This
year’s U.S Open was nothing less than a bundle of unexpected events. With
Rafael Nadal pulling out before the tournament and Roger Federer crashing out
in the quarter finals, the fans could not experience one of the greatest
rivalry in the world of tennis. Another shocker was the retirement of two
former world number one tennis players – Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters. Roddick,
2003 U.S open champion on his thirtieth birthday announced that this grand slam
will be his final as a professional tennis player and Clijsters, three times
champion (2005, 2009 and 2010) on that surface attributed it as the perfect
place to retire. It is unfortunate that they couldn’t make it to the finals
this last time.
Nevertheless,
there were players who survived till the end – Andy Murray and Serena Williams.
Murray defeated the defending champion Novak Djokovic in a five setter which
lasted for nearly five hours and Serena Williams crashed the hopes of Victoria
Azarenda 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 and clinched her 15th grand slam title.
Andy
Roddick has been a fighter throughout the course of his career and his final
match as a professional tennis player in the Ashe stadium was no exception. He
lost to Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro but not without a fight. The way he
handles not winning (not losing) is what makes him different from others. He
will continue to resonate long after the end of his professional career because
fans will remember him for his fighting spirit and traits of a survivor which
are the core of his appeal over other tennis figures.
Kim Clijsters on the other hand played the
last match of her professional career right from where it all started – U.S
open at Arthur Ashe Stadium. She played her last match against the brit Laura
Robson who regarded Clijsters as a role model when she said “Thanks to Kim for
being such a great role model for so many years, I've
grown up watching you." What sets her class apart is that she won a grand
slam title after becoming a mother, first to do so since Evonne Goolagong in
1980. Her list of records is as fascinating as her career. Taking this into
account it will be safe to say that tennis for Clijsters is not just a sport
but an art she masters.
Therefore,
it is distressing to see players like Clijsters and Roddick who held immense
passion and loyalty for the sport going away. They were not merely two figures
of professional tennis but outstanding players who held love and dedication for
the sport for other to follow.
In
terms of professional career their list of achievements is tremendous and
fascinating at the same time. Before their exit, both, Roddick and Clijsters
had tasted success and at times even failure during their career. It was
nothing short of a fascinating tale of rise to the top of the pyramid.
Clijsters had 41 single and 11 double titles in her kitty out of which four of
them were grand slam title and Roddick holds 32 titles including the U.S open
championship of 2003.
The
U.S Open of 2012 marked the end of professional career for these two epitomes
of the tennis world but the American and the Belgian will continue to be
projected as role models for the young players.
Show
at grand slams and other tournaments will continue year after year and the courts
will continue to produce spectacular matches but without Clijsters and Roddick,
tennis will be devoid of the magic. To pacify ourselves can we see any tennis
star in the making who will be able to fill the void that their departure from
the court has left in the hearts of many tennis fans?
