A tennis era ends

There is a new era in men's tennis with some big yet contrasting shoes to fill, following the most significant period in its history. Men's professional tennis today is a force to be reckoned with in the business of sports primarily because of this period of sublime artistry, in the form of Roger Federer battling against the brutal intensity of Rafael Nadal - and other rivalries of that nature. And, while Federer and Nadal feel their best years are far from over, the fact is that the changing of the guard is now complete. The passing of time and the mortality of the professional athlete has led to ageing and injuries, respectively. And watching this year's Wimbledon, one got the feeling that the game had changed to a point where the two just might not be able to compete consistently with the best in the world today. Though writing someone off prematurely is never ideal, early exits from grand slams and upset losses on the tour - despite the consistency in the rankings of both players - are becoming far more frequent than can be rationalised by us, their supporters.

This isn't about their legacies or legend. Both have scripted extraordinary careers. Their place in history is secure to the extent that if they were to retire today, Federer would most likely be considered the greatest of all time (perhaps a title that is his in perpetuity), and Nadal among the top three or four of all time. It's unlikely that Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will ever eclipse their accomplishments either on court or off, despite Djokovic's ranking and the Murray mania after the Scot's historic win.

But history and legend aside, today's tennis stars have a different brand value. Their similar games, hard-hitting rallies, stupendous stamina, and aggressive on-court behaviour are in stark contrast to the subtler aspects of the game that many of us have witnessed and appreciated over the last decade. No athlete is universally liked or globally admired, and both Federer and Nadal have had their critics; but if ever a sport was the closest to a sure thing from the popularity and brand titan standpoint, tennis with them at the top was it.

Given the current euphoria over Murray's superlative achievement, and Djokovic's remarkable consistency at the top, the business of tennis seems secure, but the change will be vulnerable to societal and cultural variations. Both Murray and Djokovic are popular in their own right, but they bring to the game a rougher edge - chest thumping, roaring at opponents' mistakes, aiming for their opponents' heads on occasion instead of passing with accuracy, and overall gamesmanship. The game today is more impactful, the supporters more rabid, and the brand ambassadors are more translucent than what we are accustomed to. This could bode well for broadening the fan base, as the edginess and violent hitting should appeal to an evolving society and a pop culture that thrives on aggression - the success of shows such as Game of Thrones, Dexter and Spartacus seems to indicate this trend.

Tennis has probably hit its peak with Wimbledon 2013, but now it will be a question of sustaining brand value. After all, once history has been made - that too, textbook history after 77 years - the reality comes next. And the reality is that tennis in the era of Djokovic and Murray may not have the components that kept us all mesmerised in the age that is just ending. We are an impatient society and culture, so the prospect of repeatedly witnessing matches that cross the five-hour limit and feature rally after rally with numbing similarity may no longer be the code for tennis' extended success.

The problem is also that the windows of greatness for players in this high-impact generation are smaller, and greatness occurs at a more mature age than it did for superstars such as Becker, McEnroe, Connors, Borg, Agassi, Sampras, Nadal and Roger. Peaking at 26 leaves little time to break records, and interest may wane if records are out of reach.

Our culture and society get bored easily and there may not be enough contrast in styles and personalities that can keep the fans wanting more. Tennis may no longer be the gentlemen's game, but it definitely is a man's sport now. Unless Murray and Djokovic sustain the excellence and approach the breaking of grand slam or ranking records, there may still be much to play for, but society may not play along by watching.

The writer is a sports attorney at J Sagar Associates. He tweets about sports at @dgcsekhri. Views are personal.

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