While we anxiously wait to see what happens at the US Open this month, this Grand Slam season has been a season of many upsets for fans. It’s not the first time there have been upsets and definitely not the last. Yet, the sheer number of upsets this season has many fans crying out for their sports heroes.
The first major upset of the Wimbledon men’s tournament came in the quarter-final match between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Roger Federer. The favourite by leaps, Federer had fans across the world glued to their television sets to see what new shots the king had to offer. Federer lovers all over the world wept when the 16-time Grand Slam winner lost to Tsonga. The final then went on to be a sizzling competition between world number 1 Novak Djokovic and crowd favourite Rafael Nadal.
At the women’s end, Maria Sharapova, who had been on a roll since the first day of the Wimbledon tournament with impressive wins, lost her streak at the finals against Petra Kvitova. This, while many-time champions, the Williams sisters (Serena and Venus), were knocked out in the fourth round and top seed Wozniacki was sent packing by number 24 Dominika Cibulkova.
On the clay court at the French Open, fans were treated to an action-packed final with Federer struggling it out with Nadal. The king of clay, Nadal, called upon every ounce of his energy the title.
Earlier in the year, Australian Open, China’s upset world number Caroline Wozniacki the first Asian player in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam final in a singles tournament and then win it. This after she already upset Venus Williams in the quarter finals.
For the men’s tournament, while fans rightfully expected the tour’s two most proven stars, top seed Rafael Nadal and second seed Roger Federer, to meet in the nals, neither player survived. Nadal lost to David Ferrer in the quarters and the Nadal was defeated by Novak Djokovic in the finals.
When Andy Murray toppled Ferrer in the semis, the stage was set for two of the games next tier contenders to show their stuff. Novak Djokovic turned in a thoroghly convincing triumph over his long-time rival. Even more impressive was Djokovic’s maturing. He played confidently with emotions in check throughout the tournament, and went on to become the World number 1 after beating Nadal to clinch the muchcoveted Wimbledon title.
Times will change and so will players, and with them the stars; these names and times will become history. And even then, the heartbroken fans will have them etched in their memories forever.
Volume 1 Issue 3
