Tennis action has been relentless all year. The serves and smashes did not slow down and has escalated the stakes of this dramatic sport in every match.
For this reason, casual and hardcore fans all over the world have been kept engaged with players like Aryna Sabalenka, Daniil Medvedev, and of course, Novak Djokovic. Back and forths have never been this close, so we take a look back at the best of the best over at the courts in this recap of highlights.
1. Daniil Medvedev vs Alexander Zverev – BNP Paribas Open
Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev have a long running rivalry and the Lexus ATP Head2Head have always brought out the fire from both of their bellies. In their match at the BNP Paribas Open, Medvedev had a substantial early deficit from offensive volleys dished out by Zverev. While Medvedev survived the scores coming from Zverev, it cost him a twisted ankle before the second half of the match.
The Russian tennis superstar eventually fought off the sustained injury and won the game after a crucial serve that turned the match around to his favor. The series has since then been filled with intense battles from the Russian and the German. Ultimately, the entire series win would go on until Medvedev after winning five out of six very close matches against Zverev at Monte Carlo.
2. Beatriz Haddad Maia vs. Sara Sorribes Tormo – French Open
The Women’s Tennis Association made sure that women will also bring in the fire in lawn tennis. Haddad Maia and Sorribes Tormo set the bar high when it comes to women’s tennis at a stage as grand as the French Open. Chances are, if you visited an online sports betting guide 2023, this intense battle was one of the most popular games on the page. The intensity drew out a lot of fans and sports journals to the match, saying that it was an easy shoe-in for a tennis classic in 2023.
Sorribes Tormo gained an early lead after she rallied against Haddad Maia for two points. Haddad Maia relented for hours before pulling off a few saves that would help her keep afloat during the match. Ultimately, the Brazilian southpaw triumphed against her Spanish competitor in a match that lasted for three hours and 51 minutes!
3. Andy Murray vs. Jiri Lehecka – Doha SF
For fans of epic tennis matches, it’s a safe bet to say that the encounter between Andy Murray and Jiri Lehecka will go down as a classic barnburner. It was a heated battle of attrition from both sides of the court, with lots of counter smashes and swings that kept everyone at the edge of their seats.
Naturally, it was a physically demanding bout between Murray and Lehecka. Murray had the early advantage of scoring a bagel against Lehecka. However, Lehecka turned the tide to his favor right after the bagel, knocking Murray down on the second point. The match concludes with a miraculous defense from Murray, denying two game-winning points from the Czech athlete. Murray himself considers the defense as a highlight in his career, noting that it was one of his best plays.
4. Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina – GNP Seguros WTA Finals
Tennis fans around the world waited eagerly for the faceoff between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina and with good reason. The heat between the world’s number one women’s tennis player against the number four has been teased by many sports pundits. Now that they face each other in Cancun, the match delivered beyond expectations. It was met with suspension by rain, but their competitive spirit never doused!
The early parts of the matchup were close, with the Kazakh athlete showcasing her skills against the top Belarusian competitor. But after the half, Sabalenka seized the competition by securing decisive leads against Rybakina. After the win, Sabalenka would go on to semifinals, but more importantly, reinforcing the claim that she is the world’s number one tennis player of 2023.
Apart from the crowning achievement for the year, Sabalenka will be much closer to sharing a distinction with tennis legend Serena Williams: reaching the finals for two consecutive times.
5. Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz – Cincinnati Open
Count on the prowess of international tennis superstar Novak Djokovic to emphatically deliver a hard-fought and dramatic matchup for the ages. Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz has always competed hard against Djokovic and this match is no exception. Djokovic had to win against Alcaraz after handing him a loss last Wimbledon and Djokovic expended all his strength to prove a point.
In a match that began under the hot afternoon sun and ended in the cool evening, the Serbian superstar gained the upper hand after Alcaraz produced an offensive lead against him. But Djokovic’s patience paid off, as he drew out two fumbles against the Spaniard, which he capitalized on to win the four-hour game. Djokovic collapsed from the physical demands of the intense match and he laid back on the ground for a while. While the exhaustion grounded him, Djokovic claimed that the win felt like winning the Grand Slam.
And these matches are just the tip of the lawn tennis iceberg! There were still many matches that showed how much the sport can excite its fans and players alike. Should the competition remain like this, the next year ahead looks like it would bring even more breath-taking highlights!