Nikolay Davydenko ended up hoisting the singles trophy at this year's ATP Finals. Facing a semifinal matchup against Roger Federer--against whom he was 0-12 before this week--it is unlikely he could have foreseen this outcome. Nadal, Murray, and Djokovic didn't even make it out of the round-robin stage. And U.S. Open champ Del Potro was just outplayed by Davydenko in today's final.
So the 2009 season ends with a few big questions looming as the 2010 Aussie Open awaits on the other side of the New Year:
- Have we seen Roger Federer at his peak, and will he succumb to a gradual slide from the top perch in the men's game or will his greatness continue?
- Can Rafael Nadal bounce back from a rough 2009 (or at least the last nine months of it) to rule the roost as he did in 2008?
- Will the next generation--Djokovic, Murray, Del Potro--become consistent enough to challenge for the crown?
- Were Andy Roddick's best chances for a second Slam title dashed on the lawns of WImbledon last July?
Time will tell.
