2017 in numbers: A review of the year in tennis
IT was supposed to be ending, not a new beginning. The 2017 tennis year was not, as had been widely and breathlessly forecast, about the rise of fresh-faced “NextGen” types, but a throwback to a more classical era. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer combined to author a season which will surely never be eclipsed for class, persistence and more than large dollop of romanticism. While the women’s game was a veritable revolving door after a pregnant Serena Williams departed centre stage with a seventh Australian Open and 23rd major under her wing. Switzerland's Roger Federer (L) and Spain's Rafael Nadal dominated men’s tennis for yet another season. As Jelena Ostapenko, Garbine Muguruza and Sloane Stephens emerged — and re-emerged — to feast on morsels left in Williams’ absence, 2017 was almost totally about Rafa and Roger. Both returned from worrying injury lay-offs to deliver appreciated reminders of enduring style, brilliance and skill. Beaten in an Australian Open ...