2017 Year in Review
Top 10 Matches on the ATP World Tour
Top 10 Matches on the WTA Tour
Top 10 Shots on the ATP World Tour
Top 10 Shots on the WTA Tour
Top 10 Upsets of 2017
Top 10 Outside the Lines 2017
Top 10 Matches on the ATP World Tour
Top 10 Matches on the WTA Tour
Top 10 Shots on the ATP World Tour
Top 10 Shots on the WTA Tour
Top 10 Upsets of 2017
Top 10 Outside the Lines 2017
Top 10 Matches of 2017
After an exciting and unpredictable year of tennis, EXPERIENCE is looking back at some of the year's best moments in our 2017 "Top 10" series. We start by looking at the top 10 men's matches of the year. Agree? Disagree? Let us know what me missed in the comments below!
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10. Stan Wawrinka def. Dominic Thiem 6-4 4-6 7-6(2)
Indian Wells (ATP Masters 1000) Wawrinka's 2017 was cut short due to injury, but during the first half of the season he was in good form. One of his best matches was a quarterfinal thriller against Dominic Thiem at Indian Wells. Two of the best one handed backhands battled it out in slow night conditions. Plenty of good shotmaking in this one, and court positioning proved to be the deciding factor; Wawrinka pushed Thiem further and further behind the baseline in key moments.
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9. Grigor Dimitrov def. David Goffin 7-5 4-6 6-3
London (ATP World Tour Finals) It wasn't the season finale that most expected, but Dimitrov and Goffin produced a stunning display of ball-striking and athleticism. Goffin, the smaller player, was actually dictating most points and hit over double the amount of winners compared to the Bulgarian. However, Dimitrov's athleticism and scrambling ability kept him in points long enough to extract errors from the Belgian's game. Goffin looked to be the better player going into the third set, but after fighting of break points, Dimitrov never looked back.
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8. Nick Kyrgios def. Alexander Zverev 6-4 6-7(9) 6-3
Miami (ATP Masters 1000) Kyrgios and Zverev faced off four times in 2017, with both young guns battling late in tournaments. While Zverev clearly had the better year overall, Kyrgios won 3 of the 4 head to head over the German, including this encounter in Miami. Featuring more than a few tweeners and tomfoolery, the Miami crowd was loving this one. Zverev won two miraculous points in the second set tiebreak to force a decider, but Krygios focus' early in the year was fantastic, and his serving numbers was the critical in this victory.
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7. Novak Djokovic def. Andy Murray 6-3 5-7 6-4
Doha (ATP 250) After dominating men's tennis in 2016, Djokovic and Murray figured to have many matchups again this year, but it was not to be. They're only encounter was a good one, however. The first tournament of the year in Doha saw the world's top two players square off in the final. Djokovic was in full control up a set and break, but Murray stormed back to force a third set. As we have seen so often, these two play some of the longest, drawn out points in men's tennis when they are at their best. Djokovic overcame nerves in the end to win the title.
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6. Gael Monfils def. Kei Nishikori 6-7(4) 7-5 7-6(6)
Canadian Open (ATP Masters 1000) I wanted to rank this one even higher, to be honest. Gael Monfils is guaranteed entertainment anytime he steps on the tennis court. He didn't have a great season, but the fashion in which he won this match was simply unreal. He saved match points with ridiculous defense combined with jaw-dropping power. Combine his shotmaking with his energy and emotion, and this was probably the best comeback of the year. I still get the chills watching these highlights. We need more La Monf in 2018.
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5. Andy Murray def. Phillip Kohlshreiber 6-7(4) 7-6(18) 6-1
Dubai Duty Free Championships (ATP 500) Another incredible match point save comes in at number five. Andy Murray, known for playing high percentage tennis under pressure, took a huge risk down match point against Phillip Kohlschreiber in Dubai. A side-spinning drop shot that barely crept over the net kept him in the match. The two played an amazing 38 point tiebreak which was eventually won by Murray after saving 7 match points. The Brit ran away with the third, but the first two sets alone put this one high on the list.
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4. Roger Federer def. Rafael Nadal 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3
Australian Open (Grand Slam) For many, this iconic clash between arguably the two greatest players of all time would be considered the best match of the year. For me, it was definitely an "epic", and certainly the most significant of the year, but not quite the best. Both players were in great form, but not at the same time. A few lopsided sets made for a quick five setter. Now, the fifth set was pretty incredible, with Federer rallying from 3-1 down to win five games in a row. It set the tone for an amazing year, and will prove hugely significant if Federer does end up leading Nadal in the career major count.
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3. Juan Martin del Potro def. Dominic Thiem 1-6 2-6 6-1 7-6(1) 6-4
U.S. Open (Grand Slam) The first two sets of his one were over before most even realized the match had started. Battling illness, del Potro was on the bring of retirement in the match as Thiem's relentless baseline game had the Argentine gasping for air. After a trainer visit late in the second set, del Potro started to look and feel a little better. And from there the match was an instant classic. Behind a rowdy New York crowd, del Potro smashed forehands to storm back and claim a five set victory.
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2. Rafael Nadal def. Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 5-7 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-4
Australian Open (Grand Slam) This match gets forgotten and overshadowed due to the Fed-Nadal final, but it was certainly the best grand slam match of the year. Dimitrov, who had never beaten Nadal before, pushed the Spaniard for five hours in a grueling battle on Rod Laver Arena. What made this one so good was that there was hardly ever a time for either player to relax. Every game, every point was competitive. Dimitrov missed out on break points early in the final set, and Nadal never looked back afterwards. Still, the physical efforts of this one combined with the shotmaking put it at no. 2 overall in 2017.
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1. Roger Federer def. Nick Kyrgios 76(9) 67(9) 76(5)
Miami Open (ATP Masters 1000) From the moment these two were set to square off, the buzz and excitement was through the roof. They lived up to the hype, and more. Federer was playing the best tennis of the year at the time, while Kyrgios was rounding into form. The crowd was firmly behind Federer, sometimes even unfairly so, but the atmosphere was electric and so was the quality of tennis. There was virtually nothing to separate the two players, with three tiebreaks needed to decide the winner. It was very cool to see Kyrgios' step up and challenge Federer, and even cooler to see how the Swiss man responded under pressure. These two played another epic at Laver Cup later in the year, and we can only hope that they get a few more big matches in before Federer's career is over.
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