Skysports.com's Alex Williams picks out the highs and lows from the past year on the ATP Tour.
Alex Williams recaps the major talking points from the ATP Tour
The re-emergence of Rafael Nadal captured most of the men's tennis headlines as the Spaniard roared back from injury to win three of the four grand slams on offer.
It did not seem promising for Nadal at the start of the year as knee problems forced him to withdraw from the Australian Open as he was in the process of being well beaten by Andy Murray.
The British number one went on to reach the final in Melbourne, but his wait for a grand slam title would continue as he was unable to stop Roger Federer collecting a record 16th crown in the major tournaments.
That would prove to be the peak of the 2010 campaign for both Murray and Federer, however, as Nadal came back fitter and better than ever at the start of the clay court season.
He would comfortably clinch a fifth French Open crown and second Wimbledon title, seeing off improving stars Robin Soderling and Tomas Berdych in the respective finals.
Novak Djokovic, who would later lead Serbia to Davis Cup glory, provided a sterner test at the US Open, but the world number three fell at the final hurdle after a terrific run at Flushing Meadows as Nadal completed the career Grand Slam as a mere 24-year-old.
Nadal understandably trailed off slightly towards the end of the season, although he seemed back to peak form at the ATP World Tour Finals in London before old rival Federer got one over on him to clinch the title and end his year on a high.
However, it was far too late to prevent Nadal from finishing the year as world number one and the rest of the ATP Tour must be taking his 2010 season as an ominous warning for the years to come.
Player of the year - Rafael Nadal
Not exactly a difficult choice given that the world number one was almost unstoppable once he finally got over the knee injuries which threatened to become a permanent affliction on his career. Many thought Nadal would never return to his best, but the 24-year-old has instead come back even better than he was before.
Even by his extraordinarily high standards, Nadal's clay-court campaign was sensational as he dropped only two sets in the process of winning four tournaments, including a fifth French Open title. He then went on to win a second Wimbledon and maiden US Open title to complete the career Grand Slam. Up there with the best years any player has ever had.
Rising star - Bernard Tomic
After being touted as a star of the future throughout his junior career, Tomic stepped up and made some impressive progress in the senior ranks in 2011. Most of it came at the start of the year, though, as he won his first-round match at the Australian Open before pushing eventual semi-finalist Marin Cilic to the limit.
Although that would prove to be the highlight of his season, the Australian showed glimpses of promise throughout the rest of the year as he heads towards a crucial stage of his development in 2011.
Most improved - Tomas Berdych
Berdych has threatened to become one of the world's top players for some time, but finally showed his true credentials in 2010. The highlight of his year was undoubtedly reaching the Wimbledon final - beating Roger Federer along the way - but that was the end rather than the beginning of his breakthrough.
He was a losing finalist at the Miami Masters in March before going on to reach the last four of the French Open. The Czech then went one better at Wimbledon, where he finished a runner-up to Rafael Nadal. His form since has been shaky but Berdych ends the year ranked a career-high six.
Comeback - Rafael Nadal
It seems glib to say it now, but there were many people who thought Nadal may never win another grand slam after he was forced to pull out of his Australian Open quarter-final with Andy Murray.
Seemingly chronic knee problems were plaguing the Spaniard, whose all-action style appeared to be taking a brutal toll. But after most people had written him off, he recovered from the injuries and went on to completely dominate the rest of the year.
Best performance - Novak Djokovic in the Davis Cup
With Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray seeming only to play in the Davis Cup when it suits them, Djokovic quietly went about playing in every tie and winning all his singles rubbers.
The world number three was a rock in the Serbia side that would go on to win the competition. His exploits in the singles were critical in the semi-final and final, both of which went down to the final rubber, and Serbia clinching the title in Belgrade was one of the highlights of the year.
Match of the year - John Isner v Nicolas Mahut, Wimbledon
In possibly the most surreal sporting event of the year, Isner and Mahut swung themselves to a standstill over three days in their first round match at Wimbledon. Given Isner's great serve, it was no surprise that two tie-breaks and five sets were needed. But no-one could have predicted what would happen next.
You could see the energy sapping from the two players as they reeled off service hold after service hold in a final set that will go down in history. The longer the contest went on, the less likely either man looked like winning it. Darkness mercifully intervened at 59-59 on the second day, with Isner eventually edging the deciding set 70-68 on day three.
The last set alone was longer than any previous match in the record books, and by the time the towering American finally sealed victory, they had been playing for a total of 11 hours and five minutes.
Low point - Murray's woe
There is no doubt that Andy Murray enjoyed another strong year, claiming two Masters titles in Shanghai and Montreal as well as getting to the Australian Open final and semi-finals of Wimbledon. But it sadly seems as though the ultra-talented British hope is no closer to winning a grand slam than he has been for the last two years.
He came up against virtually unstoppable forces in the shape of Federer in Melbourne and Nadal at Wimbledon, and the French Open has never been his strong point, but the British number one's capitulation against Stanislas Wawrinka in the third round of the US Open was especially disappointing.
As usual, Murray was in great form on the North American hard court circuit but came unstuck on the biggest stage. If the soon-to-be 75 year wait for a British male grand slam singles winner is to end, that is an issue that needs to be addressed quickly.
