Skysports.com's Joe Drabble takes a look back at the last 12 months on the ATP Tour.
Joe Drabble takes a look back at the last 12 months on the ATP Tour
From Nadal's knees to Safin's swansong, the 2009 ATP season has once again been packed full of drama and talking points.
While Roger Federer continued to smash records throughout the season, there were also plenty of new faces who announced themselves as major contenders for years to come.
The Swiss rolled past Pete Sampras' record 14 Grand Slam title haul, while Andy Murray's wait for a major title continues into 2010.
Two big names also bowed out of the professional tennis arena - Marat Safin and Fabrice Santoro both making emotional exits from the sport.
January - December 2009
2009 started as 2008 ended, world number one Rafael Nadal maintaining his fine record against rival Federer, but this time on the hard courts in Melbourne. In what was a contender for match of the year, the Spaniard edged a marathon five-set Australian Open final to win his sixth Grand Slam and first on the concrete.
British number one Murray started the year promisingly with a fourth round run Down Under, the Scot falling to another major player during the 2009 season - Fernando Verdasco.
Nadal continued his blistering start to the campaign in Indian Wells with a comprehensive victory over Murray in the final. The victory for the Mallorcan was sweet revenge after the Scot had prevailed in their last meeting in the final of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.
Fellow top 10 players Andy Roddick (Memphis), Novak Djokovic (Dubai) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Marseille) also tasted silverware in the early stages of what was shaping up to be another hugely-competitive season.
Murray bounced back from his Indian Wells disappointment in some style to clinch his 11th ATP Tour title in Miami. The Scot then flew in to Florida and saw off Verdasco, Juan Martin Del Potro and Djokovic en route to glory.
The clay court season got underway in Monte Carlo and unsurprisingly one certain Spaniard found this period especially fruitful. Nadal claimed consecutive titles in Monte Carlo - his fifth on the spin - Barcelona and Rome.
After fighting off a niggling back injury, Federer ended Nadal's dominance in Madrid to claim his first title of 2009. This victory sparked a run of 21 consecutive wins for the Swiss.
The 2009 French Open got underway at Roland Garros on May 24 - Nadal heavy favourite to reign for a fifth successive year. However, a mixture of Robin Soderling and severe knee tendonitis was to prove his undoing in round four.
The Spaniard's loss was Federer's gain, the then 27-year-old making history with victory over Soderling as he became just the sixth man in history to complete a Career Grand Slam. The title was a record-equaling 14th Grand Slam, putting him level with American legend Sampras.
Soderling's run was to mark a breakthrough season for the Swede, who went on to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals. Murray also caught the eye in Paris, progressing to the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the first time.
And the Scot maintained his impressive form as the players made the switch to grass ahead of Wimbledon. Murray became the first British winner at Queen's since 1938 when he defeated James Blake in the final.
Naturally that victory saw 'Murray Mania' reach fever pitch ahead of Wimbledon, however there was one notable absentee from the famous event. Champion Nadal was unable to defend the title he won so
