2011 in Review: Tennis

One word to describe 2011: Djokovic.

The very affable Serbian won all but one Grand Slams this year as well as 7 other tournaments including a record breaking 5 ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. He raked in $12.8 million dollars for all his efforts and oh yes he became the no. 1 player by year's end.

It was unquestionably one of the greatest if not the greatest season one tennis player has ever had in the history of the game and I'm backed up by greats like Pete Sampras and Boris Becker.

Novak's tennis was absolutely brilliant and sublime. He won 43 matches in a row; his streak was only ended by the great Roger Federer in the semifinals of the French Open. Yet he came back to win Wimbledon and the US Open and would only lose 5 more times. Naturally, after a long season, his progress slowed down and he looked wary in the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London which was won by his French Open nemesis.

After years of being behind Nadal and Federer, 2011 was quite a turnaround by Djokovic. Yes perhaps Nadal  and Federer aren't quite the players they were but they're certainly still at the top end of their game and to be ranked ahead of them and to have such dominance over them is a huge feat in itself.


Can Novak keep it up in 2012? It remains to be seen - he might have to if he wants to usurp Federer as the greatest mens tennis player ever. And of course he's got to win the French Open.

As for the women's game, the relationship between the world rankings and who wins the Grand Slams is still non-existent. Caroline Wozniacki was world no. 1 for much of the year but failed to win a Grand Slam. Not surprising then that Czech, Petra Kvitova was made women's champion this year after winning Wimbledon and guiding the Czech Republic to victory in the Fed Cup.

There were breakthrough wins for Asia Pacific players. Li Na finally became China's first Grand Slam winner when she took out the French Open - following defeat in her last Grand Slam final appearance to Kim Clijsters. Samantha Stosur also broke Australia's Grand Slam duck by beating Serena Williams to win the US Open.

One final thought on the season: with the economic growth in Central Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Asia, we now have so many tennis events in new regions. But this has resulted in far too many tennis events and as the season drew to a close, many of the best players were definitely not at their best at the end of the season. Even the invincible Novak Djokovic fell victim to the overstretched season.

While the WTA has figured out how to cap their season for the better of their players, the ATP still has too many events and there was nearly a strike over this.

Anyway, only a few weeks to a new season! Here's to Novak on an outstanding season! And hopefully next  season might be Caro's year!