RETRO
2022 sports retrospective: Federer's farewell, Jabeur's rise, Kipchoge ever faster
In 2022 Roger Federer ends his career, Eliud Kipchoge signs a new marathon world record, Ons Jabeur climbs the WTA rankings and Biniam Girmay wins the first African victory on the roads of Ghent-Wevelgem (RFI editing) © Kin Cheung / Christoph Soeder / Gerald Herbert / Olivier Matthys / AP
Text by: Luca Endrizzi
6 mins
Biniam Girmay, the first African cyclist to win a classic, Ons Jabeur on the second step of the WTA rankings, Roger Federer's tears for his farewell, the last dance of "Queen" Serena Williams... The 2022 sporting year has been rich in emotions and upheavals in the hierarchies.
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Federer, the “Master” retires
September 23, 2022 is a date that will go down in tennis history.
It's the day Roger Federer bowed out at the Laver Cup match in London.
The Swiss wanted to leave the world of professional tennis after 25 years of an extraordinary career by playing a last double with his best opponent: Rafael Nadal.
The man nicknamed the "Master", an icon of elegant tennis at a time when physical power took precedence over technique, struggled for two years to return to high level after knee surgery.
He finally decided to end his career at 41.
Applauded by the London public, Roger Federer, in tears just like his old rival Nadal, had to interrupt his speech of thanks several times.
The Swiss ended his immense career with 20 Grand Slam victories.
He leaves a huge imprint in the history of sport.
If there's one thing you watch today, make it this.#LaverCup |
@rogerfederer pic.twitter.com/Ks9JqEeR6B
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 23, 2022
Djokovic-Nadal still in the fight, Alcaraz reveals himself
The hunt for the Grand Slam title record is now only the business of two monsters: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
The Spaniard leads the dance with 22 titles, the Serb follows him with 21 titles.
For lack of anti-Covid vaccination, the latter was first deprived of the Australian Open at the start of the year, after an imbroglio which turned into an affair of state, then of the US Open.
He made up for it by winning at Wimbledon.
Nadal grabbed the Australian Open and then his 14th Roland-Garros.
If the generation led by Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and other Casper Ruud is struggling to conquer a Grand Slam tournament, the young Carlos Alcaraz has not failed.
At just 19, the Spaniard conquered the US Open by defeating Casper Ruud in the final.
A victory that allowed him to reach the top of the ATP rankings, making him the youngest world number 1 in history.
In 2022, a new tennis star may be born.
► To read also: Tennis: the prodigy Carlos Alcaraz offers the US Open and takes power
An incredible season 👏 @carlosalcaraz |
#ATPAwards pic.twitter.com/zjXi5UXDHi
— ATP Tour (@atptour) December 15, 2022
Endgame for Serena Williams
During the US Open, Serena Williams said goodbye to professional tennis.
The "Queen of tennis", with 73 titles to her credit, including 23 Grand Slams, chose a press conference after her match lost against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic to announce her retirement.
At 41, the youngest of the Williams sisters thanked her parents and her sister Venus for this 25-year-long "
ride
" on the courts.
During her grand career, Serena Williams has repeatedly used her popularity to speak out against racism and for equal rights between men and women.
More than a brilliant sportswoman, the American has become an icon.
We all transform.
Withdrawal?
I prefer forever evolving.
@SerenaVentures https://t.co/m1i3uYd31Z
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) August 15, 2022
Ons Jabeur is still progressing
Discreet, smiling, effective when she places her shots: Ons Jabeur has climbed almost the entire WTA ranking this year to finally find herself in second place in the world.
An accomplishment for the Tunisian, a model of patience and perseverance, two characteristics that can be found in her game.
She is yet to taste Grand Slam victory, losing this year in the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.
But she still added two titles – the Madrid tournament and the German tournament – to her list.
A double objective opens up to her in 2023: winning a Grand Slam tournament and overtaking the Polish Iga Swiatek to become the first African player in the world number one.
► To read also: The Tunisian Ons Jabeur will play her second Grand Slam final
Armand Duplantis always higher
Only 23 years old and already a legend in his field.
Armand Duplantis is, without a doubt, the king of pole vaulting, a discipline he has dominated for three seasons.
In 2022, the Swede has won all the trophies that have come his way.
At the Eugene World Championships, he crushed the competition with a jump of 6.21m, a new world record.
This year, “Mondo” also won the Indoor World Championships in Belgrade and the European Championships in Munich.
Amusan, McLaughlin and Kipchoge break records
During the Eugene Worlds, in addition to the Duplantis show and Allyson Felix's farewell to the competition, two other athletes shone.
Nigerian Tobi Amusan broke the world record for the 100m hurdles in 12''12 in the semi-final (she signed a 12''06 in the final, but the clock could not be homologated due to too strong a wind) .
The American Sydnery McLaughlin, she dropped that of the 400m hurdles to 50”68 over 400m hurdles.
Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon runner of all records, was not left behind in 2022 either. After his second Olympic title in Tokyo in 2021, the Kenyan lowered his own world record again during the Berlin marathon at the end of September .
The new reference mark is 2 hours, 1 minute and 9 hundredths.
Tobi Amusan has forgotten how to lose.
She's done it again;
wins the Gold medal (12.30secs) for Team Nigeria in the Women's 100m Hurdles final in Birmingham.
🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/7DE9iJaROR
— Series 'Baj (@Engr_Series) August 7, 2022
The Grand Slam of the XV of France
We always talk about Grand Slam, but this time on the rugby side with the Six Nations Tournament.
The XV of France won by winning all their matches, which had not happened for 10 years.
Captain Antoine Dupont and his teammates thus set a record for consecutive victories with 13 games without defeats.
These very positive results are the fruit of the work started in January 2020 by the current coach of the France team, Fabien Galthié, and his staff.
Before the World Cup at home in 2023, the Blues slip into the favourites.
► To read also: France wins the Six Nations Tournament and signs the Grand Slam
Cycling: Van Vleuten and Vingegaard at the top, historical Girmay
In 2022, the organization of the Tour de France has decided to bring the women's race up to date, the last edition of which dates back to 1989. 144 riders from 24 teams fought a merciless battle over the eight stages.
The road to finding a little more homogeneity between the levels is still long but it is now mapped out.
The Dutch cyclists took it all: yellow jersey for Annemiek van Vleuten, green jersey for Marianne Vos, Demi Vollering polka dot jersey and white jersey for Shrin van Anrooij.
Among the men, while everyone was waiting for a third victory for Tadej Pogacar, another young talent emerged: Jonas Vingegaard.
The Dane from Jumbo-Visma, rather unknown to the general public, crushed the competition and snatched the yellow jersey from Pogacar.
Biniam Girmay, 21, has achieved a huge feat in his still young career.
On March 27, 2022 he won in the sprint, ahead of Frenchman Christophe Laporte, the Flanders classic Ghent-Wevelgem.
The Eritrean confirmed his talent during the Giro d'Italia: on May 17, 2022, he won a stage for punchers, between Pescara and Jesi.
It was also a historic first victory for African cycling.
► To read also: Tour de France Women: eight golden days for the girls of the peloton
Just incredible pic.twitter.com/8VV2Rozqap
— Biniam Girmay (@GrmayeBiniam) March 28, 2022
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