Who had the best year in 2013? Djokovic or Nadal?
December 2
Behind door number 2 of our Advent “calendar” is a look back at 2013 for two stars of men’s tennis.
The battle between Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic was a special one this year.
The two players hold the record for most head-to-heads in the Open Era, and the achievements of both men make them equally fine contenders for a Laureus Award.
But who had the best year in 2013? Nadal or Djokovic?
Rafael Nadal’s return from injury to reclaim the Number 1 spot will surely go down as one of the most remarkable sport comebacks for years.
This time last year, Andy Murray, having won his first Grand Slam at the US Open, was the new force to be reckoned with in world tennis.
Rafa, suffering from a knee injury with no return date in sight, watched from home.
Many were asking whether Nadal, once such a threat regardless of the surface he was playing on, could ever reach the top again.
His absence would last six months.
But since returning after the Australian Open in January, he has never looked back. He has now won 10 titles, including the French and US Open, in 2013 alone.
Djokovic meanwhile, who ends the year as the number two tennis player in the world behind Nadal, still had another year of real success.
He started by winning the Australian Open back in January and ended 2013 by defeating Nadal at the ATP Tour finals in London.
The Serbian also featured in all but one of the Grand Slam finals, proving that even if he couldn’t quite reach his dominance of previous years, his consistency remains.
Who do you think is the most likely contender for Nomination for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year?
Let us know on our Facebook page or tell us on Twitter! And be sure to keep checking to see what’s next up on our “Advent Calendar” looking back on 2013 in the run-up to Christmas!
