The 2018 Grand Slam season was another year of drama, excellence and surprises. On the men’s side, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal added to their Grand Slam tallies with wins in Australia and France respectively.
But just when they thought they might have a clear run, a rejuvenated Novak Djokovic stormed back to top form to win Wimbledon and the US Open.
While the old guard dominated the men’s side, the women’s year was all about the new, with Naomi Osaka bursting onto the scene with victory at the US Open. Though Angelique Kerber took Wimbledon for her third career Grand Slam triumph, two other established stars, Caroline Wozniacki and Simona Halep, finally got themselves over the line.
Best player: Novak Djokovic
What’s the old saying? Form is temporary, class is permanent. But it’s doubtful anyone who saw Novak Djokovic competing in Indian Wells and Miami, when it seemed almost as if he had forgotten how to play tennis, would have believed he could get back to the top in 2018.
But even in the darkest moments, Djokovic believed, and if it happened a bit faster than he’d imagined, by the time the year was done, he was back to his very best. The key was his health. Once he had eventually decided to have an operation on his right elbow in February, and once he was pain free, he was like a man reborn. The signs were there on the clay in Rome and at Roland-Garros, but it was at Wimbledon where he regained his former glories.
His health restored, and crucially, his motivation back to 100%, he beat Rafael Nadal in a classic semi-final and then dismantled Kevin Anderson in the final to win the title for a fourth time. After that, he was virtually unbeatable, romping through the US Open and reclaiming the world No.1 spot, having dropped out of the top 20 at one stage earlier in the year.
With his defence as good as ever and his confidence high, he is going to take some stopping in 2019.
Best match: Novak Djokovic v Rafael Nadal, Wimbledon semi-final
There’s nothing like watching two heavyweights of the game go toe to toe, giving everything they have and in the knowledge that, even if they play their best, it might not be enough.
On Wimbledon’s Centre Court, in a match spread across two days, the pair, two of the best athletes and competitors ever to play the game, battered the ball and each other almost into submission.
Djokovic led two sets to one overnight after an evening of extraordinary quality, but Nadal fought like he always has upon the match's resumption, taking the fourth set to force a decider.
In the fifth, the Spaniard had chances to break at 4-4 and again at 7-7 but Djokovic stood firm, particularly when he angled a pivotal forehand pass beyond Nadal's reach at break point down.
Then it was Nadal’s turn, saving a match point with an unbelievable drop shot at 7-8. But Djokovic was not to be denied, finally breaking the Nadal resistance as he broke to love to win 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (11), 3-6, 10-8 after five hours, 15 minutes of sheer brilliance, the second-longest semi-final ever played at Wimbledon.
Honourable mentions should be given to two Australian Open classics. First Simona Halep’s victory over Angelique Kerber in the semi-final and then to Caroline Wozniacki’s win over Halep in the final. Both matches had everything, incredible rallies, athleticism and drama.
Likewise, Nadal’s win over Juan Martin del Potro in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon, which was almost as good as the semi-final and again, Nadal’s victory over Thiem in the US Open were stunning encounters. But Djokovic-Nadal just about edged them all.
Best shot: Roger Federer going around the net at US Open
Few players would even have thought of this shot, let alone been capable of pulling it off. But then Roger Federer isn't normal.
In cruise control at two sets up and 3-3 in his US Open third round battle with Nick Kyrgios, Federer was chasing down an angled flick from the Australian when he realised what might be possible. Forced well wide of the tramlines and at full stretch, Federer made the ball and with a flick of his wrist, directed it low, inches off the ground and into the court.
The reaction of Kyrgios, who stood open-mouthed at the other end, was almost as good as the shot itself. "I definitely think it was a special one, no doubt about it,” Federer said.
Best rally: Simona Halep v Angelique Kerber, Australian Open semi-final
In searing heat, Halep and Kerber had been running each other ragged for the best part of three sets by the time they played out this astonishing rally.
Halep, having broken at 4-3 in the decider, looked to have finally ended the Kerber resistance as she served for the match. But the courageous German fought back to send this encounter into modern classic territory, coming out on top in a 26-shot rally dripping in intensity.
At break point, the duo soaked up everything the other had to offer before Kerber, who had nearly toppled over just moments before, went for a do-or-die backhand which clipped the line at an absurd, unretrievable angle. A picture of exhaustion, Kerber sank to her knees before rising to take the crowd's acclaim.
Best breakthrough: Naomi Osaka
Osaka had long served warning of her talents by the time she arrived at the US Open. Her victory in Indian Wells had shown she was coming of age but in New York, with all the attention on Serena Williams and her quest for Grand Slam title No.24, she snuck through to the semi-finals largely unnoticed.
Her win over world No.1 Halep in the semi-finals put her into a first Grand Slam final against her childhood hero, Williams. With her easy power, outstanding movement and innate tennis nous, she withstood the Williams barrage and the way she held her nerve during the drama on the other side of the net was enormously impressive.
The first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam, she is already a superstar at home and surely there is surely more to come.
Best moment: Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki winning their first Grand Slams
“It’s really nice not to have to answer the ‘no Grand Slam’ question ever again.” Those were the words of Caroline Wozniacki, smile beaming across her face, after she finally picked up her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
The Dane had been written off as a Grand Slam contender after numerous unsuccesful attempts, but from the moment she recovered from 5-1 down in the final set against Jana Fett in the second round, it seemed like destiny was on her side. Her win in the final over Halep – herself chasing that elusive title – was hard-earned and fully deserved, a brilliant battle, with nerves jangling throughout.
Halep’s reaction to defeat was perhaps the most impressive thing of all. After her two previous Grand Slam final defeats, the Romanian was dejected, devastated. This time she was upbeat, smiling through the pain. It seemed she knew her time would come and in Paris, where she had gone so close twice before, she got it done.
Down a set and a break to Sloane Stephens, she turned it round to win Roland-Garros, the joy and relief clear for everyone to see. As good an athlete as any, and now with the confidence of a Grand Slam title under her belt, she will begin 2019 as the world No.1 with more titles in her sights.