And then there was one. Novak Djokovic was still swinging at Wimbledon on Friday.
Three other musketeers have gone on to adventures new. The Serb represents a fond remembrance of the greatest era in men’s tennis as Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray tend to their golf swings and fortunes.
There has always been rivalry in tennis but it was usually double-handed: Laver v Rosewall, Connors v McEnroe, Borg v McEnroe, Sampras v Agassi.
But the 21st century produced a four-hander. The Big Four of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray dominated the sport. One of the peculiarities of recent years had been the tendency to shrink this rivalry to a Big Three, with Murray being cast adrift.
This, though, fails to reflect the true narrative of those special times. The numbers undoubtedly reinforce the primacy of the other three over Murray. But they fail to illustrate his nagging, stubborn and oft times spectacular interventions of the Scot in a time when tennis was almost routinely the greatest show on Earth.
The lad from Dunblane had some excellent scenes in the drama that played out from Wimbledon to Melbourne, for Paris to New York.
Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic pose back in 2022
It is a story that sizzles with sweat and shimmers with tears but it also is illuminated by cold hard facts. The case for Murray being part of the elite group suffers when counting grand slams. The cumulative total of grand slam titles is 69, with the Scot winning three.
His case, though, is reinforced by other numbers. The Big Four won four Olympic singles gold medals, with Murray being crowned twice, in 2012 and 2016. The Big Four were all world No.1 at one point and this was a peak successfully scaled by Murray. This reign of the Four at the top of the world, incidentally, lasted 870 consecutive weeks.
Murray, too, played a significant part in the combined 100 grand slam finals contested by the four. He played in 11. The Big Four reached 160 grand slam semi-finals, with Murray’s tally reaching an astounding 21. Murray obviously lags behind the big three but is in good company with Jimmy Connors (31), Ivan Lendl (28), Andre Agassi (26) and Pete Sampras (23). Murray is next on the list, tied with McEnroe.
The greatness of Murray is thus obvious though it is dwarfed by Federer, Djokovic and Nadal. But all three had cause to cause to rue the ability of the Scot. Djokovic lost two grand slam finals to Murray, Federer lost an Olympic final and Nadal, the king of clay, was beaten on the Madrid dirt in 2015.
Murray was, therefore, more than just an irritant, more than just an appendage to the three greatest players to have walked on to a court.
Murray, too, forced all to raise their games. This was a reciprocal process. The path to all grand slams had to pass through the Big Four. This produced matches that tested the hearts of fans and the very soul of the competitors.
Much has been written about how Murray had to improve just to compete with the triumvirate. But Federer, Nadal and Djokovic had to make significant changes to emerge top of the pile. Federer had to revamp his backhand, hone his fitness and shed his volatility. Nadal had to adapt to grass and find a forehand suitable for hard court. Djokovic had to find resilience.
It seems incredible to accept now but the Serb once retired more than Frank Sinatra. He has walked off seven times during a grand slam match, though most were in his relative youth. Djokovic is now the emblem for indefatigable fitness but his reputation was once one of frailty. Indeed, Federer was scathing when Djokovic pulled out during a match with Andy Roddick at the US Open in 2009.
Andy Murray lifts his second Wimbledon trophy in 2016 after beating Milos Raonic
‘It’s happened before. He’s not the guy who’s never given up before so that’s kind of disappointing to see,’ said the Swiss player.
Murray, too, had to beat the best to win his first grand slam. The defeat of Djokovic in five sets in the US Open of 2012 was astounding. It was also tough. Federer’s first grand slam title win was against Mark Philippoussis in three sets at Wimbledon 2003. Djokovic’s first major was the Australian Open of 2008 when he beat Jo Wilfied-Tsonga in four sets. Nadal’s first was the French Open of 2005 when he beat Mariano Puerta in four sets.
Philippoussis, Tsonga and Puerta are obviously fine players but Murray had to beat a contender for the greatest of all time in his prime to win his first grand slam.
Much, too, has been made of Murray losing eight grand slam finals. But he has only ever lost at that stage to Federer and Djokovic.
The only time he ever faced an obviously lesser player in a grand slam final was when he beat Milos Raonic in three sets to lift his second title at SW19.
That was 2016. It was the year that Murray made an unanswerable case for greatness.
THE Scot buried his face into a towel. It was a new year but an old story. He had just lost his fifth final at the Australian Open. It was February 1, 2016. Murray could have been forgiven for being completely demoralised.
Instead, he ended the year as the world No.1. He won Wimbledon, was Olympic champion, played in three grand slam finals, won the ATP Tour finals, lifted six other titles on all three surfaces. And finished the year as world No.1
This is where the Murray story becomes spectacular. This is when he is surely worthy of being the man who inflates the Big Three to the Big Four. No one is suggesting that the Scot was equal to the other three over the long term. But he was world No.1 when Djokovic, Nadal and Federer were plying their trade.
The story of 2016 also resonates to something more substantial, something that separates the truly elite from the very good. It was the year of glittering gold but its success was born not just in the desolation of Melbourne but by a defeat at Wimbledon eight years earlier.
Andy Murray won the World Tour Finals in 2016, finishing the year as World No 1
Murray had defeated Richard Gasquet in the fourth round, coming back from two sets down and famously flexing muscles after a spectacular winner. However, the quarter-final against Rafael Nadal was a brutal demolition. The Spaniard galloped to victory in three sets. Nadal was typically gracious, saying the Scot would enter the top five in the world soon and had chances to win at Wimbledon.
Eight years later, Murray was world No.1 and was winning his second Wimbledon. Nadal was correct in his predictions but he was also instrumental in the transformation of Murray from a contender to a champion.
The Scot retreated to his room after defeat in 2008. He watched the match continuously. He saw he had to be stronger, fitter and more aggressive. Diet was changed and rigorously adhered to, fitness regimes were stepped up, the scale of the challenge was coolly assessed.
The presence of the Big Three only piqued Murray’s determination. There has been speculation about how many grand slams the Scot would have won in any other era. It is, at best, a guess and, at worse, an absurd pursuit. But it is one that the Scot never considered.
In all his travails, he never bemoaned the fate that landed him with three players who would vie for the title of greatest ever. Instead, he embraced it. It became one of the staples of his interviews. He would mention, without any prompting, that his rivals were making him better.
Murray was rightfully proud of his haul of treasure in the face of such insatiable plunderers of the big prizes. This attitude bordered on the thrawn. He was not content with the odd, if glorious, victory. He wanted to be world No.1.
The 2016 season proceeded in fine style. Runner-up in Melbourne was followed by second place at Roland Garros. Wimbledon was won in fine style. The Olympics beckoned.
This was a crucial decision for Murray. He basically sacrificed any hopes in the US Open for gold in Rio. A draining, marvellous final against Juan Martin del Potro gave Murray a second Olympic title but left him vulnerable for Flushing Meadows. He blew up when holding a two sets to one lead against Kei Nishikori.
But Murray had a dramatic finish to the year. He came to the ATP Tour Finals nursing injury and beset by fatigue. He left the O2 arena with the title and the world No.1 slot. Typically, he had to beat Djokovic to ensure the top ranking and did so in straight sets. It was his sixth consecutive tournament final. He remained world No.1 for almost a year.
Andy Murray poses with his gold medal at the 2016 Olympics
It was to be the beginning of the end. Murray had always played through pain. He was born with a bipartite patella – a split kneecap – and had picked up injuries to foot, wrist and shoulder through the years. His back was always a concern. But the efforts of 2016 placed an intolerable burden on his body.
The dispiriting saga of hip surgery and determined if draining recovery was to be the theme for the last years of his career.
But no one should forget 2016 and what Murray did. The trek to the top of the mountain probably exacted the price of a curtailed career. It was a bill that the Scot paid readily.
He had achieved his ultimate ambition. He could say he was the best when the best were playing. He had taken part in an ironical arithmetic. In becoming No1, he had compromised his ability to compete. By adding a No.1 to his cv, the Big Four became the Big Three.
It was a subtraction but Murray’s career still adds up to one worthy of inclusion with the terrific trinity. Ten years after, it demands to be remembered.
