2018 in review: Novak Djokovic returns to rule tennis as Alex Zverev and Naomi Osaka challenge the old guard
- Serb wins Wimbledon and the US Open after coming back from a long injury-related lay-off
- Japan’s Osaka beats Serena Williams in the US Open final while Zverev wins the men's ATP Finals title
Next Gen poster boy Alexander Zverev’s season-ending Tour Finals triumph served up a glimpse into the future of men’s tennis although 2018 remained a year dominated once more by the usual, yet ageing, suspects as a revitalised Novak Djokovic returned to the peak of his powers.
The Serb tumbled out of the top 10 for the first time in a decade and was ranked as low as 22nd in June, slumping to a string of uncharacteristic defeats – including an embarrassing loss to Italian journeyman Marco Cecchinato at the French Open – following elbow surgery to fix a lingering injury.
Over the next few months though Djokovic surged back to his all-conquering best, sweeping to Wimbledon and US Open crowns and completing a historic Masters sweep with an elusive victory in Cincinnati.
“There was always part of me that believed I could make it back and I never thought it was impossible,” Djokovic said of his climb back to world number one. “It turned to out to be a perfect five months of the year, with two grand slam titles.”
Roger Federer continued to defy his advancing years as he defended his Australian Open title and then eclipsed Andre Agassi as the oldest top-ranked player in ATP history, at the age of 36.