Tim Henman analyses Johanna Konta and Serena Williams as he looks ahead to 2018 season
Thursday 24 May 2018 14:29, UK
With Andy Murray out of the Australian Open due to a hip injury and doubts over the fitness of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic some of the sport's big names begin their campaigns in a state of flux.
Sky Sports speaks to former British No 1 Tim Henman about a host of topics including who may dominate the tennis landscape in 2018.
The four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist also discusses what Johanna Konta can learn, both positive and negative, from an impressive 2017 campaign which included a run to the Wimbledon semi-finals and Serena Williams' comeback from giving birth.
What will happen next season after an unpredictable 2017?
If you reflect back 12 months ago you had Murray finishing as world No 1 and Djokovic No 2 with big question marks over Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.
Then in 2017 Federer and Nadal dominated winning the four Slams and with Andy and Novak having had the injury problems.
It is a role reversal going into 2018 and I think first and foremost we want those four guys to be healthy.
It has been an unbelievable rivalry - if we can get them all back on court then we get a chance to really see them all go head to head again and I think that would be most people's wish for 2018.
Who will finish top of the pile in 2018?
2017 has thrown up surprises with the way Roger and Rafa have played but I have said that we should stop being surprised.
I think they are two of the greatest players of all time and what they do is not normal. If they have done it in 2017 and they can stay healthy I think there is every reason why they can both win Slams again in 2018.
That's why to throw Djokovic and Murray back in the mix would be fantastic because you want to see the best players go head to head in the biggest tournaments.
There is no doubt hunger and desire is there. Likewise with the way you have seen Federer and Nadal come back from the adversities of injury to challenge.
It has been incredible to watch and fingers crossed we can watch more of it in 2018.
How will Konta react to a disappointing second half to 2017?
She can learn from that. She had a tough stretch losing a few first-round matches but you don't become a bad player overnight and she had a great year and a lot of highlights.
She needs to learn from the good bits and the bad moments to ensure there are more of those good performances and results in tournaments. She has established herself as a top-10 player and I think she is a genuine contender for the major titles.
There are lots of opportunities for her in 2018.
What to expect from Serena?
I always look at what Serena has achieved in the game and I think she thrives with challenges.
I think there is an element of proving it to herself but also proving to other people, just what she can do.
With these great champions, like Federer and Nadal in 2017, people were quite quick to write them off, saying they are not going to win and then they go and win four Grand Slams between them in 2017.
I am definitely not writing Serena off. When she gets the bit between her teeth when she has the desire and the hunger to prove it to herself and other people [she is a tough proposition].
