Starting on December 7—the 25th day left in 2010—TENNIS.com will countdown from the year-end No. 25 on both tours with "The Last Word," a look back at the year that was and a look ahead at the season to come. Here's who we've looked at so far.
Best of 2010
Fish, newly trim, built stamina and confidence through the second half of the year. That new form and fitness peaked with a heroic five-set win over Santiago Giraldo (3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 4-6, 8-6) to clinch a relegation Davis Cup tie for the U.S. in the altitude of Colombia.
Worst of 2010
Losing to Novak Djokovic in the fourth round of the U.S. Open is nothing to be ashamed of, but through the summer Fish had begun to make us believe he could win a match like that. Instead he went quietly, 3, 4, and 1.
Year in Review
At 29, Fish may have had his finest year. He finished a career-high No. 16, won two tournaments and reached two finals, the latter of which was a close, three-set loss to Roger Federer. All of it came after he lost 30 pounds and, for the first time in his career, completely dedicated himself to the sport.
See for Yourself
Fish challenges Federer in Cincy:
The Last Word
Fish has had his up years, months, and matches before and has had trouble following them up. He finished the year injured, so he’ll have to create his summer momentum again from scratch. But if he stays as fit as he was this season, Australia should be a good place for him to begin.
—Steve Tignor