"It′s nothing important," a smiling Nadal later said. "I had that hundreds of times but not in the press conference. If that happened in the locker room, nobody knows nothing, and that′s normal thing."

Indeed. Nadal reached the final.

19. Fed ends on high

Without a major for the first time in a calendar year since 2002, Roger Federer needed to end the campaign on a high.

That he did.

Federer carries a 17-match winning streak into 2012 after triumphing in the Davis Cup, Basel, Paris and London. His title at the year-end championships was his sixth, a men′s record.

"It′s one of my greatest accomplishments, an amazing finish again to the season," Federer said. "I′ve never finished on such a strong note."

Can people now stop questioning his motivation?

18. "Aussie" Kim wins Down Under

It was about time Kim Clijsters won a Grand Slam outside New York. And call it fitting that Melbourne was the venue.

Clijsters became a favorite, or even more of one, in Australia when she dated Aussie Lleyton Hewitt.

"I finally feel like you guys can call me Aussie Kim because I won the title," Clijsters told the crowd at Rod Laver Arena after topping Li Na in the final. "Even when things weren′t going good, you guys were really supportive of me, and I really appreciate it."

Not always a great competitor -- see last year′s loss in Melbourne to Nadia Petrova and this year′s defeat to Arantxa Rus at Roland Garros -- Clijsters hung tough against Li, reversing a one-set deficit. Li overcame Clijsters two weeks earlier in Sydney.

17. Death of the "Rafa Slam"

It′s easy to forget, given Novak Djokovic′s season, that 12 months ago Nadal was on the verge of becoming the first man in 42 years to win four consecutive majors.

Nadal seemed doomed in his quest.

An early-January illness hurt Nadal heading into Melbourne, and it likely had something to do with the Spaniard picking up a hamstring injury against David Ferrer in a marathon second game of their quarterfinal.

Nadal refused to retire -- he did so against Andy Murray at the 2010 Australian Open -- but tamely lost in straight sets.

"We don′t have luck here," Nadal′s coach and uncle, Toni Nadal, said. "We think that when he had the flu, he was more [susceptible] to getting hurt."

"This is one of the bad [moments], one of the negative moments," Rafael Nadal said. "I think I am very lucky sportsman about what′s happened in my career. I have to accept the fantastic moments that I had during a lot of the years with the same calm when I have problems."

16. Revolt at the U.S. Open

Nadal wasn′t so calm at the rain-affected U.S. Open.

Furious that organizers told him he had to play on a court that he felt was wet, Nadal snapped at tournament referee Brian Earley, "It′s the same old story. All you think about is money."

Nadal, Murray and Andy Roddick marched into the referees′ office later on the second Wednesday and let their feelings be known.

"We don′t feel protected," Nadal said in a TV interview. "Grand Slams, they win a lot of money, and they are just working for that, not us. They are calling us on court, and it′s still raining."

As a result of the players′ anger, there is a chance for an off day for the men in between the semis and finals next year.

15. Fed inexplicably blows a two-set lead

Wimbledon has become slightly bittersweet for Federer.

Sure he′s won at the All England Club on six occasions, but he also lost to Nadal in arguably the greatest match of all time in 2008. Then this season on the grass, Federer relinquished a two-set advantage at a Grand Slam -- he had been 178-0 -- for the first time.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a carefree personality who actually believes he can rally from such a deficit, was the man who pulled off the 3-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory.

"Kind of a strange feeling, because I did play well myself," Federer said. "I can′t blame my poor returning or my poor serving or my poor movement or anything like that in this match, and that makes it a bit easier."

Tsonga upended Federer in Montreal two months later, although order was restored in the fall.

14. Djokovic′s spring double

When Djokovic led Serbia to the Davis Cup title last year, it boosted his appetite for winning. Conquering Melbourne added to his confidence. But it was his back-to-back titles in Indian Wells and Miami that cemented his belief.

Never before had Djokovic topped Nadal in tour finals, yet he edged a pair of three-setters in California and Florida.

As their rivalry unfolded and Nadal kept losing, his postmatch handshakes became less warm.

13. Rafa recovers in Seville

Statistically, it wasn′t a bad year for Nadal, as he suggested. He won the French Open and landed in the final at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

But there was a sense that he needed a lift heading into 2012, especially after his performance -- and admission of a loss of motivation -- at the World Tour Finals.

Nadal got the boost he needed, leading Spain to the Davis Cup title in December.

He clinched the series with an absorbing four-set, four-hour win over Argentina′s Juan Martin del Potro at a pumping Olympic Stadium in Seville.

"It was the most amazing atmosphere I have ever played in," Nadal said.

The turning point? Del Potro dropping serve when he was up a set, a break and serving at 40-0 in the second.

He failed to serve out the fourth set, too.

12. Djokovic sizzles in Melbourne

Representing Serbia last December (Davis Cup) and this January (Hopman Cup) was the perfect tonic for Djokovic. He entered the Australian Open rife with confidence -- and didn′t flinch.

Djokovic tore through the field, dropping one set (to Ivan Dodig). He downed Federer in a semifinal that wasn′t as close as the set scores hinted. He then eased past Murray to finally snap a three-year Grand Slam drought, longer than most everyone had expected.

"I don′t want to stop here," Djokovic said.

He sure didn′t.

11. Heart of a lion

You could forgive Francesca Schiavone if she decided to take it easy after winning the French Open last year. Nearing 30 back then, she had every right to sit back and bask in the glory of her success.

But no, Schiavone hasn′t eased up.

In fact, you get the feeling she has an even bigger point to prove -- that she′s no fluke.

Schiavone had a solid Grand Slam season, saving her most courageous display for the fourth round of the Australian Open. Schiavone saved six match points and toppled Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 1-6, 16-14 in 4 hours, 44 minutes, the longest women′s encounter in Grand Slam history.

"I hope one day to show this DVD to my son," said Schiavone, who is not a parent.

The third set alone lasted three hours.

"At some stage, I was like, ′What′s the score?′" Kuznetsova said. "It was hard to count. I was like, ′Who is up? She or me?′"

It was ultimately Schiavone on a day where the term "loser" didn′t befit Kuznetsova.

10. Oops, Serena did it again

Serena Williams and the U.S. Open are a fiery mix.

Two years after verbally abusing a linesperson in the semifinals, Williams went into attack mode when chair umpire Eva Asderaki enforced the hindrance rule early in the second set of this year′s final.

Williams uttered a loud "come on" immediately after crunching a forehand (so the point wasn′t over), with Asderaki then handing the point to Samantha Stosur. Stosur broke.

Here was part of what a seething Williams said to the diminutive Asderaki: "If you ever see me walking down the hall, walk the other way, because you′re out of control.

"Totally out of control. You′re a hater, unattractive inside. Who would do such a thing? And I never complain. Wow."

Another fine was on the way, this time for $2,000.

9. Djokovic′s clay double

Beating Rafael Nadal on hard courts is one thing, but doing it twice on clay in the same season?

Novak Djokovic really got Nadal thinking when he crushed the Spaniard in both the Madrid and Rome finals.

Winning in Rome was particularly impressive for Djokovic since he contested a three-hour classic against Andy Murray the night before.

"I′m amazed with the way I′m playing, especially today given the circumstances and the condition I was in," Djokovic said. Had Djokovic beaten Roger Federer at the French Open, he could have made it three in a row against Nadal on dirt.

8. Kvitova opens her Grand Slam account

A star is born.

Petra Kvitova won her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon -- and you can bet many more majors are on the way.

Two previous Czech women′s winners at the All England Club, Martina Navratilova and Jana Novotna, watched as Kvitova downed a helpless Maria Sharapova in the final.

Navratilova dished out the praise.

"Kvitova has the potential to be one of the greats," Navratilova said.

Unlike Navratilova, whose success came from serving and volleying, Kvitova bludgeoned her way to the crown. The lefty serve and forehand made for a lethal combination.

Barring injury, she′ll be No. 1 at some point next year.

7. Djokovic′s grass delight

He won on hard courts in Australia, then handled Nadal on clay. But grass was supposed to be a surface that slightly mystified Djokovic.

Not so.

Without any grass-court prep, Djokovic battled his way to the Wimbledon title. He outlasted Marcos Baghdatis in a third-round slugfest, overcame several difficult moments against unorthodox Aussie Bernard Tomic in the quarterfinals and stole the first set versus Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semis before comfortably prevailing.

Up next was Nadal, and Djokovic swept past the bamboozled two-time Wimbledon champion in four sets, getting some help in the final game when Nadal′s forehand faltered.

Only two days earlier, he earned the No. 1 ranking.

"This is my favorite tournament, the tournament I always dreamed of winning, the first tournament I ever watched in my life," Djokovic said. "I think I′m still sleeping, I′m still having my dream."

6. Rafa tops Roger in Paris

Topping Nadal in a French Open final would have been one of Federer′s finest achievements. Sadly for Federer, he missed the opportunity.

And what an opportunity it was.

Nadal looked shaky in stretches, yet when Federer′s drop shot narrowly missed wide on set point in the first set, the momentum shifted.

It ended in four sets, and Nadal bagged his sixth French Open title.

"I thought he was getting tired throughout the third set and also in the fourth," Federer said. "It was unfortunate I couldn′t take my chances early on in the fourth."

5. Li makes history

Finally fully healthy, Li Na came close to becoming China′s first Grand Slam singles winner in Melbourne.

But there was no stopping her, surprisingly, on the clay of the French Open.

Aided by the calming presence of Michael Mortensen, Li earned her title in Paris, ousting the likes of Kvitova, Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka and the defending champ, Francesca Schiavone.

"China tennis -- we′re getting bigger and bigger," Li said.

According to reports, 116 million television viewers in China took in the final.

4. The streak

An overzealous tennis schedule caught up with Djokovic in the fall. However, he strung together an almost unprecedented run to start 2011.

Djokovic won 41 in a row from January to June -- one shy of John McEnroe′s men′s mark set in 1984. The streak included the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami, Rome and Madrid.

Before Federer dethroned him in Paris, there weren′t too many near misses, either (Nadal in Miami, Thomaz Bellucci in Madrid and Murray in Rome).

"Given there′s more competition, more athleticism, deeper fields, I′d say his record is even more impressive than mine, especially given that in 1984, the major in Australia was played at the end of the year," McEnroe said.

Those to take a set off him during the streak? Federer, Nadal, Murray, Bellucci, Ivan Dodig, Feliciano Lopez, Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer and Juan Martin del Potro.

3. Djokovic′s New York TKO over Rafa

The culmination of the Nadal-Djokovic rivalry in 2011, this had to have been one of the most physically grueling matches of all time. And when that′s part of the equation, not many would look past Nadal.

But Djokovic cast aside any lingering doubts about his stamina when he defeated Nadal in four sets and more than four hours. Call it a technical knockout.

Four Grand Slam titles played for Djokovic, and three won.

"He′s jumped up a level," said seven-time Grand Slam winner Mats Wilander. "I think this is the very beginning. He may be riding the wave, but it′s not like the wave is going to end. This is how good he is."

2. Fed at his finger-wagging best

Djokovic had plenty on the line against Federer in the French Open semis. The Serb was seeking that 42nd straight win to start a season.

But Federer played one of the best matches of his career to prevail in four high-quality, supercharged sets to end the streak.

He was surely helped by the crowd, which chanted "Roger, Roger" and cheered in a fashion reminiscent of a Davis Cup series.

"It almost feels like I′ve won the tournament," Federer said.

Federer wagged his finger when it ended -- highly amusing.

1.The shot

It was quite simply the shot heard around the tennis world.

Djokovic saved two match points against Federer in the semis for the second straight year at the U.S. Open -- and this time they were both on the Swiss′ serve.

Appearing to have given up and ticked he was getting no love from the New York crowd, Djokovic went for broke on the first match point and connected with an outrageous cross-court forehand return.

Federer sagged, Djokovic ascended, and that was it.

"I don′t know how it happened," Djokovic said. "I read his serve and I was on the ball, and I had to hit it hard, and it got in, luckily for me."

Federer didn′t cover himself in glory when he said he′d never have attempted such a high-risk shot.

"This is very hard to understand how [you] can play a shot like that on match point," he said. "But look, maybe he′s been doing it for 20 years, so for him it was very normal."

It was Djokovic′s year.

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ivan1111

24 декабря 2011, 21:44

Недавно узнал что Сони-Эриксен прекращает сотрудничество с Туром женским. Проитал высказывание Алистер по этому поводу. Она с глубоким сожалением говорит о том что 2012 год станет последним в сотрудничестве Тура с Сони -Эрниксен. Это было многорлетнее сотрудничество. Сони-Эриксон был генеральным спонсором Тура. И Алистер сейчас в течении года будет очень сложно найти такого щедрого спонсора. А я вот думаю не явилась ли причиной ухода Сони-Эрикссон та унылая ситуация которая сложилась в Туре. Практически на 90 процентов соревнований полупустые залы. Прекращение сотрудничества это сильный удар по Туру. Я же обратил внимание что по мере того как все хуже и хуже складываеться картинка Тура деньги они получают все больше и больше

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24 декабря 2011, 22:01

Ответ ivan1111

Надо уточнить несколько деталей:
- сотрудничество не прекращается, а просто договор вытекает в конце 2012 года;
- уже однажды договор продолжили, если помните, так что все нормально. Сони-Эриксон достаточно долго спонсорировал женского тенниса.
- Сама фирма Сони-Эриксон реорганизуется и поэтому нормально чтобы не хотели новый договор;
- Вам только кажется что зрители меньше. Наоборот и в этом году зрители женского тенниса были больше чем в прошлом;
- спонсорские деньги увеличивается каждый год в женском теннисе. Они не зависят от качество тенниса. Большую ошибку допускают те болельщики, кто думают качество тенниса хуже, значит и спонсоры и деньги будут меньше. И наоборот, качество тенниса хорошо, значит и спонсоры и деньги будут больше;
- действительно трудно найти такого долго-срочного большого спонсора как Сони-Эриксон. Но не сказано что спонсор должен быть один. И поэтому нельзя видит большие проблемы для WTA.