Underrated Tennis Rivalries That Will Grow in 2015
Tennis is a sport defined by rivalries.
The nature of the game lends itself to fierce competition between opponents. Players line up on opposite sides of the net, locking eyes as they battle for supremacy and the right to walk off the court a winner.
During the last 10 years, thrilling matchups like Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic vs. Nadal, and Federer vs. Djokovic have elevated men's tennis to another level of intrigue. On the women's side, Serena and Venus Williams have fought for family superiority, while Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka have shrieked their way through many grueling encounters.
But tennis is ripe with many other entertaining rivalries. Young guns like Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov have emerged on the ATP World Tour, challenging the top stars and one another every time they face off.
Not to be outdone, the WTA Tour features its share of emerging talents, like Eugenie Bouchard and Simona Halep, who fought hard in 2014 for top-contender status.
The following slideshow will highlight a few of the most underrated rivalries in men's and women's tennis. They may not hold the same cache as other matchups, but when these players meet, there's plenty of drama. As the 2015 season begins, these rivalries are sure to grow and blossom.
Roger Federer vs. Gael Monfils
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One player is the embodiment of cool, the other a flashy showman.
Roger Federer and Gael Monfils may be polar opposites in terms of personality, but they bring out the best in one another on the court. Their knack for flair produces some of the most breathtaking and graceful tennis.
They've met 11 times, with Federer holding an 8-3 advantage. But after Federer won their first five encounters, Monfils turned the tide. Since 2010, the duo has split its last six meetings.
Losses to the Swiss at the French Open in 2008 and 2009 left Monfils winless against his foe. In 2010, he finally overcame Federer with a tense 7-6 (7), 6-7 (1), 7-6 (4) semifinal win at Paris-Bercy.
That match was a turning point. Federer would win their next meeting at Roland Garros in 2011, but Monfils answered with a fourth-round upset in 2013 at Shanghai. No longer was the Frenchman his opponent's punching bag.
This past season, their rivalry elevated to new levels of drama.
Federer notched an epic comeback against Monfils at the U.S. Open this year, surviving from two sets down to win their quarterfinal match 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2. It was a spectacular display on the biggest stage in tennis.
Monfils earned his payback in the Davis Cup final this November with a dominant takedown of an ailing Federer. He cruised in straight sets against the Swiss, who was recovering from a back injury.
As these two alternate wins, it's tough to predict who will win on any given day. And that's what makes their rivalry so good: the element of unpredictability.
Maria Sharapova vs. Caroline Wozniacki
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Caroline Wozniacki covets what Maria Sharapova holds: a Grand Slam crown.
While Sharapova has powered her way to five major titles, Wozniacki has yet to break through. Though her Slam-less resume is a burden, it hasn't held her back from stopping the Russian at big tournaments.
Sharapova owns a 5-4 advantage over the Dane, but Wozniacki has won both of their matches in major tournaments, as well as their only encounter at the WTA Tour Championships.
After losing their first two meetings back in 2008, Wozniacki rebounded with a fourth-round victory over Sharapova at the 2010 U.S. Open. It wouldn't be the last time she'd fluster her foe in New York.
Wozniacki earned one of the most important wins of her career at the U.S. Open this year when she upset Sharapova 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 in a tense fourth-round battle. That victory snapped the Russian's three-match winning streak in their rivalry.
In a marathon round-robin match at the WTA Tour Championships, Wozniacki again dispatched Sharapova in three thrilling sets. Their battle stretched out over three hours and pushed both women to the physical brink.
Most players are overwhelmed by Sharapova's powerful groundstrokes—not Wozniacki. Her defensive skills and fitness allow her to hang tough in long points with Sharapova, creating great theater for tennis fans.
As Wozniacki continues her resurgence, she'll again try for her first Grand Slam title in 2015. She'll likely have to go through Sharapova to get there. If their matches this year are any indication, more drama between the two is on the way.
Andy Murray vs. Grigor Dimitrov
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Grigor Dimitrov's rise toward the top of tennis has been swift and shows no signs of slowing down.
In 2014, the 23-year-old Bulgarian surged from the No. 23 ranking all the way into the top 10. His new rivalry with Andy Murray played a large role in shaping that upward trajectory.
They played three times this year, with Dimitrov winning on two of those occasions. Each victory proved enormous.
In a semifinal match in Acapulco, Mexico, Dimitrov earned a thrilling win over Murray, topping the Scot 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) in a nearly three-hour match. Murray landed the first blow, but the Bulgarian raised his game to grind out the win. In the Mexican heat, both players left all they had on the court.
It was an important result for Dimitrov, but the signature win of his young career came at Wimbledon this past summer when he stole the show and knocked off Murray, the defending champion, in straight sets.
Dimitrov's blistering offensive display left Murray with few answers. There were plenty of long rallies and sizzling shots, but Dimitrov's aggressiveness carried him into his first Grand Slam semifinal appearance.
That win also helped boost Dimitrov past Murray in the world rankings, but the Scot responded later in the year with a straight-sets victory in Paris-Bercy.
What makes the Murray-Dimitrov matchup so compelling is the difference in their playing styles. Dimitrov brings a full arsenal of offensive weapons, while Murray holds true to his reputation as a defensive wizard. Both men are excellent movers and shot-makers, which leads to many highlight-reel points.
Murray currently owns a 4-2 head-to-head advantage. As Dimitrov's game continues to mature, expect these two to square off more often deep in tournaments.
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Eugenie Bouchard vs. Simona Halep
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This budding rivalry is all about potential.
Eugenie Bouchard and Simona Halep emerged as the breakout stars of women's tennis this past year. While Bouchard stole headlines and publicity with her outgoing personality, Halep quietly enjoyed a consistent and dominant season.
Each player proved their worth at the Grand Slam level.
Bouchard showed her comfort playing under the bright lights, reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open and French Open before making her first major final at Wimbledon.
Halep also reached her first Grand Slam final, clawing her way to the championship match at Roland Garros. The Romanian also made the quarterfinals in Australia and the semifinals at Wimbledon.
Along the way, these two rising stars met three times in 2014.
Halep landed the first blow in the rivalry, claiming their encounter at Indian Wells this March with a gritty three-set win over the Canadian.
Bouchard bounced back from that loss with a sizzling 7-6 (5), 6-2 win over Halep in the Wimbledon semifinals.
Their last match of the year proved anticlimatic, with Halep scoring a 6-2, 6-3 win in a round-robin match at the WTA Tour Championships.
As both players come into their own, the quality of their matches will also improve. Bouchard, 20, and Halep, 23, are still fostering their games and maturing. While Bouchard is an aggressive player who likes to take the ball early, Halep is a defensive stalwart who thrives on her tremendous quickness. That dichotomy in their skill sets will make for entertaining tennis.
Bouchard and Halep are on a fast track to the No. 1 ranking in the world and Grand Slam glory; they ended the year seventh and fourth, respectively. To get there, they'll have to go through one another.
Kei Nishikori vs. Milos Raonic
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Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori made good on their potential and proved themselves as Grand Slam contenders in 2014.
Both players had breakout seasons, cracking the top 10 and qualifying for their first appearances at the ATP World Tour Finals.
Raonic and his cannon-like serve racked up a title in Washington and 49 wins, including his first major quarterfinal (French Open) and semifinal (Wimbledon) appearances. Nishikori won 54 matches for the year, made his first Grand Slam final at the U.S. Open and claimed titles in Memphis, Barcelona, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo.
Nishikori and Raonic met four times in 2014, and each match provided great drama. Nishikori won the first encounter on the red dirt of Madrid in a tight 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) affair. Raonic returned the favor in the fourth round at Wimbledon, securing a four-set victory over his foe.
Those matches were just the preamble to their most intense match of the year. At the U.S. Open, Nishikori defeated Raonic in a blockbuster fourth-round epic, winning 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-4. Their slugfest lasted four hours and 19 minutes, with Nishikori somehow surviving a barrage of Raonic aces.
In Tokyo, they met in the final, and Nishikori held off Raonic 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4 for the title. It was yet another spectacular battle between the young guns.
Nishikori holds a 4-1 advantage in the rivalry, but each meeting has been more entertaining than the last. The two titans are so evenly matched, with Nishikori's elite defense and court coverage providing a perfect counter to Raonic's powerful serve and groundstrokes.
Their cat-and-mouse duels provided some of the most memorable matches of 2014. As both players advance in their careers and consolidate their spots at the top of tennis, Nishikori and Raonic are destined to face off for many years to come.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com and WTATennis.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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