TOW #24 - "Is Novak Djokovic's Dominance Good or Bad for the ATP Tour?"

As Novak Djokovic handed Kei Nishikori a loss in the Miami Open Final, this past Sunday in just under an hour and a half, the debate over his continued dominance's effect on the sport raged on. While some argue Novak is the most dominant player in tennis history, others argue on the question: is his dominance good for the game? Bleacher Report writer Merlisa Corbett argues that even if Djokovic's dominance bores some, in the long run, he's good for the game. Corbett makes a compelling argument, one to which I agree, as great players raise the bar and provide a blueprint for future stars to follow.
As Federer fades, Murray remains inconsistent (especially for his number two spot), and Nadal continues to struggle to regain his form, Djokovic keeps rolling through the ATP World Tour with little resistance. Despite Nishikori looking extraordinary as he dismantled Monfils and Kyrgios, he put up little resistance to world number one. Djokovic's overall game, both mentally and physically, is almost as perfect as can be. The excitement he brings to tournaments all over the globe allows fans to witness near-perfection and lay claim to living in the era of one of the game's most dominant players. As the era of the Big Four is seemingly coming to an end, not everyone is embracing Novak's superiority. With more points than No. 2 Murray and No. 3 Federer combined, Novak's created one of the largest margins in ATP history. Corbett notes that Djokovic's dominance is comparable to that of UCONN's women's basketball team. As tv ratings for the women's final were down 28% from the previous year, critics have created a sense of discomfort that comes with dominance. But dominance is nothing new to tennis, i.e. Federer and Bjorn Borg, even as critics poke more holes in Djokovic's game. Analysts of Djokovic's game speak of a "boring brand of tennis," but like Corbett points out, his game is far from boring. A highly-regarded well-rounded player, like Novak, is able to find a way to beat his opponents regardless of what they throw at him. The "next generation" of players on the tour can learn a lot from Djoko's game, as he dismantles players of all styles. With the ATP tour filled up with players of various styles, from big servers to serve-and-volley types, Djokovic proves it takes a variety to sustain his type of dominance. Rather than viewing it as a time of Nole, tennis should be seen as in "transition." With Djokovic there comes no doubts, like those that surround the other members of the Big Four, and as he continues to dominant fans will come around. Big stars like Djokovic, Steph Curry, and Payton Manning become as beloved as they are polarizing. Talent, excellence, and brilliance are always good for the game. The best is always better, even if it leads to dominance. Great players raise the bar and in the long run are good for the game.