There were tantrums, tears, comebacks and shocks no-one could have predicted, But through all this, one star has shone brightest, energising every country he has set foot in.
Australian Open
Let's start where it all began in earnest, at the Rod Laver arena in Melbourne. Was Andy Murray going to win his first ever Grand Slam? It all looked in place. The form, the fitness, the favourable draw. He stepped onto court on the 30th January brimming with confidence, victory on his mind. As before though, when Roger Federer thwarted him at the last hurdle, our Serbian maestro tookon the challenge and blew Murray off the court. Novak Djokovic tasted his first glory of the year, breaking British hearts, and carrying on in full flow from where Serbia left off with their Davis Cup victory in 2011.
In the women's half of the draw, it was Caroline Wozniacki who was fresh on the lips of the spectators as she hoped the assert her no.1 status with a maiden major title. Without the still injured Serena Williams she was the bookie's favourite, and four straight set victories to start meant their was no reason to doubt her top billing. But fate fell just as Murray found, and Chinese sensation Li Na was her downfall in the semi finals. But this was short lived, as just as she has numerous times already in her glittering career, Kim Clijsters came under the radar to produce another champions display, claiming her 4th Slam title.
So there was a four month break before the next fortnight of destiny, but the schedule gave no chance for holidays, and the tournaments came rolling on. First time winners were aplenty, including Kevin Anderson, Ivan Dodig and Canadian youngster Milos Raonic. Wozniacki got her first victory under her belt in Dubai, before picking up big titles in Indian Wells and Charleston.
The Clay
The Clay arrived, as hot and humid as ever, leaving no prisoners. Rafa's territory for sure? Revenge was on his mind after two final defeats at Miami and Indian Wells, to the man banging on the no.1 spot's door. Djokovic was emerging as Nadal's new main rival, with Federer slightly slipping back. Monte Carlo went unchallenged with Djokovic taking the week off, but the battle resumed in Madrid and Rome, where, setting a completely new precedent, Nadal was beaten by the Serb in straight sets. In both finals!
A quick word here from Djokovic, who somehow came from an impossible position to beat Murray in the semis, piling on more woe for the Scot who thought he would inflict Djokovic's first defeat of the year. Not to be though, and the Serb kept marching on.
Next baring down upon us was Roland Garros, another of Nadal's true hunting grounds. A fabulous run from Fabio Fognini saw the then ranked 49 player reach the quarter finals. But it was all about the top four as usual. Murray was ousted by Nadal, but Djokovic's 41 match winning streak from the start of the year was finally ended by Federer in an epic semi final. However he couldn't quite find the energy left to get past Nadal, who claimed his sixth French Open Crown.
But as regularity seemingly resumed in the men's game, the women's was certainly up for grabs. Clijsters went out in the second round, Wozniacki in the third round and Zvonareva the fourth. Seeds began to tumble everyone you looked, and many embarrassingly. Home lady Marion Bartoli gave up the ghost in the semis leaving last year's winner Francesca Schiavone to play Australian Open losing finalist Li Na for the title. Before we knew it, China had their first ever winner, thrashing the Italian 7-0 in the final tie-break.
What's to Come...
At half way through the season, Djokovic was almost reigning supreme, the women's game was as wide open as anyone could remember, and Wimbledon was just round the corner. Not exactly a bad start. But as we all know, tennis was only just warming up...
Thomas Drake - Thomas Drake writes for www.centre-court-tennis.com and frequently writes for the Warwick University newspaper as well as other ...
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