2012 was an interesting year for the Men’s game. Andy Murray finally delivered in a Grand Slam, Roger Federer showed he still had another Major in him and a year of domination from Novak Djokovic did not materialize – although that was not hugely unexpected with Rafa Nadal and Federer still in the picture.
It turned out to be a balanced year for tennis’ top four with each man taking a Grand Slam on their strongest surface.
2013 should be equally fascinating and the world will get an idea about where the balance of power lies between the world’s top players when the first Grand Slam of the year gets underway in Australia on Monday.
Three-way battle
However, Nadal will have to be left out of the equation for now after a virus hampered his recovery from injury, forcing him out of this tournament.
That leaves a three-way battle between Djokovic, Murray and Federer for the Australian Open.
Djokovic had an interesting 2012, starting well with victory at the Australian Open and bookending it by winning the ATP World Tour Finals in November.
But there could have been much more for him to celebrate. In between the two successes he suffered a defeat to Nadal in the French Open final and lost out to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon semis.
And in the final Grand Slam of the season he was the fall guy as his friend and rival Andy Murray won his first major at the US Open.
Despite that the Serbian enters 2013 as World Number 1 and will be looking for greater consistency at the business end of Grand Slams.
Similarly Murray has much to gain in 2013. The weight will have been lifted off his shoulders after finally prevailing in a Grand Slam final at the fifth time of asking.
And his gold medal in the Men’s Singles competition at the London Olympics will also have done him the world of good.
The Scot has revealed that he feels better prepared compared to this time last year and also has the calming influence of coach Ivan Lendl by his side – a crucial factor in his 2012 success.
It is easy to forget but Roger Federer is still only 31, having been at the top for so long. However the clock is winding down slowly for the Swiss maestro.
In 2012 he did show that he had the energy to challenge for Grand Slams by winning at Wimbledon. But that was only his second major title in three seasons – a far cry from his era of dominance between 2004 and 2009.
However, Federer can never be written off and will be a strong contender Down Under – where he already has four titles - and beyond.
Dark horse
With Nadal absent in Oz, that temporarily opens a spot for a potential dark horse.
Perhaps the key question of 2013 revolves around the identity of the player that could potentially provide a credible challenge to tennis’ top four.
Sitting directly below Djokovic, Federer, Murray and Nadal in the rankings, you will find Spaniard David Ferrer, Czech Tomas Berdych, Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro and Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
The quartet have shone in spurts in recent years reaching occasional Grand Slam semis and finals.
However for someone who has failed to reach the latter stages of Grand Slams until last year, at 30 it is probably too late for Ferrer to bridge the gap.
And for Berdych and Tsonga it is a question of consistency which must be addressed.
Which leaves Del Potro. The World Number 7 is the only current player outside the ‘Big Four’ to have won a Grand Slam. But since triumphing at the 2009 US Open he has not quite cut it at the business end of major tournaments. But at 24, time is on his side.
The Australian Open gets underway on Monday January 14th.
