tennismaster

In 1965, at the height of Beatlemania taking a firm grip on the United States, the Fab Four made a tour stop in Queens’ Shea Stadium for a show in front of over 55,000 people. It’s an event considered by many music aficionados as their most famous concert—and rock’s first major stadium show.

Almost 56 years to the month, and literally across the street from the same plot of land where the Beatles permanently altered the genre of music, another British invasion may have a permanent impact on the sport of tennis.

Great Britain had a tournament for the ages at the 2021 US Open, with 18-year-old Emma Raducanu blasting through qualifying and into the women’s singles championship—all without dropping a set. On the men’s side, doubles specialist Joe Salisbury took home two titles: in men’s doubles (with American Rajeev Ram) and mixed doubles (with another American, Desirae Krawczyk). Not to be outdone, the British wheelchair men’s doubles pairing of Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid claimed victory, becoming the first team to claim all four Grand Slam championships in the same season.

Emma. Joe, Alfie, and Gordon.

The new John, Paul, George and Ringo?

Maybe not, at least not on the music stage. On the tennis court, however, the foursome’s impact on British tennis may be seismic.