Burning Questions For 2017

What is on the cards for the upcoming season? Here are some PROBING QUESTIONS and bold predictions to sort out the champions from the contenders and pretenders.

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The famous Hollywood line — “Nobody knows what’s going on. Nobody knows what’s coming” — applied in spades to tennis in its own Brexit-like, Trumpian 2016. Surprise: Angelique Kerber won two majors and dethroned Queen Serena. Surprise: Maria Sharapova, previously a consummate professional, got suspended for a drug violation. Surprise: Monica Puig, a super longshot, captured the Olympics. Surprise: Novak Djokovic dominated for five months and then faltered at the big events. Surprise: Andy Murray became No. 1 by winning the season’s last match. To epitomise the topsy sturvy year, all eight women’s seeds lost in the first round in Dubai.

Expect more shockers in 2017. Get used to it. Fed, Rafa and Serena, the giants, not just of this century but tennis history, will fade away, sometimes gracefully, sometimes controversially.

We are entering a period of major transition, particularly in the women’s game. “I think the beginning of the year, especially the Australian summer, is going to be epic,” Roger Federer predicted.

Here are some probing questions and bold predictions to sort out the 2017 champions from the contenders and pretenders.

Will Maria Sharapova come back strongly after her 15 month drug suspension?