2016 was an exceptionally long year for the top tennis players. With the inclusion of the Olympics, it almost played like having a fifth major, so meant schedules were tightly packed. This did not stop it being an exceptional year for the game though with records breaking and new heroes arriving. While we all think about what is coming in 2017, let’s look at the games biggest names and what should be their new year’s resolutions.
Andy Murray
2016 was quite simply the year of Murray. His exponential improvement has not stopped and this year has seen Murray exceed in almost all areas. His success on the court included Wimbledon and Olympic gold. Off the court, he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and earned the most prizemoney of any player. But most importantly Murray got a new milestone by ending the year Number 1 in the world and holds onto that mantle going into 2017.
While many will say there is not much room for improvement for the Scotsman, there are a few things to focus on. Obviously continued improvement is one, but this will be difficult at this stage. Perhaps concentrating on Djokovic and his matches with the Serbian, which are likely to be his biggest test, would be better. The French Open has so far alluded him and to cement his place in history winning at Roland Garros should be top of his list. Gio Muratore of Betting Tip Stars says “His game on clay has improved year on year and this intertwined with the fall from grace of Rafael Nadal and Federe makes this the best opportuniy he will have”.
Rafael Nadal
Nadal has been betrayed by his body and style of play it seems. His injury plagued season saw only one highlight, with doubles gold at the Rio Olympics. In the majors his best performance was reaching the 4th round at the US Open.
Nadal has acted over his career slump by making possibly the biggest decision of it. Uncle Toni has not gone, but a coaching shakeup has allowed Carlos Moya to join as an assistant. Nadal has more than enough skills to start another career, but it seems he is not ready to go just yet. If I was him I would concentrate on the clay season and making sure he is a power in at least one area of the game still.
Serena Williams
Serena started 2016 in a dominant position and was defending champion in 5 major tournaments. She managed to pick up another major at Wimbledon, but found the extra work of an Olympic year difficult. She had passed Martina Navratilova’s record number of days at #1 but the emergence of Angelique Kerber meant she ends the year at second.
Serena will of course be looking at regaining her #1 spot but age is not on her side and she will be looking to achieve any goals she has left, quickly. The main goal that is on everyone’s lips is Steffi Graffs record number of Grand Slams. At 22 Serena is just one away from surpassing it and I can envisage 2017 being her last year if she achieves it earlyon.
Novak Djokovic
Despite Murray’s outstanding year Novak Djokovic is still the man to beat. The Serbian star won his 60th career title in Doha and added another Australian Open and French Open to his cabinet. His Wimbledon and Brazil appearances however did not go to plan and with Murray’s rise he lost his number 1 place.
Novak’s new year’s resolution will be to get that number 1 spot back at all costs. The small changes needed will not come with Boris Becker, who parts ways with Djokovic and might leave the door open for someone new. Murray may have won this year but he has put a big target on his back for the world’s most dangerous player.
Maria Sharapova
I am not claiming Sharapova is one of the biggest players in world tennis, but she had an entertaining 2016 to say the least. An arm injury may have prevented her early 2016 season but it was something else that stopped her season. Her well-publicised doping scandal gave her a ban of 2 years in March. This was reduced in Oct to 15 months meaning she could be back for the French Open in 2017.
She was hung out to dry by her fellow competitors and more was revealed about Sharapova’s off court behaviour in 2016 than all her previous years as a tennis player combined. If she decides to return to the circuit, she has an incredible battle to fight back and keep her reputation. It could be a lose-lose if she has any success as the backlash could be severe. Perhaps Sharapova’s new year resolution will be to find a new career.
