Before we can delve into the rapidly-approaching 2019 tennis season, we have to know where we’ve been–or just been, to be more accurate, as the 2018 campaign just ended and now we are in the midst of the shortest offseason in sports. So let’s take a look back at the ATP’s year-end awards that were handed out last month prior to the Nitto ATP Finals.
Comeback Player of the Year: Novak Djokovic
Also nominated: Kei Nishikori, John Millman, Jason Kubler
It was a no-brainer that Djokovic would win this. He emerged from what had to be the nadir of his career in March to capture back-to-back Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. The only argument against him is that he really recovered from January-through-April woes as opposed to coming back from something like an entirely disastrous 2017 campaign. So this is more of a second-half-of-2018 comeback award as opposed to a full-year comeback. After all, he was ranked 12th to start the year; not that bad. Similarly, Nishikori began the season at No. 22. Millman, on the other hand, soared from 128th to 38th. Still, Djokovic did deserve it. As for Kubler, I’m sure whatever he did was commendable; but…who?
Most Improved Player of the Year: Alex de Minaur
Also nominated: Marco Cecchinato, Kyle Edmund, Stefanos Tsitsipas
De Minaur probably deserved it, although he was more of a breakthrough performer as opposed to a journeyman who suddenly improved from mediocrity (like Cecchinato). The problem with Cecchinato is that he basically accrued all of his points at just one event; he didn’t sustain a whole lot of consistent success. Tsitsipas was likely the proverbial runner-up in this category, climbing 76 spots in the rankings(No. 91 to No. 15) while de Minaur soared 177 (No. 208 to No. 31). Edmund should never have been in the serious running; he was already a solid player and his second half of the season underwhelmed on the heels of a hot start (Australian Open semifinals).
Newcomer of the Year: Alex de Minaur
Also nominated: Hubert Hurkacz, Jaume Munar, Michael Mmoh, Ugo Humbert
There is no discussion whatsoever to be had in this category, as no one else is in the same stratosphere as de Minaur. Hurkacz and Munar at least managed to make debut appearances in the NextGen ATP Finals.
Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award: Rafael Nadal
Also nominated: Roger Federer, Kevin Anderson, Juan Martin Del Potro
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What else needs to be said? Shockingly, thankfully, mercifully, Federer somehow didn’t win it. I would have been just as satisfied with Anderson or Del Potro, both of whom are fully deserving.
Coach of the Year: Marian Vajda (Novak Djokovic)
Also nominated: Jan de Witt (Nikoloz Basilashvili), Carlos Moya (Rafael Nadal), Sebastian Prieto (Juan Martin Del Potro), Simone Vagnozzi (Marco Cecchinato)
Djokovic getting back with Vajda was the best decision he ever made. No other partnership was in the same ballpark in 2018, and only Rafael Nadal-Toni Nadal is a more productive one all-time in tennis’ current era (Roger Federer-Severen Luthi doesn’t count since Luthi has rarely been a full-time coach).
Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year: Indian Wells
It is simply the best!
500 Tournament of the Year: Queen’s Club
Having never been, I can’t say for sure. But I at least got a private tour of the club during this year’s Nitto ATP Finals and it is a really neat place (also, real tennis is a phenomenon!).
250 Tournament of the Year: Stockholm
Ernests Gulbis somehow got to the final. Isn’t that enough?
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thoughts?
Rafa was WAY overdue for his 2nd sportsmanship award, but I agree that Kando and Delpo are both worthy. What about Djokovic? He hasn’t always been the most gracious winner but I think he’s worked hard at improving since his cocky youth and he has been a very gracious loser.
Vajda certainly deserved the Coach of the Year. Djokovic should have gotten Idiot of the Year for firing him – and other members of his team – at the end of 2016. I don’t include Boris Becker – I’m sure putting up with him for any length of time would make a guy a candidate for sainthood.
Rafa deserves it. I feel like his sportsmanship isn’t talked about enough by tennis fans in general.
Tsitsipas is the Most Improved Player of the Year, not De Minaur, and deservedly so!
Vamos Tsitsipas and of course Vamos Rafa (always!!).
We’re lucky to be fans of a sport that could have had numerous Sportsmanship winners…..Novak, Fed, and of course, Rafa.