to keep this feather in their cap, the GM once more toyed with the pros as they decided to oust Djoker in the semis and thus make Rafa the unbeatable champion there. However, what many failed to realize was an intricate detail the GM had wrapped in their ploy. Killing two birds with one stone, they gave Federer the ego boost he needed by putting him in the finals and also maintained Djoker’s unbeatable streak against the Spaniard phenomenon.
Everything was on track. Next came the grass Grand Slam, the Wimbledon Championships. In its 125th edition, the GM had a perfect plan for it. Favouring Djoker once more, they took him all the way to the finals, pitting him once more against the Spaniard. Remembering the particular detail, Djokovic was crowned the 125th champion as he did away with the Spaniard in four sets. The cherry on top was the world number one position that awaited the Serb the next day.
Another jewel added to their crowns. The GM were very pleased with themselves as they celebrated the new poster boy. After all it is the records and the incredible stats that make the sport more interesting. Spinning their webs of manipulation, the “Gamemakers” are h**l bent on doing everything and anything to make their sport “interesting” a.k.a financially profitable. In their greed, the spirit of competition and true sportsmanship takes a back seat.
After all every industry is consumer based and the sports entertainment industry is no different. With sponsors and fans losing interest after witnessing the Nadal Federer hegemony for seven years, the GM felt a change was needed. Of the last twenty five Grand Slams, the Spaniard Swiss pair holds 22 of them. If that wasn’t enough, the pair resided in the top two spots for seven years. It was for this very reason to break this hold that the young Serb was marked as the “Chosen One” and if they generated a little revenue along the way, well all the more better for the GM.
Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in the article are the writer’s own personal views and have nothing to do with bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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