This year’s BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells started with a virus that caused several players to withdraw and had fans concerned over who else might be affected during the tournament. But the show went on and ended with victories by Azarenka and Federer. [Read more…]

The 2011 tennis year was a year of turmoil for many tennis fans, especially those who are happiest when Roger and Rafa are in top form, and those who were hoping Andy M would finally crack a Grand Slam title.

Take a look back at the highs and lows of the tennis year for the top 4 men.

Novak Djokovic

• Nole had an incredible year, taking over the Number 1 position from Rafa after his semi final at Wimbledon, and keeping the top spot for the rest of the year.
• He won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. It was only the loss to Roger in the semi final of the French Open, which ended his winning streak, that stopped him having a chance at winning all four slams in the calendar year.
• During 2012 Djokovic had 70 wins and only 6 losses and earned a $1.6 million dollar bonus for his performance in Masters 1000 events.

Rafael Nadal

• Starting the year as Number 1, Rafa finishes the year in second spot.
• Somehow a year with only one Grand Slam title (at the French Open) and ten finals appearances feels like a bad year for Rafa, probably due to his ongoing losses to Djokovic in the final at Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Rome, Wimbledon and the US Open.
• He finishes on a high though, with Rafa’s victories over Monaco and Del Potro playing a key role in Spain defeating Argentina to win the Davis Cup.

Roger Federer

• During the first part of the year Roger’s racquet seemed to have lost a bit of it’s spark and titles, along with finals appearances, were sparse.
• He temporarily dropped from Number 3 to Number 4 when Murray edged a place up after his great performance in Asia in October
• After missing the Asian Swing, Roger came back refreshed and finished the year by winning Basel, Paris and the ATP World Tour Final. He also regained the Number 3 spot.
• In 2011, Roger won the ATP fan’s favourite award for the 9th year straight and the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award for the 7th time.

Andy Murray

• There were high hopes for Murray to win his first Grand Slam title this year but the Australian Open final, which he lost to Djokovic, turned out to be his only Grand Slam final appearance
• He won titles in Cincinnati, Thailand, Shanghai and Tokyo and had to pull out of the ATP World Tour Finals with a groin injury.

Will 2012 be the year of Murray?

A review of the top 4 rankings during the year in more detail

Going into the Australian Open in January the rankings were:

• 1. Nadal, Rafael, 12,390 points
• 2. Federer, Roger, 9,245 points
• 3. Djokovic, Novak, 6,240 points
• 4. Soderling, Robin, 5,785 points

Murray was then 5th, with 5760 points.

Going into the French Open, Rafa was Number 1:

• 1. Rafal Nadal, 12,070 points
• 2. Novak Djokovic, 11,665 points
• 3. Roger Federer, 8,390 points
• 4. Andy Murray, 6,085 points

By Wimbledon, things looked similar in terms of positions, but not in terms of points.

• 1. Rafal Nadal, 12,070 points
• 2. Novak Djokovic, 12,005 points
• 3. Roger Federer, 9,230 points
• 4. Andy Murray, 6,855 points

Before Wimbledon was over, with his semi final win, Djokovic had taken over as Number 1.

Going in to the US Open the rankings were:

• 1. Novak Djokovic, 13,920 points
• 2. Rafal Nadal, 11,420 points
• 3. Roger Federer, 8,380 points
• 4. Andy Murray, 6,535 points

The end of year rankings for the Top 4 men are:

• 1. Novak Djokovic, 13,630 Points, 19 Tournaments Played
• 2. Rafael Nadal, 9,595 Points, 20 Tournaments Played
• 3. Roger Federer, 8,170, 19 Tournaments Played
• 4. Andy Murray, 7,380, 19 Tournaments Played

With his ATP Tour Final win, Roger Federer moved back up to the Number 3 spot, which Andy Murray moved to after his great run of 3 tournament wins in Asia, bumping Roger out of the Top 3 for the first time since July 2003.

With the top 4 guys bouncing back refreshed and ready in 2012, plus players like Ferrer, Tsonga and Fish in great form, and Del Potro who is now ranked Number 11 after starting the year at 485, there is great tennis to come in January.

Can it be now?

Until next time

Grand Slam Gal

Based on the play at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris, the final line up for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London has been confirmed. [Read more…]