7 Historical Moments In Tennis News That Shook The Sport
Breaking News Tennis is about to one of the oldest sports out there, and it has seen its share of ups and downs over the years. From Rod Laver to John McEnroe, read on to learn about some of the most significant historical moments in tennis news that shook the sport. From Björn Borg’s upset victory at Wimbledon in 1976 to Martina Navratilova becoming the first woman to win a Grand Slam singles title six times, these are moments that will stay with you for a long time.
Serena Williams Beats Naomi Osaka In U.S. Open Women’s Final
Serena Williams beat Naomi Osaka in a hotly-contested final at the U.S. Open on Sunday, denying the young Japanese player her first major title. The match was an all-time classic, with both players proving they were equals on the court. It was also a rematch of last year’s U.S. Open women’s final, which Osaka won in a tight five-set match.
Osaka had been favourite to win this year’s tournament, but Williams proved she is still one of the greatest players in history by beating her in a gripping final match. After trailing 5-1 in the second set and being down 1-0 in the third, Williams came back to win 6-4, 7-5. Her victory makes her only the fourth woman ever to win four consecutive U.S. Open titles, joining Margaret Court (five), Steffi Graf (five) and Billie Jean King (four).
Roger Federer Beats Rafael Nadal In Australian Open Men’s Final
Roger Federer finally outlasted Rafael Nadal in a battle of great Swiss players at the Australian Open. The final was a back-and-forth affair, with both men fighting for every point until Federer broke through to win in straight sets.
Nadal’s loss marks the fourth time that Federer has beaten his Spanish rival in major championships, and it also gives Federer his eleventh Grand Slam title - surpassing Bill Tilden's record of ten. The match was also an emotional one for both players; Nadal dedicated his victory to former coach Carlos Moya, who died earlier this year.
Novak Djokovic Beats Stan Wawrinka In Swiss Open Men’s Final
Novak Djokovic outlasted Stan Wawrinka in a thrilling Swiss Open final to become the first man to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time. Djokovic had reached the final by beating both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal en route, while Wawrinka had to beat Kei Nishikori in the semifinals. The match was tight throughout, with neither player managing to take control for long. However, Djokovic proved too strong in the end, winning 7-6 (5), 6-4 in just over two hours. This win marks Djokovic's eighth Swiss Open title and his tenth major title overall. It also brings him level with Federer on career Grand Slams won - a feat that has long been considered impossible for one man to achieve.
Serena Williams Retires From Professional Tennis
After an illustrious career spanning 23 years, Serena Williams has announced her retirement from professional tennis. The 37-year-old American has won 23 Grand Slam titles, making her the most successful female player of all time.
Williams’s greatest moments in tennis came during her time at the sport’s highest level. She became the first woman to win a Wimbledon singles title in 1997 and went on to win five more titles at the All England Club. In 2002, she became the first African American woman to reach number one in the world rankings.
Williams has also been successful in other disciplines outside of tennis. She is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and a two-time World Cup champion. Her trademark Isner serve helped her to become one of tennis’s most dominant players, with an impressive winning percentage of 68%. Williams said that she will continue to work as a coach after she retires from playing but did not announce any plans for future tournament appearances.
Maria Sharapova Is Suspended For Anti-Doping Rule Violation
Maria Sharapova has been suspended for 15 months after testing positive for meldonium, a drug which is not currently on the WADA banned list. Sharapova claimed that the use of meldonium was for medical purposes and that she did not know it was a prohibited substance. She has vehemently denied any intentional wrongdoing and her explanation appears to be credible.
The news of Sharapova's suspension has understandably caused much controversy, with many people questioning whether she should have been allowed to compete while carrying such a serious charge. Whilst there are valid arguments on both sides, the fact remains that Sharapova broke the rules and deserves to be penalized accordingly.
This is only the latest in a long line of doping scandals in tennis. In 1988, Martina Navratilova was banned for three years after testing positive for anabolic steroids. In 2009, Lleyton Hewitt was also banned for two years after admitting to taking performance enhancing drugs including testosterone and crystal meth. These scandals have exposed the sport as being rife with cheating, and have led to calls for stricter regulations governing anti-doping practices.
Sharapova's suspension will likely lead to other athletes being more careful about what drugs they take, especially as meldonium does not appear on WADA's currently banned list. This is good news as it will help to deter cheaters from trying to skirt the rules in future.
ATP Finals: Novak Djokovic Defeats
Novak Djokovic stunned the tennis world when he defeated Andy Murray in the Wimbledon final on July 15, 2016. Djokovic completed a Career Grand Slam by becoming only the sixth player to win all four majors. This victory vaulted him into first place on the ATP Rankings and guaranteed him a spot in the ATP Finals.
The ATP Finals are a tournament that takes place every year and consists of eight players who have qualified through their performances over the past season. Djokovic was one of two finalists that were not part of the Wimbledon final. Murray had beaten Djokovic in both of their previous matches but fell to him again in London, making this match especially meaningful.
Djokovic entered the match as heavy favorite due to his past wins against Murray and his strong performance at Wimbledon. However, Murray fought back and took control of the match in early stages. The match went back and forth with neither player able to gain an advantage for sustained periods of time. In a moment that will be remembered for years to come, Djokovic achieved what seemed impossible by defeating Murray in a five-set thriller. This victory solidified Djokovic’s status as one of the greatest players ever and assured him a place in history alongside legends such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras, and Björn Borg.
