For the first time since the 2009 US Open, someone outside the Big Four of men's tennis emerged as a Grand Slam champion. At the Australian Open 2014, Stanislas Wawrinka lived up to his potential after years of futility. All of a sudden, men's tennis has a bevy of intriguing storylines and twists that will make the 2014 and 2015 seasons a tennis fan's dream.
Just a year ago, the ATP tour seemed to be at a crossroads. It was coping with Rafael Nadal's recurring injuries and inability to solve the Novak Djokovic puzzle. There was also the relative fall-off in form for Andy Murray after a breakthrough US Open win in 2012. The diminishing of Roger Federer as a contender was clearly a huge worry. And, above all else, given the doubts about finding young superstars with crossover appeal and personalities that led to exciting rivalries, the future seemed uncertain for the ATP tour. A lot has changed in the year since; if anything, tennis has somehow miraculously found itself in a position that is almost certain to extend its golden era for another few years at least.
Nostalgia got a huge boost this year, with a spurt of former tennis greats taking over coaching positions with the top players. Adding to the appointment of Ivan Lendl as Murray's coach, Federer has brought on Stefan Edberg, Djokovic has appointed the iconic Boris Becker, Wawrinka has been greatly helped by Magnus Norman, and Japan's Kei Nishikori has sought the experience of Michael Chang. Besides the synergies from experience and playing styles, watching the involvement of our favourites from the past and present seems fitting somehow, and engrossed us as fans across generations.
Tennis' great debate - about who the greatest player of all time is - is amazingly alive and well. With Federer's return to form and increased confidence, and Nadal at the top of the rankings and with two Grand Slams in 2013, this debate has unexpectedly been resurrected. For Federer, 2014 is not only a comeback year, but also a chance to seal his greatness. Although a longish shot at winning Grand Slam titles, his openness to serve and volley and preserve his conditioning could give him a chance at number 18. And, with Wawrinka now the Swiss number one, he and Federer are the favourites to win the Davis Cup for Switzerland this year - a title that has always eluded them. With an Olympics gold medal at Beijing in doubles and with Spain and Serbia already eliminated this year - the latter by the Swiss - Federer has a real chance to complete tennis' fabled trifecta.
Nadal has the trifecta, but has a less predictable journey ahead. His 2013-14 season was nothing short of legendary. Returning from a debilitating knee injury that almost ended his career, Nadal torched everyone in his path, and was well on his way to becoming number 14 until Wawrinka and his own back put a spanner in the works. Nadal, amazingly, has a winning record over every active player in the world's top 40, and his form has been stellar. But he has a winning record against everyone except his own fragility and this keeps him and his supporters in suspense as to his ability to consistently add to his tally of Grand Slams. With Wawrinka supremely confident, Djokovic looking to add aggression to his game, and Murray on the mend, the road ahead for Nadal might be difficult even once he overcomes this injury. Number 14 isn't a foregone conclusion, even at Roland Garros. Djokovic remains the most likely contender to finish the year at the top, and he has both the game and the hunger to emerge as the 2014 French Open champion and beyond.
There is a lot to look forward to in men's tennis. For those of us who missed watching our favourites growing up, the reintroduction of former legends as coaches adds further to the already high-stakes rivalries that exist among the players. The GOAT - greatest of all time - debate will keep us interested, and it certainly helps that Federer and Nadal remain contenders when it counts. But the biggest positive is that the next band of stars also exudes class, positivity, charisma and astounding on-court skills - not to forget the contrasting playing styles. The rivalries look to be healthy and heated. There's no raining on tennis' reign just yet.
The author leads the sports initiative at a leading national law firm. Views are personal
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