The tennis world is undergoing unexpected swift change as we come to terms with the carnage Down Under. The exit of top seeds Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber after the shock second round defeat of reigning Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in Melbourne has altered the tournament draw with damning effect. It leaves a slew of upstarts scrambling to cash in on the rare opportunity, while the departed champions contemplate what went so horribly wrong. Their situation underlines the plight of living under a constant spotlight and the perils that come with it.
After an age dominated by the incredible consistency of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, it seems the sport is set to enter the realm of the uncertain as the tennis bosses mull changes to shorten matches and make them more TV-friendly. Incidentally, this is the first time since the French Open in 2004 that the top two men’s seeds have been knocked out in the first week of a Grand Slam. However, with both Federer and Nadal safely into the quarter-finals, this could still be one for the old guard to claim. The fans would love that. Both the legends are striving to add one more piece of silverware to their already overflowing cabinet, but on the opposite spectrum is the insatiable quest of their young challengers. Undeniably, it's the time for the new guard -- Melbourne or later.
