Blood, tears, sweat, comebacks, failures, cheating, crazy stories... 2013 has kept all its promises. And here’s why.
...You were waiting for Rafael Nadal's comeback, you were sceptical and you saw.
...You thought that American men's tennis had hit bottom in 2012? It dug even deeper in 2013.
...You followed, week after week, the decline of Janko Tipsarevic in the standings. 9th in January, 36th in December. A free fall worthy of Felix Baumgartner.
...You smiled when Gilles Simon took the defence of football player Patrice Evra in the newspaper L'Equipe, by bashing TV consultants. And took the opportunity to brag about himself. Charity begins at home...
...You enjoyed seeing Lleyton Hewitt roar again in the circus of Flushing Meadows. A gladiator dies standing.
...You saw Ivo Karlovic score the first 6/0 in his career. At 34. Better late...
...You enjoyed the many great performances of Fabio Fognini on clay. Nothing like an Italian inveigler brought into line by a Spanish coach.
...You (still) wondered what they all see in Radek Stepanek: after Hingis and Vaidisova, it's now Kvitova that has succumbed to the charms of the Czech serial lover.
...You noted the two WTA titles won by Samantha Stosur. It may not all be lost for Julien Benneteau.
...You saw Marion Bartoli win Wimbledon and retire in stride. At 29. It’s a cruel, cruel summer.
...Federer lost twice in a row against unknown players. He even changed racquet. Yes, you had the chance to witness the beginning of the greatest player’s decline.
...Stanislas Wawrinka almost became Swiss number one.
...A year during which Richard Gasquet wins three titles has to be something special.
...Ernests Gulbis clashed the Big Four, and you thought that he had a point.
...Then you saw all the scathing remarks of Viktor Troicki, and you felt reassured: tennis is still alive!
...The same Viktor Troicki and Marin Cilic were caught for doping. The code of silence about doping in tennis has however not changed an ounce.
...You suspected it, now you believe it more and more: Benoit Paire will be great. Or very funny.
...You said goodbye to David Nalbandian, James Blake and Xavier Malisse. Three talented figures and three pig-headed players.
...You saw Monfils defeat Tomas Berdych on Roland Garros’ central, just like that, in the middle of a bad year.
...You enjoyed the Flavia Pennetta's comeback. That smile...
...77 years after Fred Perry, Andy Murray lifted the Wimbledon trophy.
...Besides, you've thought a lot about Tim Henman at this moment.
...The world discovered a player with a look came straight from the nineties: Kirsten Flipkens, her glasses and her bandana.
...David Ferrer showed that Rafael Nadal was not a nemesis...
...You got some confirmations: Novak Djokovic has become a monster, Serena Williams still don't know what getting older means and Maria Sharapova is not a Grand Slams player.
...You thought that Grigor Dimitrov was a lucky man.
...You know that the future of the ATP tour is now called Jerzy Janowicz and Milos Raonic.
...But, by saying these two names out loud, you suddenly realized that 2013 hasn't been a year very rich in fresh blood.
