Everything has an end, although it is not definitive as long as it lasts in our memory and everything that has happened in the circuito ATP during this 2022 no tennis fan will be able to forget it. Alternations at the top of the ranking ATPyoungsters hatching in a much more brilliant and abrupt way than expected, legends that continue to be credited to glory and, above all, a lot of emotion and great tennis. Carlos Alcaraz He is the absolute king of the table, but he has shared the limelight with many other players who left their mark with stellar performances and who were able to explore their limits and excite everyone with their sporting feats. We review everything that has happened and the impact it has generated in men’s tennis.
1. Carlos Alcaraz, legend in the making and history to be made
This year will always be engraved on fire as the one in which a young man from Murcia broke the mold and challenged the history of tennis with his triumphant precocity. Carlitos had stretches of the season in which he seemed invincible and the sensations of power that he transmitted in Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Barcelona and Madrid shook all the forecasts that could have been. After some logical ups and downs during the summer, he certified his greatness with the title at the US Open 2022, which makes him write his name in gold letters in the history of this sport, also becoming the youngest number 1 of all time. and ending the year in that position. Memorable afternoons, unforgettable nights and matches that are already part of the best in tennis, such as his victory against Sinner in New York, have laid the foundations of a legacy under construction in which the best seems to be yet to come.
2. Rafael Nadal and a life lesson through tennis
When you are on the brink of the abyss, there are only a select few capable of getting the best out of themselves, believing in their possibilities and coming back stronger. The Spaniard has gone through difficulties of all kinds and his continuity in professional tennis was clearly threatened in two sections of the campaign. At the beginning and during the months of April and May, when his battered foot seemed to hit bottom and disable him to continue competing. The way he had to react was by winning two Grand Slams and showing the world that his greatness has no limit. The spiral of physical discomfort in which he has been immersed prevented him from maintaining that level of play throughout the year, but his record has experienced a growth only comparable to the respect and admiration of all the fans. His comeback against Medvedev in Australia and the victory against Djokovic at Roland Garros are unforgettable.
3. Novak Djokovic, the innate ability to grow in the face of adversity
Finishing as number 5 in the world after not having been able to compete in two Grand Slam tournaments, two Masters 1000 and Wimbledon not distributing points, may be the perfect fact to show how improbable what the Serbian has achieved. He once again showed that he has the level to dominate the circuit and his victory in the ATP Finals is a clear blow on the table about his aspirations in 2023. Everything that happened in Australia at the beginning of the year could have sunk anyone, but he made stronger. A voracious competitive animal who remains hungry for glory and who shocked the world with his performance at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
4. Bittersweet feelings for Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev
Tennis and emotional ups and downs for two men called to succeed the Big 3, but who are seeing how a new generation is coming with renewed strength, while they are unable to make the expected leap towards maximum consistency at the top. The Greek triumphed in Monte Carlo, while the Russian tasted the sweetness of being number 1 in the world, but his performance has been far from what was expected for two tennis players of his potential and aspirations. Much to improve and less and less margin and more competition to do so.
5. Holger Rune, Félix Auger-Aliassime and Jannik Sinner, called to make history
It is exciting to see what is coming in the men’s circuit with three men with enough weapons to assault the elite. They have implemented quality base camps this campaign, in which they showed their credentials to achieve very important things. The Italian ended up staying halfway, but his potential is beyond doubt and everything indicates that resounding success will come very soon. For his part, the Canadian managed to inaugurate his record, explored his limits in Grand Slams and won the Davis Cup, while the young Dane has gone from position 103 to 11, making the world vibrate in Paris-Bercy .
6. Casper Ruud, definitive consolidation of a tireless worker
If there is someone who can be satisfied with his progress, it is the Norwegian. Perceived by many years ago as a mere clay-court specialist, he has worked immeasurably to evolve and stands as one of the most reliable players in the world when facing players lower ranked than himself. Casper almost always wins who he should win and that has led him to take advantage of unexpected opportunities to play two Grand Slam finals, one of the Masters 1000 and the ATP Finals. He still needs to take the last step against the biggest players, but there are plenty of reasons to think that he will find a way to do it.
7. Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe return the illusion to American tennis
Young, charismatic, talented and with room for progression. They are conditions that an American tennis player had not met for a long time and that both players hold. The tennis industry needs figures from a market as relevant as the United States, which has been looking for a star for years, but has not even been able to find players capable of exciting and achieving success, beyond Isner. They have once again been the country with the most players in the top-100, with a total of 13, among which the emergence of Ben Shelton stands out, a very promising young man who will want to be the protagonist in 2023.
8. The ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, an increasingly distributed cake
The suppression of the Shanghai tournament due to sociopolitical and health circumstances means that, for yet another year, 8 tournaments of this category have been held. The most curious thing is that there have been 7 different winners, without Nadal’s name appearing among them and with only one tennis player being able to repeat, as has been Carlos Alcaraz, with his successes in Miami and Madrid. Players like Fritz, Carreño, Coric or Rune have inaugurated their record in this type of event, which promises to continue giving unexpected joy to other players in the coming years.
9. Nick Kyrgios gets back into tennis
The Australian has been the protagonist in many sections of the season and his ability to get excited about this sport again and combine competitiveness with that peculiar wayward character, stands as one of the best news for our sport this year. He has engaged in bouts of pitiful behavior, but for the most part, he clearly showed his ambition to do important things. Reaching the Wimbledon final was a feat he no longer seemed destined for, but it wasn’t a flash in the pan as he maintained a good overall tone all season.
10. Historical greatness of Spanish tennis
You have to go back to the 80s to find a situation comparable to the one that Spanish tennis has starred in this year, such as having the number 1 and number 2 in the world. On that occasion it was the United States who achieved it, a tennis arch-power due to the multiple resources it boasts and a large population linked to the sport. That a country of 48 million inhabitants and without a Grand Slam in its possession has achieved this is something simply memorable, but it is just as memorable or even more so that a total of 10 players have finished in the top-100 of the ATP ranking.
- Roger Federer’s unforgettable retirement
In addition to all this, it is impossible to close this article without recalling the withdrawal of professional tennis by Roger Federer. Everything that was experienced in the 2022 Laver Cup, with the Swiss’s farewell amid uncontrollable tears both his and Nadal’s and the obvious emotion of all the tennis players present, stands as one of the events that will forever mark tennis in this year. One of the best in history said goodbye and will always remain in the hearts of all lovers of this sport.
