Ranking Tennis in 2010: The Top 10 Performances, Part 1 0
Rafael Nadal's victory over Roger Federer in Madrid clinched his clay court supremacy in 2010.
2010 proved to be an exceptional year in tennis, as the No. 1 mantle changed owners in the men’s and the women’s game.
Roger Federer and Serena Williams who both entered 2010 ranked No. 1 dropped out of the top spot.
Roger will end the year with the No. 2 ATP ranking while Serena will end her year as No. 4 in the WTA.
But many significant performances––some for a match and some for a season––shaped a very controversial, entertaining year on the tennis courts of the world.
The ranking of these respective performances is subject to interpretation. Perhaps even attempting to put them in any particular order is a waste of time.
Regardless, all 10 are significant in assigning superlatives to the 2010 season.
Preamble: A Toast To the 2010 Tennis Match That Refused To Die
John Isner defeats Nicholas Mahut, first round, 2010 Wimbledon
2010 gave us the longest match in the history of the game of tennis.
Normally a first round match is nothing more than a formality for seeded players during a grand slam––but not always.
A case in point––American John Isner seeded No. 23 had little expectation concerning the full-scope of this match as he met his opponent Frenchman Nicholas Mahut on Court 18 to contest this opening round match.
The match, however, extended over three days lasting 11 hours, five minutes, and ended at 70-68 in the fifth and final set.
Wimbledon, you see, does not allow for a tiebreak to determine a winner if the match extends to five sets.
After this epic, there was a concern expressed regarding this tradition because these two players suffered physically for a long while after the match concluded.
The world became mesmerized by this drama unfolding daily on an obscure outside court at the All-England Club.
In fact, the match drew vast numbers to watch––people who otherwise would not have spent a moment of their busy lives watching tennis.
Therefore, the networks, and in this case ESPN, loved it.
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