There’s good news and bad news. Let’s go with the bad news first, since we all already know what that is: 42 days without tennis during the current offseason. The good news? It gives us ample time to reflect on another memorable ATP season gone by.
The Top 10 was once again something more like a Big 4 and then everyone else…that everyone else being an Unheralded 6. Still, every one of the Top 10 had their moments…quite a lot of them in fact. Here’s one from each, in order of ranking (click to open in new window, enlarge, and–if necessary–animate):
1) Novak Djokovic – This wasn’t Djokovic’s best shot of the season, but it was his last shot…and it won’t soon be forgotten. With Djokovic battling Roger Federer for the World Tour Finals title, the Swiss was serving to force a second-set tiebeaker. Instead, the top-ranked Serb capped off the season by taking the London title and converting championship point with an absolute gem.
2) Roger Federer – This moment of sheer Federer artistry also came in the WTF final. Yep, two in the same match. And this one was even better. At the end of what had already been an incredible point, Federer delivered another GOAT masterpiece.
Here’s what Djokovic thought about the matter:
3) Andy Murray – With the pressure on Murray as a heavy favorite over David Ferrer in the Wimbledon quarterfinals and seeking his first slam title, the Scot trailed by a set and was pushed to 5-5 in the second. Murray eventually survived, in part thanks to this ridiculous shot.
4) Rafael Nadal – Nadal’s season ultimately went south in a hurry, but not before he reached two consecutive Grand Slam finals (including another French Open title). His run at the Australian Open included this magic in a quarterfinal win over Tomas Berdych.
5) David Ferrer – The best season of Ferrer’s career not only featured his first Masters title, but also his best U.S. Open finish (tied). En route, the Spaniard finished off an incredible point against Lleyton Hewitt with determined brilliance. What’s more, it came at 9-9 in a tiebreaker. Can any point better typify “the little beast” that is David Ferrer?
6) Tomas Berdych – From now on, Berdych will be able to call himself a Davis Cup champion. What he’ll never be able to call himself a clay-court specialist. Nor can he claim to be a great defensive player. But on this day in Monte-Carlo, Berdych performed well in both departments. The victim (Berdych’s first on his way to the semis) was Marin Cilic.
7) Juan Martin Del Potro – Despite having played some of the best tennis of the season earlier in the match, Del Potro found himself just a few points away from a straight-set defeat against Djokovic in the U.S. Open quarterfinals. Although it was way too late for a comeback, the Argentine saved arguably his best for the very end.
8) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – Nothing screams entertainment quite like Jo-Willy Tsonga. The flamboyant Frenchman was up to his old tricks against Murray in his second consecutive Wimbledon semifinal. This didn’t help Tsonga win the match, but the lunging volley absolutely thrilled what was obviously a pro-Murray crowd.
9) Janko Tipsarevic – One of the best matches of the year–and surely the best among two players not part of the Big 4–came when Tipsarevic faced Ferrer in an uproarious U.S. Open quarterfinal. This one had just about everything, including a phenomenal backhand pass from Tipsy. The Serb went down in the end, but both men delivered awesome tennis.
10) Richard Gasquet – Ferrer was normally on the producing end of big wins and great shots throughout 2012, but he certainly found himself on the receiving end as well. Prior to his showdown with Tipsarevic, he made easier work of Gasquet. But the Frenchman did his best to keep it close with this stunning backhand stab in the second-set ‘breaker.
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