 Winter Break
As the pros enjoy a brief vacation, tennis fans get a chance to sit back and reflect on the year that was.
Despite some shaky periods, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal maintained their grip on the game’s big events, winning all four Grand Slams between them for the second straight year. Nadal captured his third straight French Open, while Federer took the other three majors and brought his total haul to 12 Slams, putting Pete Sampras’ record of 14 within reach.
To make it, the world No. 1 will have to hold off a mixture of established and emerging threats like Nadal, Novak Djokovic and David Nalbandian, and capture at least two majors next season. If he doesn’t, the sport is in for a major shakeup as Federer’s stranglehold on the men’s game eases for the first time in four years. Either, the season ahead promises to be an exciting one.
Justine Henin emerged as the Federer of the women’s game this year, winning two Grand Slams and going undefeated during the post-Wimbledon half of the season. The Williams sisters staged another trademark come-from-nowhere resurgence, with Serena winning the Australian Open ranked No. 81 and Venus taking her fourth Wimbledon crown. A pair of Serbians, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic, made their way into the top 5.
Things will only get more crowded at the top as Maria Sharapova, having struggled with her shoulder and confidence all season, suggested she may be returning to form after a riveting battle against Henin in the Sony Ericsson WTA championships final that lasted nearly three and a half hours. Will all these players battle for the big titles next year, or will one manage to emerge as a dominant force?
Recap the seasons of all the top men and women and see what they should be aiming for next with TENNIS.com’s year-end wrap-ups. Men >> Women >>
We’re also looking back on a broader scale with a series on the greatest shots in tennis history, starting with Pete Sampras’ legendary serve. Read >>
To see all the full series, go here
Also check the site in the coming days to find out how some of the top women are organizing their schedules next year and how the pros are planning to spend their vacations.
 Davis Cup Triumph
The United States won the Davis Cup for the first time in 12 years by defeating Russia in the Nov. 29 – Dec. 2 final in the United States. It was a maiden win for all the team members – Andy Roddick, James Blake, Mike and Bob Bryan – as well as team captain Patrick McEnroe.
“It's definitely on par with anything that I've accomplished in tennis,” said Roddick, who won the US Open four years ago.
Look back on the win, including photo galleries and reports, at TENNIS.com.
Happy Holidays!
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