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Rafa Nadal wins French Open 2019
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tennishead awards ‘The Men’: We salute the standout male athletes from 2019 including Rafa Nadal


With the 2020 season set to be decimated by the coronavirus pandemic, we look back at fonder times from 2019 when tennis once again proved to be a sport that can deliver the most memorable performances from outstanding athletes, just like Rafa Nadal.

 

Here, tennishead honours the standout male players and performances from the 2019 tennis season.

 

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Rafa Nadal

Considering that Rafa Nadal struggled with injuries at the start and end of the season, the 33-year-old Spaniard’s results have been remarkable. He won the French and US Opens to go within one victory of Roger Federer’s all-time record of 20 Grand Slam titles, was runner-up in Melbourne and a semi-finalist at Wimbledon.

 

Andy Murray at Wimbledon

 

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Andy Murray

Andy Murray had major hip surgery in January but was back playing doubles less than five months later, winning the title at Queen’s Club. In October he claimed his 46th singles title in Antwerp. It has been a remarkable effort given that no player has ever returned to top-flight singles after similar surgery.

 

Felix Auger Aliassime at the 2019 Miami Open

 

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Felix Auger-Aliassime began this year ranked No 108 in the world, having never won a match at Grand Slam level. The 19-year-old Canadian ends the 2019 season as the world No 21 after a series of outstanding performances, especially in the first half of the year, when he reached the finals in Rio, Lyon and Stuttgart

 

Matteo Berrettini at the 2019 US Open

 

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Matteo Berrettini

Matteo Berrettini began the year ranked No 54 in the world but ended it by securing a place in the Nitto ATP Finals as world No 8. The 23-year-old Italian won titles in Budapest and Stuttgart and enjoyed his best run at a Grand Slam tournament when he reached the semi-finals at the US Open before losing to Rafael Nadal.

 

DOUBLES TEAM OF THE YEAR

Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah

With their Wimbledon and US Open triumphs, Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah were the year’s outstanding team. The Colombians, who had never previously won a Grand Slam title, finished well clear of all their rivals at the top of the world rankings.

 

WHEELCHAIR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Gustavo Fernandez

Having twice lost in the final of the men’s wheelchair singles at Wimbledon, Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez finally triumphed at the All England Club when he beat Shingo Kunieda in the final. Earlier in the year he won the titles in Melbourne and Paris.

 

COACH OF THE YEAR

Nicolas Massu

Dominic Thiem had been coached throughout his professional career by Gunter Bresnik until he appointed Nicolas Massu in the spring. The new partnership enjoyed instant success at Indian Wells and Thiem went on to win five titles during the season.

 

Novak Djokovic Roger Federer Wimbledon 2019 watch ATP tennis on TV in 2020

 

MATCH OF THE YEAR

Wimbledon final

Novak Djokovic’s 7-6(5) 1-6 7-6(4) 4-6 13-12(3) victory over Roger Federer was the longest final in Wimbledon history at four hours and 55 minutes. Federer, playing in his 12th Wimbledon final at the age of 37, had two match points at 8-7 in the deciding set.

 

SHOT OF THE YEAR

Dan Evans in Australian Open qualifying

Jurij Rodionov had what appeared to be an easy kill at the net. Dan Evans, standing behind the baseline, moved to his right, only for Rodionov to hit to his backhand. Evans promptly swivelled 180 degrees and stunned his opponent with a winning backhand pass.

 


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.