Wimbledon 2018 is over and has once again shown that the experience in professional tennis offers clear advantages in the fight against the young savages. Tennisnet looks back on the tournament at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Also present: Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic and of course Angelique Kerber.
Shouldn’t it be the time of the emerging young savages in tennis? I don’t think so. At this year’s Wimbledon tournament, experience has once again won.
To send a few facts ahead: Novak Djokovic, 31 years old. Kevin Anderson, 32 years old. Angelique Kerber, 30 years old and Serena Williams is almost 37 years old. These four players of the Ü-30 faction were in the finals of the men’s and women’s competition and once again left the newcomers and established youngsters behind them on the tour.
Example: Alexander Zverev. The German presented himself in great shape during the clay court season, played a mixed preparation and travelled to London with great ambitions. What followed was the symbol of the younger generation when it came to the great titles.
Zverev failed as a huge favourite due to Ernest Gulbus in the third round. The early end was no exception, however, if you take a look at the other NextGen stars. Canada rocket Denis Shapovalov bid farewell after his second round match, local hero and Britain’s hope Kyle Edmund survived one more lap before retiring.
Nick Kyrgios, who is already an experienced player, once again did not use his potential and had to pack his bags earlier than expected. Lucas Pouille’s second round out is further proof of the apparent spectre of Grand Slam for the next generation.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Karen Khachanov or Borna Coric. The list is long. Also as long as the list of old masters who once again showed how major tournaments work.
Well, Roger Federer’s early retirement is an exception. But Rafael Nadal, Juan Martín del Potro, John Isner and finally Champion Novak Djokovic are all old warhorses who have dominated world tennis for years and are apparently indestructible.
For all tennis fans this is of course a feast. The semi-final between Djokovic and Nadal alone brought back memories that were buried in the memory box. Just a classic. But what happens when a classic is no longer possible?
The time of the legionnaires of sport with the yellow felt ball will not last much longer and it must be the young savages who are already competing with the “old”. Apart from the major showdowns, this doesn’t happen just now at the really important tournaments. Is the changing of the guard really only over when “Roger”, “Rafa” and the “Djoker” hang up the bat? Looks that way.
Serena Williams has proven it to everyone once again. The title in Wimbledon was not quite the same, but an outstanding Angelique Kerber who believed in herself was too strong. Nevertheless, the almost 37-year-old made it to the final again. As a mother who didn’t show herself in her best form, but again left some players cold with her experience and power.
Williams is probably the most drastic example of the fact that at the moment the spark has not yet jumped over to the youth. Defending champion Garbiñe Muguruza was 24 years old and was not able to go beyond the second round.
Sloane Stephens, Elina Svitolina or Caroline Garcia also managed to retire early. Constance seems to be out of place here.
A look at the difference between young and old is particularly evident in Kerber. At 30, the Kieler has not yet reached the circle of the oldest players, yet the 30-year-old is much older than her young comrades-in-arms.
The biggest difference is probably the peace and quiet that Kerber and Co. bring along. Muguruza, Svitolina or Garcia are already worried and scolded after a few mistakes in the match. Champion Kerber, on the other hand, is calm, focused and unobtrusive. The attitude of a champion.
How long the reign of the established players will last is difficult to predict. Right now, everything looks like it’s all going to be a long way off.