Every once in a while, sport provides us with closely contested encounters. They are the equivalent of the epic battles of warfare… but without the blood and gore of mortal injury. Contests are grueling and all-consuming and the vanquished are left exhausted and humiliated.
Right now, on the centre courts of
Wimbledon, Roland Garros, Arthur Ashe and Rod Laver stadiums there are four supremely talented combatants. These are the men who have carved their names into the record books, exchanged the coveted number one spot on the world tennis rankings and reached the very apex of brilliance.
They are the fearsome foursome. They are Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, men who wield a racquet as if it’s the sword of Damocles!
Roger Federer
For many, Roger Federer is
the greatest tennis player of all time. It’s not only his record 20 grand slam titles or the $116 million plus he’s bagged in prize money that makes him so special, it’s his ability to play scintillating tennis on all court surfaces.
Image Source: eurosport.hu
Federer has won a record eight titles on grass, six and five on the hard courts of Melbourne and New York respectively and one on clay. He’s the master of tennis and there’s literally no other player who has his ease and versatility.
Federer is the complete package. His service game is accurate and quick, his footwork is extraordinary and his movement around the court is fast, agile and athletic.
The Swiss Maestro, whose mother hails from South Africa, is known as the nice guy of tennis. He’s magnanimous in victory and gracious in defeat and despite his advancing years, is still the man to beat!
Rafael Nadal
Tough, talented and bullish on court Rafael Nadal is the undisputed king of clay. He has claimed 11 French Open crowns to go with his three US Open, two Wimbledon and one Australian Open titles. Despite a prolonged injury layoff, the man from Majorca is back to his awesome best.
Image Source: dailytelegraph
Unlike Federer who is all effortless grace, Nadal is a nuggety player who bullies his opponents into submission. He’s fast, furious and hot blooded and he can hold his own against anyone with his aggressive baseline play.
Nadal favours hard-hitting groundstrokes with lots of top spin but it’s his never-say-die attitude that has propelled the feisty Spaniard to the very summit of men’s tennis.
Novak Djokovic
Small in stature but deceivingly powerful on court Novak Djokovic is a man on a mission… to reclaim the number one ranking spot. He too is an all-surface player who relies on his uncompromising baseline play to despatch his opponents. Djokovic has 12 grand slam titles under his belt, six of which were earned on the hard courts of Melbourne.
Image Source: worldtennismagazine.com
The Serb has been a bit off the boil of late, with both a young family and elbow injury playing havoc with his game time. Notwithstanding a slump in form Djokovic’s excellent movement around the court, blistering backhand down the line and ambitious defensive game means he’s a worthy member of the Fearsome Foursome!
Andy Murray
Strong, athletic and particularly deadly on hard courts, Andy Murray is fighting his way back to top form following surgery to his hip. The unflappable Scot boasts nine grand slam titles and is on course for a return at Wimbledon in 2018.
Image Source: sportsnet.ca
Murray is a counterpuncher who relies on his defensive game to come out tops. His movement around the court, powerful two-handed backhand and ability to inject pace into his groundstrokes at will are standout features of his game.
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