KRISTEN’S KOURT: A Look Back at 2012

Written by: Staff on 29th December 2012

KRISTEN'S KOURT: A Look Back at 2012

epa03467651 Britain's Andy Murray reacts during his semi final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland at the ATP World Tour tennis finals in London, Britain, 11 November 2012. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

It’s no secret that 2012 was easily one of the most exciting years the ATP and WTA tours have seen as of recent. And while it’s safe to say that there was a fair share of memorable events, here are some of my favorite highlights from 2012.

Andy Murray Makes His Mark

For years, so many people (and by people, I mean the British) have been waiting for a worthy successor to Tim Henman – only one who could actually win the country’s home slam. Well, that achievement is at least another year away. After becoming the first British man to make the Wimbledon final in 76 years, he narrowly missed out on the 2012 Championship to world no. 1 Roger Federer. But just a few weeks later, he was able to capture an almost more important honor – an Olympic gold medal. With the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge cheering him on at almost every match, Murray exacted his revenge on Federer and showed that he’s not a top 3 player for nothing.

A few months later Andy Murray outlasted and outplayed a high-caliber field to win his first ever grand slam title at the US Open. It was the perfect ending to a seemingly perfect year for Murray, who will be looking to continue his good luck as he defends his title in Brisbane, Australia next week.

John Isner Takes Out Novak Djokovic

It would have been a dream run for any player not named Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal. But for top-ranked American John Isner, a semifinal appearance at the BNP Paribas Open, the year’s second ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells, was the perfect start to the year. The 6′ 9″ Isner had been on the radar of tennis fans everywhere after surviving the unforgettable marathon first round match at Wimbledon in 2010. But in the shadows of Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish, Isner had yet to prove himself as the future of American tennis. On an extremely cold and cloudy day in March, Isner took the court to face off against then world no. 1 Novak Djokovic. Djokovic had never lost a semifinal match to a player outside the top 10 during his reign at the top, and he didn’t intend for this match to be any different.

What Djokovic didn’t expect though, was for John to come out swinging – both literally and figuratively. Before you knew it the match was in a first set tiebreak, and John Isner went up one set to love. The crowd was both stunned and enthused, and this match was quickly becoming a nail-biter. But what started out as a close and exciting match took a drastic turn as Djokovic unexpectedly stole the second set 6-3. It was beginning to look like that first set win was just a fluke for Isner, who appeared to be fading fast. But with encouragement from the crowd, the American got his act together and took the third and deciding set to another tiebreak. The twelve points played during that tiebreaker were easily the most exciting of the entire match and in the end, Isner came out victorious – capturing his first ever win against a top 10 player and securing his position in the top 10 rankings for the first time in his career. There was no doubt about it…John Isner was the new leader in American tennis.

Rafael Nadal Suffers Devastating Knee Injury

One of the biggest stories of the year consisted of matches that never were and non-existent opponents. Rafael Nadal, easily one of the most loved players on the tour made headlines when, after losing in the second round of Wimbledon, announced that he would not be playing for Spain in the Olympics. With the way he slides and grinds on the court, it was no surprise that his knee had finally had enough. What was surprising though, was that it was so bad that he actually pulled out of an event. I mean, this is a guy who would play an entire tournament injured – he’s that dedicated to the game and its fans. But little did anyone know how serious this injury would be. Nadal went on to miss the entire US Open Series and eventually withdrew from the US Open as well. He also missed playing the final two rounds of Davis Cup for his country, and was still injured enough to cause him to pull out of the year-end championships.

Many (myself included) look forward to the return of Nadal on tour. And while it won’t be as soon as we hope – Nadal recently announced his withdrawal from the Australian Open next month – his reemergence will be sure to cause an enthusiastic response from fans and fellow players alike.

Serena Storms Back

Serena Williams stormed back onto the scene in 2012 proving that she can be down, but she’ll never be out. She won 8 titles in 2012, including a Wimbledon Championship, a US Open title, two Olympic gold medals, and the year-end championship title. She finished the year at number three in the world and showed that not only is she not going anywhere, she will be the one to beat in 2013. And Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka will have their work cut out for them. Of the 8 titles Serena won this year, Sharpova and Azarenka each missed out on two of them.

Andy Roddick Says Goodbye…For Good

It was an announcement most expected within the next year or two. What almost no one expected though was for Andy Roddick to announce at this year’s US Open that the fourth and final slam of the year would be his final tournament as a professional player. The guy who many had come to know and love as the tennis world’s A-Rod was hanging up his racket. Many were surprised by the timing of the announcement, and even more will miss the entertainment he provided in every match he played.

Roddick, who won the US Open in 2003, leaves the sport as one of the most beloved and favorite players to ever play the game. He’s more than just a powerful serve and a killer forehand. Those who’ve had the pleasure of meeting and spending any amount of time with Andy know that he’s funny, caring, and charming as heck. And while we all can’t wait to see what happens with him in the future, there’s no doubt that locker rooms and practice courts all over the world will miss his company dearly.

With such an amazing 2012, it’s hard to think that 2013 will be able to even come close. But I sure look forward to watching anyway!

Follow Kristen on Twitter! @KristensKourt

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