🥱 Is men’s tennis boring?

With Djokovic’s win at Flushing Meadows, the Serb made it 3 GS’s for the year - Australia, French and now the US Open. As amazing as the achievement is, we can’t but think, has men’s tennis become…well…boring?

Djokovic's victory cements his tennis dominance
Novak Djokovic's title win at the US Open, securing his 4th Open and 24th grand slam win overall, no doubt cements his legendary status in tennis. Alongside Rafael Nadal, Djokovic has dominated the last 22 grand slam events, an unparalleled feat.

The era of 'Big 3': Has men's tennis become predictable?
Despite their dominance, the question looms: has men's tennis become monotonous? The sport once thrived on epic rivalries, from Laver vs. Rosewall in the '60s to the Sampras-Agassi duels in the '90s. However, since Federer's arrival in 2003, followed by Nadal and Djokovic, the trio has maintained their supremacy, leaving little room for emerging champions and fresh rivalries.

Djokovic now stands alone: Federer retired, Nadal injured
With Federer retired and Nadal plagued by injuries, Djokovic stands alone. His closest challengers, Carlos Alcaraz and COVID-19 restrictions, can't keep pace. The only thing holding Djokovic back as he nears the all-time slam record, is his popularity, which remains divided among fans due to his playing style, personality, and vaccine stance.

Awaiting the Next Tennis Generation
While his achievements are remarkable, we are ready and waiting for the emergence of the next generation of champions. For now, the era of 'Novak dominance' continues, with no clear successors in sight. And if that is the case then…

 💰️ ASV goes on trial

Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, the Spanish tennis icon, is bracing for a legal battle starting on September 12. She, along with her ex-husband, Josep Santacana, faces allegations of asset stripping, potentially resulting in a four-year prison sentence and an €8,640 fine. Their alleged crime involves concealing assets through a frontman to evade a €7.5 million debt owed to the Bank of Luxembourg.

Financial Turmoil: Sánchez Vicario Opens Up About Tough Times
In an emotional interview with El Pais, the four-time Grand Slam champion disclosed her ongoing financial hardship. Nearly €2 million of her income has already gone towards settling her debt, with the Bank of Luxembourg claiming half of her earnings. She now relies on friends' support to sustain her family.

Blame Game: Sánchez Vicario Points Finger at Ex-Husband
The former tennis star, now residing in Miami, USA, teaching tennis and occasionally commentating, blames her predicament on trusting her ex-husband, whom she divorced in 2018. She remains determined to rebuild her life, fueled by a desire to secure her children's future.

Seeking Justice: Trial Marks a Turning Point
As the trial unfolds, Sánchez Vicario seeks justice and strives to regain control over her finances, all while enjoying unwavering support from her fans who remember her illustrious tennis career. She remains a symbol of women's sports, and her legacy continues to shine bright in the eyes of the public…even though her finances don’t.

 ⏰ Shot Clock

🙌 Rival Carlos Alcaraz congratulates Novak Djokovic on Instagram. Alcaraz who fell short of setting up a much anticipated final with Djokovic in the US Open semis to Daniil Medvedev, was quick to applaud Novak on his title win. The post read "Many congrats! @djokernole”

😵 US Open sets attendance records as crowds flocked to Flushing Meadows. The 2023 US Open was a crowd pleaser. The final numbers show that tennis is as popular as ever, especially in the big apple. The tournament set two- and three-week attendance records and becoming the first GS to welcome more than 950,000 spectators over a three-week period.

🏆️ ESPN makes early predictions for 2024 GS season. Who did they pick? With the end of the US Open we now have 4 months to wait until the next GS in Australia. But it hasn’t stopped ESPN dreaming up who will be crowned GS champions of the 2024 season. Big call is that Novak will only win one.

🇬🇧 Andy Murray to make return to Davis Cup during the group stage. Andy Murray who missed this year’s earlier DC fixtures in February is back in the squad, alongside Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, Neal Skupski and Jack Draper. Great Britain take on Australia, France and Switzerland in their round-robin group matches at Manchester's AO Arena.

🤑 Coco Gauff admits she doesn’t know how to spend her US Open paycheck. While hosting a live TikTok to chat to fans after her triumphant win, Gauff, who still lives with her parents, asked them what she should spend the $3 million prize-money on. Some suggested paying of debt and student loans. We said sponsoring an online tennis newsletter.

🥳 Nadal has something to celebrate even if not back on court yet. The former world no.1 who hasn’t played since January this year is still a fan favourite. The Spaniard just hit 20 million instagram followers - more than Serena, Federer and Djokovic.

 📸 Best in photo

With all the fans that poured through the gates at Flushing Meadows, there was for sure a huge number of camera’s clicking to make the memories of the visit last. Here we share some of the best photos taken. For the full list checkout the link from the Guardian here.