Adieu …
With their careers winding down, some players selected a specific tournament to say Au revoir. For others, “calling it quits” just happened. Because COVID-19 played its own game during 2020, using rules that are still being defined, a wide collection of pros retired.
The following is a sampling of those who packed their racquet bags for a final time. Bob and Mike Bryan hoped to put the wrap on their illustrious career, where it all began in New York in 1995, but the twins made their announcement in August before the start of the Open. Wozniacki exited after losing to Jabeur in Australia in January. Ekaterina Makarova of Russia also left the game in January. Maria Sharapova, the Russian/Californian, bowed out in February, as did Johanna Larsson of Sweden. March was the month Rika Fujiwara of Japan and Anna Tatishvili, the Georgian-born American left the competitive game. The cancelation of the BNP Paribas and Miami Opens, along with Charleston, cancelled Vania King’s “official walk away”, but she ambled on. Pauline Parmentier segued into the sunset at home, Roland Garros. Carla Suarez Navarro had decided to retire at the end of the year. Sadly, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and began chemotherapy treatment in September. In October, both Santiago Giraldo of Colombia and Julia Görges of Germany decided it was time to step away.
Others who departed included Leander Paes of India. A trio from Brazil – Carlos Berlocq, Teliana Pereira and João Souza – did the same. Jamie Hampton of the US and Jessica Moore of Australia, along with a duo from Spain – Pere Riba and Silvia Soler-Espinosa – were among those who said, “Thanks…It’s been fun…”
“Keep An Eye On…”
Rather than give a plethora of facts and figures as reasons why, the following group of players appear to be solid “Keep An Eye On…” candidates for 2021 – Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, Leylah Annie Fernandez of Canada, Ugo Humbert of France, Andrey Rublev of Russia, Casper Ruud of Norway, Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland, Jannik Sinner of Italy and Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine.
Not Enough Can Be Said…
Roland Garros should give serious thought to reestablishing the challenge round. Dominating the weather, scheduling, opponents and the balls, Rafael Nadal secured his 13th La Coupe des Mousquetaires and matched Roger Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles. On Terre Battue, he slides alone and best. Words aren’t sufficient to describe his, for lack of a better word, omnipotent presence on the court in Paris. He exudes supremacy on the surface. So, looking to the future, the Men’s Singles could become a 128 All Comers’ Draw. Nadal could do personal appearances during the two-weeks leading to the final, and on the Wednesday of week three in Paris, which should provide sufficient recovery time, after the All Comer’s Men’s final, the Spaniard and his opponent could go at it.
Attempted humor put aside, “bien hecho” (well done) Rafa.
(In addition, at the Rolex Paris Masters, he defeated countryman Feliciano López, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the second round to join Jimmy Connors of the US, Federer and Ivan Lendl of Czechoslovakia/US as the fourth player to win 1,000 ATP matches.)
Last Thoughts…
Around the world, the year was marked and marred by COVID-19. Tennis was thrown off stride by the pandemic but found a way to adapt “in flexible fashion”. Exhibitions, other than Novak Djokovic’s Adria Tour fiasco, in Germany, France and the US, served to bring competition back and safely primed the pump for the US Open and Roland Garros.
The year was historic. It will stand alone in history. It was unrivaled. Yet, a nine-year-old girl from the US Midwest, who was the winner of the Washington Post’s summary of a 2020 year-end contest, said it best, “2020 was like taking care to look both ways before you cross the road, and then being hit by a submarine.”
Let’s hope that in 2021 that the submarines are locked, docked and their crews have been sent on eternal shore leave.
