Tennis in 2019: Nadal on top as new faces make mark in women's game

Rafael Nal finished season on top of world to give men's rankings a familiar look but a new crop of women is showing old guard can be overthrown.

Spanish world number one and vak Djokovic won two Grand Slams each in 2019, holding Far Time and ir young rivals at bay for ar year.

But Ashleigh Barty and teenr Bianca Andreescu were two new faces on list of women's Major winners as familiar names slipped from view.

AFP Sport looks at some of big talking points of season.

Can Nal stay on top in 2020?

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-- Rafael Nal arrived at Italian Open in May without a title in 2019.

He beat vak Djokovic in final and lost just three matches in rest of season, winning French Open and US Open before inspiring Spain to Davis Cup glory on home soil, finishing as world number one for a fifth time.

With a combined of 103, Nal, Djokovic and Roger Federer continue to dominate men's tennis and it takes a brave punter to predict ir imminent demise.

But re is at last sense of a credible challenge from an exciting crop of youngsters including Daniil Medvedev, who pushed Nal all way in US Open final, and ATP Finals winner Stefas Tsitsipas.

"I believe I'm really close to being crowned a Grand Slam champion," said

Tsitsipas after beating Dominic Thiem in final in London.

Women's NextGen show way

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-- Australia's Ashleigh Barty, 23, rose from relative anymity of 15th in world at end of 2018 to top rankings a year later, winning French Open and WTA Finals along way.

Teenr Bianca Andreescu of Cana soared even more dramatically, from 178th to fifth in world, beating Serena Williams in final of US Open to become first Canian to win a Grand Slam singles title.

"NextGen is here," Andreescu anunced during her winning run at Flushing Meows.

"You see many fresh faces and I think we're only going to get better from here." Federer's Wimbledon pain

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-- Roger Federer h two Wimbledon championship points on his own serve to beat vak Djokovic and win his 21st Grand Slam title. That would have taken him six clear of Serbian on all-time list and three clear of Rafael Nal at time.

Inste, he faltered. Djokovic, in a match lasting a she under five hours, won his 16th Grand Slam and two months later Nal won his 19th.

"It's such an incredible opportunity missed," said Swiss veteran, w 38 and who must fear his days as all-time leer on list are numbered.

Serena's Court problem

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-- Serena Williams is running out of opportunities to win 24th Grand Slam singles title that would pull her level with Margaret Court's record.

38-year-old American reached final at both Wimbledon and US Open but she won just four games against Simona Halep in London and lost in straight sets to Bianca Andreescu in New York.

It followed defeats in finals of both events previous year, suggesting Williams is feeling pressure.

Speaking after her US Open defeat, she downplayed pursuit of Court's record.

"I'm t necessarily chasing a record. I'm just trying to win Grand Slams," she said.

"It's definitely frustrating, but for most part I just am still here. I'm still doing what I can do." Comeback of year



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-- In January, British former world number one Andy Murray mitted 2019

Australian Open could be his last tournament during a tearful press conference.

But Scot, 32, returned to court after hip resurfacing surgery and beat fellow veteran Stan Wawrinka in final of European Open in October.

"It means a lot," Murray said after his triumph. " past few years have been extremely difficult.... I didn't expect to be in this position at all, so I'm very happy." A star is born

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-- Having been youngest player to come through Wimbledon qualifying, 15-year-old Coco Gauff stunned five-time champion Venus Williams in first round in straight sets, belying her ranking of 313.

"My dream was to win. That's what happened," said American whose run at All England Club was eventually ended by champion Simona Halep in fourth round.

Gauff went on to make US Open third round before winning a maiden title in Linz in autumn having lost in qualifying.

At end of 2018, she was ranked 875 but she will he into 2020 at 68.