With the destination of the Davis Cup determined, the professional tennis season has come to a close. Thus, we begin our look back at 2017, a memorable year on and off the court. Our Top 10 On-Court Moments, and our Top 10 Off-Court Moments, will remind you of everything that transpired.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were just the most prominent examples of a season largely defined by injury comebacks. Sloane Stephens had foot surgery and could barely walk when the season began, but wound up winning her first Grand Slam title at the US Open. Her opponent in the final was Madison Keys, who was returning from a second wrist surgery herself. David Goffin caught his foot in a tarp and badly rolled his ankle at the French Open, but finished the season winning back-to-back titles, defeating both Nadal and Federer at the ATP Finals, and then playing the Davis Cup final.
Petra Kvitova wasn't sure she would hold a racquet again when her left hand was badly injured in a knife attack at her home, but she returned to a stirring welcome at the French Open and then won her second event back at Birmingham. Caroline Garcia rebounded from the first big injury of her career to winning back-to-back titles and hit the Top 10 in the rankings. They and others showed that players can come back better than ever, even from severe injuries.
In addition to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Sloane Stephens was another remarkable comeback story this year: