The Top Tennis Rivalries to Watch in 2017
After 2016 saw the disintegration of Novak Djokovic’s empire, Andy Murray stepped in to revive the competitiveness in their rivalry. Ultimately, the two superstars played in the World Tour Finals to decide the world No. 1 ranking and the Scot prevailed.
Could 2017 be the beginning of a new level in their rivalry, or will their encounters fade and diminish? It’s the most important current rivalry in tennis, but it might not last or continue as long as tennis fans expect.
We profile Djokovic vs. Murray and seven other rivalries that could be significant for big matches, major titles and fan interest.
Garbine Muguruza vs. Karolina Pliskova
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We start in the WTA with what should be the rivalry of the future.
In one corner, French Open champion and world No. 7 Garbine Muguruza from Spain. She is 6'0" tall with big groundstrokes and all the potential in the world. It could be just a matter of time and more consistency before she becomes the No. 1 player in tennis.
In the other corner, world No. 6 Karolina Pliskova from the Czech Republic. She’s 6'1" with the biggest serve in women’s tennis and a sudden surge in realizing her potential. Maybe she’s ready to win the Australian Open or Wimbledon.
Muguruza, age 23, and Pliskova, age 24, are powerfully poised to knock off veterans Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber. They have young strong legs, growing confidence and the tools to beat anyone in the WTA. Muguruza’s French Open title and Pliskova’s U.S. Open final both came at the expense of the American.
So far it is Pliskova who holds a 4-1 head-to-head advantage over Muguruza, having swept all four matches in 2015-16, including this year’s ties at Cincinnati’s Western & Southern Open semifinal and at the WTA Finals in Singapore.
It’s time for Muguruza to strike back.
The challenge will be whether they can both improve their focus and consistency. Muguruza struggled in the second half of the year, but she will likely be much better when spring comes around for her favorite tournaments on clay and at Wimbledon.
Pliskova has now entered the scene as a big-time player, and she could find herself battling Muguruza through final weekend matches to set up, or win, titles.
Angelique Kerber vs. Serena Williams
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It’s the rivalry that came out of nowhere when Angelique Kerber shocked Serena Williams to win the Australian Open in an instant classic. The German's pesky defensive retrievals and flatter shots were a feisty contrast to the American’s big serve and baseline power.
Williams returned the favor by defeating Kerber in the Wimbledon final.
Kerber responded by winning the U.S. Open and knocking off Williams' record-tying run of 186 consecutive weeks at No. 1.
It all sets up for another clash at the Australian Open, with Kerber’s No. 1 ranking very much on the line. If she loses early in the tournament and Williams wins the title, the top spot could change hands. And this could be the first of many times through the spring and summer, so long as both players are healthy.
Prior to 2016, Williams held a 5-1 head-to-head advantage, but Kerber’s growth in big matches makes this the hot rivalry to watch in women’s tennis.
Juan Martin del Potro vs. Novak Djokovic
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Resurgent Juan Martin del Potro resurrected his career in 2016, and the giant statement came with his stunning first-round upset of Djokovic at the Olympic Games.
The Argentine would go on to capture the silver medal and lead his team to the Davis Cup title. Djokovic floundered down the stretch, losing his No. 1 ranking and failing to win a single title since that fateful loss.
There’s a good chance that the two old rivals will renew a lease for meaningful matches in 2017, and Djokovic will be focused and looking for payback. It was the first time they had met since 2013, primarily because of Del Potro’s career-threatening wrist surgery that kept him out of action for most of two years.
Djokovic, 29, holds a 11-4 advantage in career clashes, including his memorable five-set thriller over Del Potro in the 2013 Wimbledon semifinal. The Serb has won all four of their meetings in majors.
Del Potro, 28, has shown a lot of resolve and reinvented stardom with his forehand power and change-of-pace backhand. He’s got a better package of variety and patience to go with his experienced clout.
It’s a pleasing contrast for tennis viewers who will tune in to see if Djokovic can win a cat-and-mouse game with deep line shots against Del Potro’s firepower.
They are both great and versatile on all surfaces, so this could become a renewed, growing rivalry in 2017.
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Kei Nishikori vs. Rafael Nadal
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Our wildcard rivalry could be a hot springtime duel on clay. Rafael Nadal does not need to prove anything historically, but the April-June period in Europe could be his last chance at big titles. He will look to defend Monte Carlo and Barcelona, and there are old opportunities at Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros.
There’s a good chance that Kei Nishikori will be in his way. The Japanese star broke Nadal’s stranglehold at Barcelona in 2014 and nearly finished off the Spaniard in the Madrid final. Were it not for a sudden back injury, he could have won his only Masters 1000 title against the former world No. 1, who would go on to win his last French Open title.
Since Madrid 2014, they have split their four games. Nishikori, 26, won at the 2015 Rogers Cup quarterfinals and the Olympic bronze-medal match, while Nadal, 30, took the Barcelona title (ending the Japanese's two-year reign in Spain) and the Indian Wells semifinal in 2016.
It’s likely they will cross paths, and Nishikori’s younger, speedier legs are now a greater advantage on clay. Nadal’s key will be his forehand confidence and depth.
Both players are resilient and entertaining, and although it might be difficult for them to challenge Djokovic or Murray year round, they are very much contenders at the French Open.
Stan Wawrinka vs. Novak Djokovic
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It’s already been one of the most unique rivalries of the past three years, an on-and-off affair that usually produces big fireworks when they meet in majors. While Djokovic has mostly dominated the ATP tour and won most of the important matches over Roger Federer and Andy Murray, the biggest thorn in his side has been Stan Wawrinka.
Three times in three years Wawrinka has denied Djokovic the opportunity for major titles. Maybe Djokovic would have gone on to win the 2014 Australian Open, 2015 French Open and 2016 U.S. Open were it not for the blocky Swiss with the hammering groundstrokes and fearless demeanor.
This rivalry usually depends on whether Wawrinka is trending up. If so, he's the most dangerous player to Djokovic in how his physical pressure creates just enough fatal hesitation.
Right away at the Australian Open they could be on a collision course. It’s a slow-enough surface that gives Wawrinka time to wind up and blast. It’s also Djokovic’s greatest event, and he will be motivated to defend his title, recapture the No. 1 ranking and strike back against the Swiss for the wounded fall he had at the U.S. Open.
Or maybe Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, Rome or Roland Garros could see them tee off for another heavyweight bout. It’s one of the most cold-blooded contrasts and a true rivalry in how they can attack each other.
Dominic Thiem vs. Alexander Zverev vs. Nick Kyrgios
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Time out from veteran rivalries; sooner than later the generation of young 20-somethings are going to have a couple of breakout stars. Why not in 2017?
The most established new player in the top 10 is Dominic Thiem. The Austrian has power similar to Wawrinka but greater athleticism and a lot of grit and heart, as evidenced by his willingness to grind on clay. He’s already struck up a mini-rivalry with 19-year-old Alexander Zverev, who might be the most gifted young player on tour.
Thiem vs. Zverev was launched for an underground clay-court trilogy last spring. The former won them all, but Munich and Nice went the distance, and it took the Austrian four competitive sets to get through the German at Roland Garros. Thiem went on to the semifinals and stayed inside the top 10 thereafter.
Zverev was the better player in autumn, taking his rising momentum to defeat a worn-out Thiem on hard courts in Beijing.
And then there’s troubled Nick Kyrgios. He’s a box-office attraction, and if he get serious about training, conditioning and keeping his composure, he could duel either of the young Europeans to be the next big champion of the ATP.
Milos Raonic vs. Andy Murray
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The newest and potentially most important rivalry could be rising big man Milos Raonic and his bid to topple Andy Murray. In 2016, he had plenty of chances but always came up a day late and a dollar short.
The weird thing is that Raonic took four of their first six meetings between 2012 and early 2014, but Murray has since reeled off seven wins in a row, including all six meetings in 2016 (not including a semifinal walkover at the Paris Masters).
They’ve all been huge matches with Raonic’s missile serve, improved net play and shot-making decisions a great challenge to the defensive talents and cerebral resilience of the champion. Consider how close or painful if was for the Canadian in each of the following matches this past year:
- Lost a five-set match in the Australian Open semifinals when he was hampered late by an adductor injury that caused a medical timeout and noticeable loss of power and mobility.
- Murray obliterated Raonic 6-2, 6-0 in Monte Carlo. No doubt who was the boss there.
- Up a set and a break in the final at Queen’s Club—the grass-court preview for Wimbledon—Raonic faltered and Murray stole the title.
- Off his emotional semifinal victory over Roger Federer at Wimbledon, our choice for match of the year, Raonic was flat against the tougher Murray, who won the final in straight sets including both tiebreakers.
- Murray’s easy 6-3, 6-3 semifinal blitz at Cincinnati’s Western & Southern Open.
- The walkover at Paris that allowed Murray to clinch the No. 1 ranking for the first time.
- Their epic semifinal at the World Tour Finals. Raonic had a match point and a chance to knock Murray from the No. 1 ranking, but once again he was denied by the Scot. It was tough to lose the third-set tiebreaker 11-9.
It all sets up for Raonic’s revenge in 2017. If the Canadian is going to get that first major, he’s going to have to go through Murray—there’s little doubt about that.
Novak Djokovic vs. Andy Murray
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What else is left in the Djokovic-Murray rivalry? Actually a lot of new territory is already being explored with the promise for bigger wars ahead.
Through Djokovic’s triumph for the French Open title, Murray had usually been his punching bag. Well, that is except for the years that coach Ivan Lendl guided the Scot from 2012-early 2014. Then, he won his first two major titles at the expense of the Serb.
Now Lendl’s back in Murray's corner and suddenly the 29-year-old is a repeat winner for Wimbledon and Olympic gold. Best of all, he just took the World Tour Finals and the No. 1 ranking from Djokovic.
The Serbian player is looking up at the Scot, and he needs to respond for the first time in many years. He needs to prove he is motivated to grind through Murray for the Australian Open title once again.
Or maybe Murray will feel the pressure to topple Djokovic at Melbourne or for the French Open title. It could be that Djokovic will be the spoiler, or that he will take it personally that he is not the undisputed king of the ATP right now.
Yeah, the rivalry is still on. It might not be "Federer vs. Nadal," but it’s their time to shine. And it's not going away until one, or both, of them finally fades. Enjoy it while you can.
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