ATP veterans who may surge back up in 2019

The 2018 season saw the Big Three—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic—continue their domination of the tour. This has seen experienced title contenders pushed to the wayside, with many fans missing their favorite players. Here are five veterans who are poised to make a comeback in 2019:

1

Stan Wawrinka (No. 66)

Stan Wawrinka was formally known as an unofficial fifth member of the "Big Four" when Andy Murray was still competitive. He had three Grand Slams wins three years from 2014 to 2016, and a reached the French Open final in 2017. But this past season saw the Swiss take a nosedive after returning from knee surgery, dropping outside the Top 250 in June before clawing his way into a season-ending ranking of No 66. Wawrinka can only go up in 2019. He opened his season with a quarterfinal run in Doha.

2018 Highlight: Quarterfinals of Cincinnati

2

Andy Murray (No. 257)

Another player who has fallen from grace, Andy Murray has also deal with surgery, leading to him almost dropping out of the Top 1,000 in July. While he has somewhat come back in the rankings, ending the season at No 257, 2018 was the first season where the Brit couldn't win a title nor reach the final of a tournament—but that's hard to do when you only play six tournaments. Like Wawrinka, there is nowhere to go but up Murray.

2018 Highlight: Quarterfinals of Washington

3

Ivo Karlovic (No. 101)

The 6'11' Croatian did better this year than our previous entries, winning a title in Calgary even if it was only an ATP Challenger event, but his record on the ATP Tour could have been better at 11-16. His ranking dropped from inside the Top 50 in 2017 to ending 2018 at No. 101. But, with a huge serve like his (he's still at the top of all the serving stats), and his 18 years experience on tour, anything can happen when he steps onto the court—he's already into a final (in Pune) in just the first week.

2018 Highlight: Semifinals in Houston

4

Gael Monfils (No. 29)

The Frenchman started off the year with a title in Doha. After that, things went slightly downhill for the Monfils who lost in the first round of a few tournaments and was knocked out of the Top 40. He came back in September by winning the Kaohsiung ATP Challenger and reaching the final in Antwerp. If the 32-year-old can continue his momentum, the 2019 season will be one to remember.

2018 Highlight: Winner in Doha

5

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (No. 255)

To put it mildly, the much-loved Frenchman had a poor 2018—only competing in seven tournaments. Not all of it was Tsonga's fault as he was sidelined from February to September with a knee injury. The 33-year-old ended the year at No. 255 in the world, his lowest ranking since October 2006. After taking time to rest in the offseason, Tsonga started 2019 with a loss in Brisbane to rising teen Alex de Minaur.

2018 Highlight: Semifinals in Montpellier

**Hopman Cup (Sat - Sat 12.29 - 1.5)

•    Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev, Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber headline the Hopman Cup. Watch live coverage on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Saturday 12/29 at 9:00pm ET.**

**ATP/WTA Brisbane (Sun - Sun 12.30 - 1.6)

•    Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Naomi Osaka and Sloane Stephens open their 2019 seasons in Brisbane. Live coverage from three courts begins on Tennis Channel Plus on Sunday 12/30 at 8:00pm ET.**

**WTA Auckland (Sun - Sun 12.30 - 1.6)

•    Catch the action from the ASB Classic including Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki. Live coverage begins on Tennis Channel Plus on Sunday 12/30 at 8:00pm ET.**

**WTA Shenzhen (Sat - Sat 12.29 - 1.5)

•    Watch first to last ball action from the Shenzhen Open featuring Maria Sharapova and Jelena Ostapenko beginning Saturday 12/29 at 11:00pm ET.**

**ATP Pune (Mon - Sat 12.31 - 1.5)

•    Watch Kevin Anderson, Marin Cilic and Hyeon Chung live from Pune starting Monday 12/31 at 6:30am ET.**

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