The Most Memorable Moments from Men's Tennis in 2014
Men's tennis in 2014 had its share of memorable matches, upsets and upstarts. It began with Rafael Nadal at the top and ended with Roger Federer trying to catch Novak Djokovic. Some things never seem to change.
The following is a chronological compilation of tennis' most memorable moments, what people are most likely to remember years from now. It is not a list of tennis' best matches but rather turning points or memories that led to big results.
The most memorable moment are more than winning big Grand Slam matches, but rather they are a glimpse at some of the fight and emotion that transferred to the most important winners of the year.
Heat Wave and Melting Water Bottles Down Under
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For most of us in the northern hemisphere, a little sun does not sound too bad. But January 2014 at Melbourne, Australia, produced 110-degree weather for a few sweltering days of Grand Slam tennis..
Big players like Juan Martin del Potro were cut down. Water bottles were reported to be melting. And Canadian Frank Dancevic fainted on the sidelines during his match. Afterward he called it "inhumane" to play matches. He added, "Until somebody dies, they just keep going on with it and putting matches on in this heat."
By the second week, the heat had cooled somewhat and left center stage for the winners.
Stanislas Wawrinka's Toughness
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The tennis climax of Stanislas Wawrinka saw him raise his arms as the victorious winner of the 2014 Australian Open. But he had to endure as much in his head and heart as he did on the court.
He outlasted Novak Djokovic to finally win a big five-set thriller against the Serbian, avenging somewhat the close-shave losses the previous year at Flushing Meadows and Melbourne.
But the enduring memory will always be the way he approached the chair umpire after his final-match opponent Rafael Nadal lay prostrate with agony etched on his face and a trainer rubbing his lower back. Wawrinka barked and questioned the time allotted for Nadal's recovery in the locker room, as transcribed on DownTheTee.com:
""Tell me," Wawrinka yelled at Chair Umpire Carlos Ramos. "You have to tell me. What's the timeout for?"
"I'm not going to ask. I don't have to tell you," Ramos responded.
"Call someone now," Wawrinka demanded.
"You will find out when he comes back," Ramos said.
"
It must be understood that Wawrinka was up a set and a break in the biggest match of his life, and perhaps he had his one chance to win a major. He had rifled big shots at the Spaniard legend and was upset at the prospects of possible gamesmanship, at least according to the moment to which he had to react.
He would struggle through his own demons against a wounded Nadal fighting through his own poor play to regather his thoughts and close out the championship.
Finally, he raised his arms in victory.
Novak Djokovic and Marian Vajda Celebrate Indian Wells
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Novak Djokovic has had to transition in 2014 with a coaching change. His longtime coach Marian Vajda needed to reduce his schedule with Djokovic. Instead, new coach Boris Becker took the reins.
But Djokovic could not defend Australia, and he lost the Dubai semifinal to Roger Federer, a victim to his rival's added emphasis on serve and volley behind his new coach Stefan Edberg. It wasn't just that Djokovic was struggling in big matches, but he looked uncomfortable playing tennis, wanting to try a more aggressive approach but ambiguous about his execution.
Then Indian Wells came. Becker was sidelined, and Vajda took control. It was if Djokovic had found new life and renewed comfort in his game, blasting from the baseline and playing without an albatross around his neck.
The first thing he did after winning Indian Wells was to seek out Vajda for an embrace. It was as much relief as joy, the acknowledgement of their past success and relationship, and for support in the times ahead.
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Ivan Lendl Departs from Coaching with Andy Murray
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Just before Andy Murray looked to defend his Masters 1000 title at Miami, Ivan Lendl, his coach of more than two years, parted ways to pursue other projects.
It would prove to be an important change in the career of Murray who had been seeking his best form since a debilitating back surgery the prior September.
The loss of Lendl was tough timing for Murray on the cusp of the most important tennis stretch of the season. Lendl had brought an even greater level of respect, toughness and aggressive play, something that has since been missing in the Scot's game.
Symbolically, Murray has taken a step back in his play, drifting too far behind the baseline and seemingly unable to move forward and hit with the level of offensive intensity that drove him to the 2012 U.S. Open title and 2013 Wimbledon.
Lendl's body of work as a coach leaves him as a hot commodity should the right player need an edge to get over the top and win major titles.
Kei Nishikori Suffers an Ill-Timed Back Injury at Madrid
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Kei Nishikori had already broken the Spanish hegemony at Barcelona by bagging that title. The Asian was breaking new ground, winning Europe's best red-clay tournaments. It seemed inconceivable that he would be the new force on clay.
But there he was in the Madrid final, up a set and a break against the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal. And it was no fluke. He controlled the angles and offense with his keen ball-striking and quick feet on clay. And then he stretched out with a contorted attempt to return a Nadal shot and pulled something in his hip and leg.
It was not only a disappointment in losing a Masters 1000 opportunity, but it may also have been instrumental in helping Nadal find his way back to another successful year on European clay. You had to feel bad for Nishikori, but fortunately it would only foreshadow more success in New York and London.
Rafael Nadal Wins a Gutsy French Open Final
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It was not exactly the performance of the ages for either Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic, but somehow, someway it was Nadal who once again found the winner's circle and picked up the Musketeers Cup at the French Open.
It was also a familiar script in major matches between the two great rivals. In the past few years in head-to-head clashes, Djokovic often wins the masters matches, but Nadal tends to win the major matches.
Both players had physical struggles in the heat. Djokovic had been sick a few days earlier and was visibly spent by the third set despite his first-set lead. He looked wobbly and threw up in the final. It was too much to expect him to outlast Nadal.
For his part, Nadal had had his share of ups and downs prior to the French Open. Most observers were picking the Serbian to dethrone the Spaniard champion. But Nadal found momentum at Paris, and by the final he overcame his own physical exhaustion to step across the finish line.
For the ninth time in 10 attempts, Nadal was the French Open champion. Accepting the trophy from Bjorn Borg was a shared combination of 15 championships at Roland Garros. How special was that?
Novak Djokovic Defeats Roger Federer in Wimbledon Final
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Unless you preferred Wawrinka's shootout with Djokovic in the Australian Open quarterfinals, the Wimbledon final was the match of the year. It had it all, momentum exchanges, contrasts of styles, big shots and missed opportunities.
The crowd at Centre Court leaned heavily toward the Swiss legend, urging him on and roaring late in the fourth set when Federer came back from a 2-5 deficit including a championship point at 4-5. Federer was tough, resilient and nearly able to stymie his younger rival with his variety of shots and timely net play.
Djokovic had to regather his courage after seemingly blowing the match in the fourth set. The ghosts of losing recent major finals seemed to hover over his jinxed results, such as four weeks previous when he had gotten sick at the French Open final.
Too many losses could have been insurmountable, but he picked himself off the grass, got his medical timeout and rode his baseline reflexes to his second Wimbledon title.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Wins the Rogers Cup
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It was the biggest title of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's career, unless you prefer his Masters 1000 title at Paris in 2008. And it came out of nowhere.
Tsonga had been struggling for over a year, battling injuries and uneven results. He hovered just inside the top 20, not seemingly a threat to win the Rogers Cup in Toronto. And then he caught fire.
Tsonga's serve was devastating and his power too much for the best players in the game. He blew away World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. He pushed aside Andy Murray and pulverized Grigor Dimitrov. Finally, he finished off Roger Federer in the final with crushing power and steely resolve.
Tennis fans had to feel great for Tsonga. There was genuine emotion draped over him, as if the disappointments as a career also-ran could be wiped away for a few minutes. No more talk of lost potential or choking. Just calm celebration and a recognition of what it was to be the best player in the world for one week.
He looked to make a bid for the U.S. Open title, but midnight had struck, and the carriage turned back into a pumpkin. Nevertheless, August will be a magical moment for his career and something that could galvanize him again in another huge match.
Gael Monfils Lets It All Unravel in the U.S. Open Quarterfinals
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Forgive tennis fans if they enjoyed Roger Federer's two-set deficit and comeback win against Gael Monfils in a spectacular quarterfinals match at the U.S. Open. Federer will always get credit because his talent makes it easy to explain that he is a deserving winner.
But take a few days, a few weeks or a few months from that match. Remove yourself from the victory haze that once again added a few champagne bubbles to the Federer legend.
Monfils blew this one.
The first two sets saw him virtually toy with Federer. He was in one of those zones, ripping flamboyant shots and tracking down several awful drop shots from the Swiss Maestro. Maybe Federer just underestimated Monfils speed and court coverage, or maybe he was just waiting for Monfils to implode. Not even an ankle turn could slow down the Frenchman.
Federer regrouped in the third set, but Monfils threw away the fourth set. Two match points disintegrated; the second was a case of conservative play in poking back a weak forehand that allowed Federer to come in and put away a winner.
If there was still doubt that Monfils could regroup and compete, he tossed up two double faults in his service game. The head-game officially joined in with his collapse.
No semifinals for Monfils and another reminder that his high-risk shot-making can tantalize but not take when a late second-week major match is on the line.
Marin Cilic Captures Lightning in a Bottle
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The following three questions recognize Marin Cilic's 2014 U.S. Open title even if none of the matches were too memorable.
Would anyone have predicted Cilic would crush his final three opponents, including Roger Federer, in straight sets?
Would anyone have predicted Cilic would be superimposed against the New York skyline, his trophy looming larger than the Empire State Building?
Would anyone have predicted that Cilic would quietly return to his status as an also-ran within a New York minute?
Swiss Davis Cup Title Now a Reality
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Fittingly, 2014 rewarded Roger Federer for his comeback efforts in returning to the top of tennis. No, he didn't win a major, and he fell short of getting back to No. 1, but he no longer has to feel the weight of Switzerland's Davis Cup drought.
Early in his career, Federer shouldered virtually the entire burden of Davis Cup hopes for his country. Then he turned his attention to beating up the ATP tour and setting records that may never be broken.
His career at the top naturally took greater priority than Davis Cup, but the reality is that until Stanislas Wawrinka, Switzerland did not have the help to outlast other deeper teams such as Spain and the Czech Republic.
But following the WTF final, everything was in jeopardy. Federer had hurt himself during an emotional semifinal comeback over Wawrinka (ironically enough), and tennis observers wondered if Federer could be at full strength against France just a couple of days later.
Then there was the soap-opera locker-room drama between Federer and Wawrinka featuring Federer's ebullient wife. It created rumors of an alleged rift between the teammates that could have divided their spirits into sulky blame had they not won the Davis Cup.
You want a moment, how about relief? Federer could sigh, thank his teammates and let his country enjoy this victory. And how good did it feel to lose the distinction of being the best player never to win the Davis Cup?
Yes, joy, but more relief.
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