Tennis Special Feature: Top five seasons in the Tennis Open era
When Rafael Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open final on Monday, he justified to his top seeding and did something which is rarely accomplished by winning straight majors in a calendar year. Just at the age of 24, he has become the youngest player in the Open era, to complete his Grand Slam set.
After winning French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open trifecta, the Spaniard pulled his socks in the U.S. Open and come out with the stunning results.
His performance throughout the tournament was outstanding; he won the hearts of his fans and lived up to the expectations of the spectators.
Here are the top five seasons in the Open era.
1. Rod Laver, 1969
The slim, handsome, attacking lefty was a youngster when he won the Grand Slam in 1962. Imagine the titles the Aussie have won had not been barred from 1963 to 1967 for being tennis professional.
In 1969, Rod Laver achieved his second Grand Slam title, competing against the professional tennis player his main rival Ken Rosewall, Stan Smith and Tony Roche. Back then, three of the four players were tested on the grass.
Rod Laver defeated Tony Roche in the U.S. Open final delayed by rain.
"After the final, there were probably 10 people in the press," Laver, who went 106-16 in 1969, told ESPN.com last year. "There was nothing made of it at all."
2. Jimmy Connors, 1974
Younger fans might remember the Jimmy Connors for his extraordinary performance at the 1991 U.S. Open as a 39-year-old professional tennis player.
Seventeen years back, Jimmy Connors won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. In tough 20 tournaments, he only lost four matches unwillingly. He has one victory shy of 100 too.
Jimmy Connors was allowed to participate in the French Open after a long tiring process. French officials opposed him, as he ruled out after signing a contract to play World Team Tennis.
The left-handed player is considered to be of the best players due to his terrific performance in 1974.
3. Roger Federer, 2006
In 2006 Federer was in his full form, and the Fed Express in full speed.
Roger Federer reached the finals of all the four major tournaments, but unfortunately winning only three of them, although this was the Swede’s best shot to complete the Grand Slam.
At the French Open he defeated Rafael Nadal in the opening set. In his first service game of the second, he held a 40-0 advantage, only to blow it. Nadal then eased to a four-set triumph.
Federer made the final in 16 of 17 tournaments and went a dazzling 92-5.
4. Rafael Nadal, 2010
Even if Nadal doesn’t win any of the other matches throughout the rest of 2010, Nadal will stay on the list. With the passage of time, he has improved for being simply a defensive clay court specialist.
It had a very tragic start, his ever-tender knees forced him to quit from the Australian Open quarterfinals, and the knees bothered him again during the clay court swing.
More tellingly, Nadal subsequently reclaimed his French Open title, showed his best performance at Wimbledon and finally tamed the faster New York hard courts. Not since Laver in 1969 any player won three major in a single season. Unlike Laver, he did it on three different surfaces.
5. Roger Federer, 2007
Roger Federer is considered to be the greatest professional tennis player due to his consistency at the highest level, as evidenced by those 16 majors and his semi-finals streak at the Grand Slam.
Federer proved himself once again in 2006 by winning Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open. He was the first player who reached all four Grand Slam finals in consecutive campaigns.
When he reached to the U.S. Open final, he made a record of 10 back-to-back Grand Slams finals appearances.
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