2012 Year in Review

2011 Year in Review 1

WHAT’S INSIDE LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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NOVAK THE ENTERTAINER

TOP 10 STORYLINES OF 2012

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SURPRISE, SURPRISE

GRADING THE FIELD

RANKINGS

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Editor

Theodore L. LePak ted@tennisnow.com Erwin Ong Blair Hemley

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To advertise with us ads@tennisnow.com General comments or questions media@tennisnow.com

Writers

Erik Gudris

Blair Henley

blair@tennisnow.com

Chris Oddo

Erwin Ong

erwin@tennisnow.com

Nick Georgandis

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Alberto Capetillo Juan Esparza

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Andy Kentla

TennisNow

Letter from the Editor The 2012 season was an incredible roller coaster of drama packed into a very busy tennis calendar. The year was full of memorable milestones that brought the sport to another level.

Novak Djokovic continued last year’s performance as a top contender at each event he attended before finishing the year as the World No. 1 and winning the ATP World Tour Finals. Roger Federer thrilled his fans this season, taking his first Grand Slam in over two years, and retaking the World No. 1 ranking and holding the spot for his cumulative 302 weeks at the top. Federer showed us that he might be getting older, but he’s still got what it takes to be a contender for years to come. Andy Murray had a huge, break-out performance winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games and finally taking his first Grand Slam at the US Open. Rafa Nadal was having what promised to be a phenomenal year before he was sidelined by his ever-present knee problems. Victoria Azarenka stormed the WTA this year, winning her first Grand Slam at the Australian Open with her consistent play and intimidating attitude, while Maria Sharapova achieved her career Grand Slam at the French Open. But when push came to shove, Serena Williams muscled her way to the top after finding her foothold midway through the year. After such a thrilling season, tennis has set the bar high for an exciting 2013! In this edition, we took a look at this year’s top surprises, graded the performances of the elites, and highlighted the best stories. We also took a step back to admire the always entertaining Djokovic.

As always, I want to thank our photographers who have brought us the images that so vividly illustrate the events across the world. First, Mark and Natasha Peterson from Corleve, brought us photos from the Australian Open and the BNP Paribas Open. Tony Chang did great work for us at the BNP Paribas Open, the Sony Ericsson, the Mercury Insurance Open, and the Farmers Classic, while Mark Howard brilliantly covered the Sony Ericsson. Gonzalo Cirstea produced impressive photos in Cincinnati, and Andrzej Kentla helped us close out the year in style with his photos at the US Open, the WTA Championships, and the ATP World Tour Finals.

I appreciate the great work from our writers Chris Oddo, Erik Gudris, and Blair Henley, who work hard year round to produce the fantastic content we bring you in every edition. Also, thanks to our other editor Erwin Ong and to our graphics team, who brilliantly showcase all the best of Tennis Now. It’s been a pleasure covering this season with you and we’ll continue to bring you the same stellar coverage in 2013!

200 West 39th Street, Suite No. 11 New York, NY 10018 914-595-4211

Theodore LePak Editor, Tennis Now Magazine Ted@tennisnow.com

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Novak the Entertainer

Without his biggest fans in the stands, Djokovic served up a masterful performance in London, proving himself worthy of the No. 1 ranking.

When Novak Djokovic smacked a physics-defying backhand passing shot past a helpless Roger Federer to seal his second ATP World Tour Finals title, he turned toward his box and let out a yell heard loud and clear by the fans at London’s O2 Arena. We’ve seen similar reactions in each of the mind-boggling 16 titles Djokovic has won over the last two seasons, but something was different this time around.

As the camera panned to Djokovic’s team drinking champagne out of oversized white flutes (thanks to tournament sponsor, Moet and Chandon), two people were conspicuously absent. The 25-yearold’s parents, usually cheering wildly from the stands in support of their son (and sometime wearing his mug on their t-shirts), were back in Serbia where Djokovic’s father Srdjan is undergoing treatment for an acute respiratory illness.

Initially reported as a case of SARS, Srdjan’s condition was so serious that the junior Djokovic made an unexpected trip back home on the weekend before the Paris Masters. After routing the competition during the fall Asian swing, it was that break in his rhythm that many blamed for his bizarre 0-6, 7-6, 6-4 secondround loss to Sam Querrey in France. The upset showcased what looked to be an unfit and indifferent Djokovic, leading many to wonder if that version of the lanky Serb would show up in London.

Post-match, he did nothing to assuage fan and media concerns.

“During the second set I already felt that physically I’m down, and I struggled in every game,” he said. “It was a little bit of everything really. I’d rather not talk about it because it’s going to sound like I’m excusing myself for the loss.”

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But after a perfect week at the ATP World Tour Finals and a $1.76 million check in his pocket, it’s hard to imagine things any other way. When Federer exploded to a 3-0 start in the first set of the final, it seemed only a matter of time before Djokovic found his footing. Not even a red-hot Roger Federer could overcome the relentless force that is Novak Djokovic. It appeared that as Srdjan’s condition improved, so did his son’s.

“This was a title for [my father],” he said. “He’s still in intensive care. I’m going to visit him and see how it goes and try to bring the trophy with me and at least make him smile.”

Since graduating from his tantrum-throwing phase circa 2009 to the gregarious fan-magnet he is today, Djokovic has put smiles on thousands of faces. After beating Juan Martin Del Potro to clinch his spot in the semifinals, he presented the media with chocolate for their “cooperation throughout the whole year.” Before that seesaw loss to Querrey in Paris, Djokovic entered the court donning a Darth Vader Halloween mask. When a little boy proposed to him from the stands at the U.S. Open, Nole called him down to the court to hit a few balls. And who could forget his attempts at pop culture immortality, dancing the Gangnam Style dance in Taiwan and Beijing.

(Can you imagine Federer busting a move on court after a win?)

Plus, Djokovic’s role as a UNICEF ambassador contributed to the ATP’s decision to award him the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year honors. His personality, impressive play, and sense of civic duty combine to make him one of the most entertaining athletes in the world. And as the lights come down on a riveting 2012, we can only hope Novak Djokovic gets plenty of rest in the offseason. His success is great for the game.

­– Blair Henley 9

GRADING THE FIEL D ­– Chris Oddo

Now that the final exams have been taken, we dole out grades for the tennis class of 2012. Let’s see who graduated cum laude and who we’re sending to detention.

A

A

A

Andy Murray

Roger Federer

Novak Djokovic

For a dose of perspective, try to imagine no American winning a Grand Slam until 2079, then imagine that one special player coming along to change it all. Murray has done that, and it was glorious!

Federer at Wimbledon: the subtlety, the nuance. The image will be etched upon our collective tennis memories for time immemorial. Seven times the victor at Wimbledon, Federer proved in 2012 that he is more than likely the greatest tennis player to ever live.

His 2011 was nearly impossible to top, and yet, he almost did, playing the longest Grand Slam final ever in Australia, and nearly coming back to defeat Nadal in the French Open final. Finishing World No. 1 for second straight time is a testament to Djokovic’s doggedness.

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IN C O M PLETE

B

A

Rafael Nadal

Juan Martin Del Potro

David Ferrer

Nadal started 2012 on a mission and he ended it on a trainer’s table. In between he won his seventh Roland Garros title in such scintillating fashion that it’s hard—in spite of all his injury worries—not to imagine him bouncing back and doing it again in 2013.

Del Potro’s season was characterized by heartbreak and optimism, the heartbreak coming in the form of six consecutive losses to Roger Federer, the optimism provided by Del Potro himself as he pushed himself to recover from a crushing defeat at the hands of Federer to defeat Novak Djokovic for the Olympic Bronze.

Like a fine Napa Cabernet, Ferrer is aging brilliantly. At 30 he led the ATP in titles, reached his first French Open semifinal and his second U.S. Open semifinal.

C

B

Bernard Tomic, Ryan Harrison, Grigor Dimitrov

Tomas Berdych, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

None of these three exceptionally talented prospects have improved to the level they are capable of – yet. And all three could be considered somewhat disappointing based on the expectations that their potential has set for each.

Both provided fans with hope that they may be the chosen ones to finally break up the big four’s monopoly at the Slams and Masters, but both proved to be intangible or two away from following through on that notion.

B

Milos Raonic, John Isner Promising years for both big men were tainted by passive play that ultimately left them at the whim of the game’s elite. Both need to attack more, particularly when returning, for better or for worse.

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A

B

A

FOR

EFF O R T

Tommy Haas

Kei Nishikori, Juan Monaco

Brian Baker

At 34, Haas reminded us all of why we love the game and why we love to watch it.

Monaco was solid if under the radar all year, and Nishikori’s title in Japan was a momentous moment for Japanese—and Asian—tennis.

Along the same lines as Haas, Baker was the story in American men’s tennis this year. He was ranked 456 in the world when the year began, he’ll finish at No. 55.

F

B

A

David Nalbandian

Jerzy Janowicz

Victoria Azarenka

Nalbandian had the worst on-court incident of 2012, and the ATP should have done more than just fine him a few piddly Euros.

Love the player, hate the action, and happy to give him a big, fat F.

He came onto our radar late, but man was it fun to watch him in Paris.

Vika had her coming out party in the first half of the year, winning 26 straight and claiming her maiden Slam, but in the second half Serena had her number. In spite of her ranking, she’s not the best player in the world – yet.

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A

A

A

Serena Williams

Maria Sharapova

Agnieszka Radwanska

After a lethargic beginning to 2012, Serena responded with a call to arms. She crushed the field at Wimbledon, the Olympics, the U.S. Open and the WTA Championships.

She crushed anybody and everybody, and it was awe inspiring.

This could have been the most glorious year instead of just a glorious year for Sharapova. But her career Grand Slam winning effort in Paris was partially negated by her combined record of 1-6 vs.

Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.

Three titles, a Wimbledon final, a careerhigh ranking of No. 2, first Polish player to ever defeat a reigning No. 1, first Polish player to reach a Slam final since 1939 – need we go on?

B

D

Anquelique Kerber, Sara Errani

Francesca Schiavone, Svetlana Kuznetsova

Kerber and Errani both cracked the top 10 for the first time in their careers. Neither had ever finished a season inside the top 30 before. Kerber earned her first two WTA titles, while Errani doubled her total by winning four, and wound up in the French Open final.

Who isn’t praying for one last giant push by both of these tried-and-true veterans?

What we got in 2012 was just plain deflating.

B

Petra Kvitova This time last year, many pundits believed that Kvitova was on the cusp of a run of dominance that would cement her status as the next unstoppable force in women’s tennis. It didn’t quite pan out in 2012.

Kvitova won a few titles and reached two Slam semifinals, but she never really found that world-beating form that she displayed at Wimbledon in 2011.

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B

Laura Robson, Sloane Stephens If you are buying stock in young women’s tennis players, these are the two you want to buy and hold. Robson, 18, was a force at this year’s U.S. Open, reaching the fourth round and finishing the year at a careerbest No. 52 in the world. Stephens, 19, reached the third round of three straight Slams and finished the season at No. 38.

Even better, both players appear to have lots more upside.

C

B

B

Sam Stosur

Li Na

How do you follow up a year that features your first Grand Slam title by not winning a single tour title and not making the WTA Championships (Stosur appeared as an alternate)? Stosur herself said it best when she assessed her season as a “seven out of 10” after her last match in Istanbul. There were some great moments for Stosur, but not enough of them to leave a good taste in her mouth.

Li seemed to follow the same arc as Stosur in 2012. Perhaps she was satiated by her breakout Slam title in 2011? Could her best years be behind the 30-year-old? Whatever the case, she didn’t reach the quarterfinals of a single Slam.

B

A

FOR

EFF O R T

Caroline Wozniacki

Ana Ivanovic

Venus Williams

Wozniacki made more news following her boyfriend around a golf course than she did on a tennis court. First-round losses at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open did not help matters, but the real underlying problem might be Wozniacki’s reluctance to develop the type of offense that would enable her to make another run at World No. 1.

Sparks, signs of life, reasons to believe, but also ultimately disappointment in the reality that former Grand Slam champion may never get back there again.

While simultaneously fighting Sjogren’s Syndrome, Williams played inspiring tennis in 2012. She gave everything she had and left it all out on the court. The pinnacle of Venus Williams’ season was her trip to the Olympic Games in London. It was the goal she had set for herself, and in achieving it she had sent a message to the world: Be strong in the face of adversity and don’t let your dreams fade.

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Top 10 Storylines of 2012 What we were reading, and writing about, in 2012.

1

Murray has his day Will Andy Murray ever win a Slam? Rinse, lather, repeat, rewrite. How sick of that question had we all become, and how proud of Britain’s prodigal son Andy Murray were we when the 25-year-old finally went on a magical run that finally put an end to all the questions, all the doubt, all the frustration and all the teary-eyed runner-up speeches?

After dropping his fourth Grand Slam final without a title, Murray kept his chin up, draped a Union Jack around his back and proceeded to thump Roger Federer decisively in the Olympic final. The experience (the decisiveness!) turned out to be more than just a reason to jump in the air and climb into his player’s box (which he uncharacteristically did), as it gave Murray the boost he needed to march into New York, wave his racquet like a wand through gale-force winds, and finally claim the elusive Grand Slam, the first for a British male in 76 years.

2

Olympic tennis elevates the sport Speaking of the Olympics, tennis seemed to rise to a new level when the Games were held on the esteemed, delectably manicured lawns of the All England Club this summer. After years of playing second fiddle at the Olympics, tennis took more of center stage this time around, thanks to the majestic venue, and thanks to the starpower that the sport offered its viewers.

With Roger Federer and Serena Williams seeking their first gold medal in singles and a star-studded cast of challengers looking to do their nations proud, the event had a larger than life feel to it. Even bronze medal matches, like Juan Martin del Potro’s emotional win over Novak Djokovic, and mixed doubles finals, where Andy Murray and Laura Robson lost a dramatic match tiebreak to Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi in the final, made the front pages.

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3

Serena fashions yet another smashing comeback Serena Williams was down and out after losing in the first round of the French Open to Virginie Razzano. She had blown a 5-1 lead in the secondset tiebreaker, then proceeded to blow the match, her first loss in the first round of a Grand Slam in 47 such matches.

Little did we know at the time that this would turn out to be another one of those highly motivational seminal moments in the epic career of Serena Williams. A few weeks later Williams would begin one of the most rousing runs of near perfect play that women’s tennis has ever seen. She went 31-1 after that French Open flop, winning her fourteenth and fifteenth Grand Slams at the age of 31, and causing many to wonder if the one-woman wrecking crew is the best to ever play the game on the women’s side.

4

5

Great Goodbyes Tennis said goodbye to some of its most legendary players in 2012, and while it was sad to see them go, it was nice for fans to get a chance to see their favorites give it the ol’ college try one final time. Kim Clijsters played her heart out in N.Y., losing out to Laura Robson in singles in what felt sort of like a passing of the torch, then bowing out in mixed doubles in front of a rowdy crowd with Bob Bryan at her side. A few days later, Juan Martin del Potro ended Andy Roddick’s career on Arthur Ashe Stadium as an emotional crowd looked on with lumps in their throats. Juan Carlos Ferrero, Fernando Gonzalez, Ivan Ljubicic and Arnaud Clement also called it quits, each with one final celebration on court, reminding us all of what we’d be missing and encouraging us to appreciate all the talent that is currently in full bloom on tour.

Nadal’s trials and tribulations It was a crazy year for everyone in tennis, but perhaps nobody had a weirder 2012 than Rafael Nadal. It seems like years ago that Nadal finally wrestled his clay-court dominion back from Novak Djokovic, claiming victories over the Serb in Monte Carlo, in Rome, and finally, in Roland Garros where he won his record seventh title.

But the prickly underbelly of Nadal’s whole campaign would prove to put a damper on the rest of his season. First he was shocked by Lukas Rosol in the second round at Wimbledon, then he slowly withdrew from the public eye, intent on taking a closer look at his ailing left knee. Slowly but surely, it became apparent that Nadal’s problems were worse than imagined. He missed the Olympics, the U.S. Open, Davis Cup and the World Tour Finals.

Now, more than four months after his last competitive match, mystery swirls and doubt festers, but more than anything else, for those of us who sorely miss Nadal and the electricity that he brings to the game, hope springs eternal.

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6

Federer finds the sweet spot again Roger Federer going nine Grand Slams without bagging a title is like Lucille Ball going 30 minutes without getting into trouble with Ricky Ricardo. It’s unlikely to say the least. And yet, that is where Federer found himself this summer on the green grass of Wimbledon, and to make matters worse he found himself down to Julien Benneteau two sets to love in the third round.

At that point, even the most intrepid Federer admirers had to be thinking that this could be the end, but a few masterful backhand slices and pinpoint serves later, Federer was off and running. Four matches further on he would scorch Andy Murray, leaving the soon-to-be-U.S. Open champion in tears as he lofted his seventh Wimbledon trophy high above his head.

7

Vika becomes a force to be reckoned with Lost in all the "Serena Williams For President" talk is the fact that the WTA may have found there heir apparent. Victoria Azarenka, who lashed everybody in sight for the first three months of the year as she won her first 26 matches of 2012, has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that she has the game, the intelligence and the intestinal fortitude to be a force in women’s tennis for a long, long time. This fact was made abundantly clear as she toppled the likes of Maria Sharapova and the rest of the top 10 with alarming regularity during 2012.

Now, if she could only find a way to beat Serena Williams…

8

An epic to make you weak in the knees Never before has tennis seen a match more physical, more grotesque, more punishing then the Australian Open final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. This was a break-out-the-intravenous-fluids final, so brutally physical in its tone, so egregiously time consuming in its tempo, and so mindboggling in that “how are they keeping this up?” sort of way, that it simply has to go down as one of the most memorable finals of all time.

Was it one of the best? Well, that depends. Do you like horror movies? Do you like tennis matches that last three times as long as the average soccer game? I’ll let you decide…

Djokovic won the 5:53 battle, 7-5 in the fifth, but with slower courts, ampedup athleticism, and a sport that is becoming more physical by the hour, the war is far from over.

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9

Up-and-comers Ah, fresh blood, there’s nothing like it. As much as we love our status quo, there is something about that brash, young, individualistic kid that gets a kick out of getting in the face of the top players and giving them a run for their money. It isn’t easy to do in tennis these days, for experience is has proven to be a precious commodity, perhaps more than ever on tour.

But thankfully, there were a few young kids who were up to the challenge.

Laura Robson, months after hooking up with her new taskmaster Zeljko Krajan, turned in some of her most inspiring tennis to date at the U.S. Open when she ousted Kim Clijsters, Li Na, then pushed Sam Stosur pretty hard in the fourth round. At the age of 18, and clearly still growing into her lanky body, Robson promises to be a headache for top players until she is a top player herself.

Also on the rise is the smooth, powerful Sloane Stephens. At 19 Stephens moved into the top 40 and she’s still far from reaching her potential.

On the men’s side Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz gave us just enough brilliance to make our mouths water when he became the first Polish player to reach an ATP final since 1982. With his deft touch and slamming serve, the 6’8” bomber just might be the real thing. Also proving his mettle on the ATP tour was 23-year-old Martin Klizan, who reached the fourth round of the U.S Open and came all the way from No. 117 in the world at the end of 2011 to finish No. 29 this year.

10

Money Talk: The quest for prize money equality Perhaps the most significant story in tennis in 2012 happened in the board rooms of Grand Slams and at ATP headquarters. The issue? Prize money.

Tired of getting a small percentage of the revenues raked in at Grand Slams (professional sports leagues in the U.S. split close to 50-50 while tennis has something closer to 80-20 at the Slams), players banded together in unison to ask for more money at the Slams, and more importantly, more money for the players who lose in the early rounds. It’s those players, saddled by high travel and coaching costs, that frequently go whole seasons without making a net profit.

Thanks to the concerted effort of the ATP Players Council, the Australian Open has increased prize money payout from just below $26 million to $31.1 million, and pledged to add the bulk of the money to early-round losers who need it the most. More and better developments on this front are rumored to be on the way.

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!

SURPR SE SURPR SE

A look back at the shocking upsets, out-of-the-blue performances and personal bests that made us stand up and applaud in 2012.

­– Erik Gudris

Lepchenko’s Leap Though she started the season ranked outside the top 100, very few would have predicted that Varvara Lepchenko would rise to the top 20 and end the year as the second highest ranked American behind Serena Williams. Lepchenko recently became a U.S. citizen after years of dealing with immigration issues, which prevented her from playing a full schedule. This season was the best yet in her career, as she reached the fourth round of Roland Garros and represented the U.S.A. at the Olympics.

Isner Ices Federer During the U.S.A’s Davis Cup tie against Switzerland back in February, John Isner faced off against Roger Federer in a match played on the red clay of Fribourg in front of a packed Swiss crowd.

Isner wasn’t fazed at all as he beat the “Swiss Maestro” in four sets to help clinch the tie for his team. Isner later called it “the biggest win of my career so far.”

The Fabulous Baker Boy Once a promising junior, Brian Baker’s first attempt at a pro career was cut short by injury. But after earning a wildcard into Roland Garros, Baker proved he belonged with the big boys after reaching the finals of Nice and the fourth round of Wimbledon. Now knocking on the door of the top 50, the Nashville native could climb even higher next year.

The Haas is Back Former world No. 2 Tommy Haas proved age really is just a number as he clawed his way back to being a force again on the men’s tour.

Haas earned “Comeback Player of Year” honors from the ATP Tour for a year that saw him beat Roger Federer to claim the Halle title as well as earn his 500th career match win in Vienna.

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Fantastico Errani Once in the shadow of her well-known Italian Fed Cup teammates, Sara Errani came into her own this year, reaching the Roland Garros finals and ended the season in the top 10. Errani also teamed up with Roberta Vinci to reach the finals at the Australian Open, and win the U.S. Open doubles title to end the year as the No. 1 doubles team in the WTA.

Razzano’s French Dream France’s Virginie Razzano shocked the French Open favorite, Serena Williams, and the tennis world when she pulled off a first round upset win after being down a set and 1-5 in a second set tiebreak to the former French Open champion. Razzano, who the previous year lost her fiancé and coach to cancer, called her comeback victory over Williams “the most beautiful win of my career.”

Rosol Rocks Nadal Though he was ranked No. 100, the Czech native Lukas Rosol played like No. 1 in his match against Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon.

Rosol hit 65 winners en route to his shocking upset win over Nadal in their second round match. Rosol later described himself as being “in a trance” out on Centre Court as he sent Nadal packing in what would be the Spaniard’s last match of 2012.

From Wildcards to Wimbledon Champs Though they signed up to play last minute in the Wimbledon doubles, Great Britain’s Jonathan Marray and Danish-born Frederik Nielsen competed like a veteran team throughout the fortnight.

Knocking out the second-seeded Bryan Brothers en route to playing in the finals, Marray and Nielsen delighted a packed Centre Court by taking the title in five sets. Marray entered British tennis history by being the first Brit to win a men’s doubles title at the Big “W” since 1936.

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Awesome Angie When she reached the semis of the U.S. Open in 2011, some called Angelique Kerber a fluke. This year, Kerber backed up that result with a breakout 2012 season that included winning two titles as well as climbing to No. 5 in the world. With incredible movement and a fierce lefty forehand, Angie is poised to become the best German woman’s player since Steffi Graf.

Marvelous Mel Though she had us all saying “Believe” when she made it to the quarters of the U.S. Open back in 2009, Melanie Oudin has made more news for her recent on-court struggles. Everything changed when she came from qualifying to win her first WTA title in Birmingham. Beating Jelena Jankovic in the finals, Oudin earned a Wimbledon wildcard and has since climbed back into the top 100.

Belgian Idol While Belgium is more known for its recent champions on the women’s tour, young David Goffin became the toast of Paris after he went from being a “lucky loser” to facing his idol Roger Federer in the fourth round of Roland Garros. Though he admitted to having a poster of Federer in his bedroom as a kid, the 21-year-old “La Goff” as he’s known is all grown up and closing in on a top 40 ranking.

Call Him Mr. J.J. After qualifying for the last ATP Masters event of the year, Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz surprised even himself by having a career-changing week. With a mix of huge serves and deft drop shots, Janowicz beat three top 20 players, two top 10 players including Andy Murray before losing in the finals to David Ferrer. Though he couldn’t afford to fly to Melbourne this year, with his new ranking of #26, Janowicz will now be seeded for next year’s Australian Open.

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RANKINGS As of 11/12/12

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Djokovic, Novak Federer, Roger Murray, Andy Nadal, Rafael Ferrer, David Berdych, Tomas Del Potro, Juan Martin Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried Tipsarevic, Janko Gasquet, Richard Almagro, Nicolas Monaco, Juan Raonic, Milos Isner, John Cilic, Marin Simon, Gilles Wawrinka, Stanislas Dolgopolov, Alexandr Nishikori, Kei Kohlschreiber, Philipp Haas, Tommy Querrey, Sam Seppi, Andreas Verdasco, Fernando Youzhny, Mikhail

SRB SUI GBR ESP ESP CZE ARG FRA SRB FRA ESP ARG CAN USA CRO FRA SUI UKR JPN GER GER USA ITA ESP RUS

12,920 10,265 8,000 6,795 6,430 4,605 4,480 3,490 2,990 2,515 2,515 2,430 2,380 2,215 2,210 2,165 1,900 1,855 1,830 1,770 1,695 1,650 1,560 1,490 1,335

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Azarenka, Victoria Sharapova, Maria Williams, Serena Radwanska, Agnieszka Kerber, Angelique Errani, Sara Li, Na Kvitova, Petra Stosur, Samantha Wozniacki, Caroline Bartoli, Marion Petrova, Nadia Ivanovic, Ana Kirilenko, Maria Cibulkova, Dominika Vinci, Roberta Safarova, Lucie Goerges, Julia Kanepi, Kaia Makarova, Ekaterina Lepchenko, Varvara Jankovic, Jelena Wickmayer, Yanina Williams, Venus Hsieh, Su-Wei

BLR RUS USA POL GER ITA CHN CZE AUS DEN FRA RUS SRB RUS SVK ITA CZE GER EST RUS USA SRB BEL USA TPE

10,595 10,045 9,400 7,425 5,550 5,100 5,095 5,085 4,135 3,765 3,740 3,040 2,900 2,540 2,495 2,475 2,125 1,965 1,929 1,841 1,835 1,751 1,680 1,650 1,636

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The London chapter of the ATP’s year-ending event -- which has made homes in Hanover, Houston, Shanghai -- will stay in the European city until 2015.

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Fans of six-time Tour Finals winner Roger Federer came to cheer on the Swiss player, who is also twice the defending champ. He fell in straight sets to Novak Djokovic in the final.

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Hometown hero Andy Murray made it to the semifinals of London before falling to Roger Federer.

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Juan Carlos Ferrero ended his 14-year professional career at the 2012 Valencia Open after stints as No. 1 in the world and French Open champion (2003). He was feted at the ATP’s year-end event in London for his successful career.

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