Tennis - that was 2022

Bye Serena, Roger - Hello Iga, Carlos

The year began with the Australian government almost destroying the Australian Open before it began, and three Australian tennis players saving it.

The COVID rules in place should have prevented Novak Djokovic from entering the country, yet he was allowed to arrive, and once here correctly assumed he would take a spot in the first major of the year.

But government found a way of branding Djokovic as a shocking influence on the community with his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID.

So he was deported.

The reputation of Australia around the world, including as a Grand Slam tournament host, was in tatters.

But the tennis did start, and focus shifted to the sport and away from the off court debacle.

Surprise doubles pair Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis thrilled the crowds with their theatrics and skills, knocking off more fancied opponents on the way to winning the Men’s Doubles title, defeating a fellow Australian pair in the final.

All eyes, when not on the double Ks, were on Ash Barty, and she rose to the occasion in spectacular fashion.

After capturing the Adelaide title, she dazzled the fans at Melbourne Park with straight sets demolitions of opponents through to a tougher final against American Danielle Collins.

A third Grand Slam title, and first Australian female to win the AO since 1978 - this was to be the final match in a career cut short by a surprise retirement announcement some weeks later by Ash.

Meanwhile, the tennis continued, and Indian Wells saw Taylor Fritz continue his rise with a first Masters 1000 crown.

He would finish the year as he had started, and land in the top ten.

Barty’s absence was the chance for Iga Swiatek to assume the number one ranking, and she ensured that it was hers throughout the remainder of the year by simply winning everything in her sight.

37 consecutive match wins at one stage, and nine titles, including a second  Roland Garros crown and the US Open, opened an enormous gap between Iga and the rest.

Doubt remained only over Iga’s ability to dominate on grass, and Wimbledon alluded her. Elena Rybakina collected the chocolates there, upsetting Ons Jabeur, who nonetheless rose to be the best ever seen from Africa, and second only to Swiatek in the world.

After promising so much since bursting on the scene as a junior, CoCo Gauff launched herself into the top ten with consistently impressive performances, highlighted by a finals appearance at Roland Garros.

Adept in doubles as well, the still teenage American attained the number one doubles ranking at one point during the year.

Her doubles partner, Jessica Pegula, quietly went about her business, and rose to #3 in singles.

The US Open was the finale for Serena Williams, and injuries finally forced Roger Federer to call time.

Two amazing careers left a huge gap, but it is being filled progressively and effectively.

Meanwhile Rafa Nadal notched a fourteenth Roland Garros trophy, to add to his Australian Open triumph, leaving a gap of two majors between him and Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic caught up one by winning his seventh Wimbledon, a controversial major - ban placed on Russian and Belarusian players, and no points allocated by the ATP and WTA.

Nick Kyrgios, riding a fine period of form, took it up to Djokovic in the final.

Out of the Federer retirement and Nadal shadow leapt the shining light of Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz.

His meteoric rise to the top of men’s tennis was signed off with a win in the final major of the year - the US Open.

His battle with Casper Ruud for the number one ranking in the latter part of the year was riveting.

Djokovic was missing from Flushing Meadows thanks to US COVID border restrictions, but he was back with determination, showing the world, by capturing the ATP Finals trophy, why he is still the most feared male player.

The second half of 2023 belonged in large part to Caroline Garcia - the French veteran was unstoppable, and capped it off by claiming the WTA Finals trophy and finishing at #4.

There was much more of course, and there are many questions left to be answered in 2023.