Roger Federer - For you, this one was even worse than 2003. For everybody else, it would have been pretty good. But you could not win a Slam this year (so your streak stopped at 8, just like Pete’s and Borg’s) and, for you, that kind of sucks. You finished strong, winning your last three tourneys, but the truth is that you did not face Novak again after that ridiculously slapped forehand. You have aged gracefully, like a fine wine. The question is: Can you become brandy?

Andy Murray - Do we have to keep asking? I guess so, because the answer so far is in the negative. Some people are already asking a different question: Why are you considered one of the BIG 4? Why not JM Del Potro? He has one grand slam, after all. My guess is that you have inhabited that ranking for a few years now. But still, the question is the same. You have made three GS finals, but, really, you did not even show up. So, once again: Can you win a Slam?

David Ferrer - If it took only effort, you would be Roger. Guts? Check. Mental Toughness? Check. But it is not only effort. You are walking out there giving everybody 5 or 6 inches in height. And you are not 20 years old. So my questioin for you is quite simple: Have you peaked?

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - If it took only talent, you would be Roger. Ok, not really, but you are truly special on a court. Power? Check. Speed? Check. Physique? Check. You tacked Roger for two losses this year, none more painful (for him) than at Wimby. And then you jumped and pumped yourself on court after that victory, and went down meekly to Novak in the next round. You dropped your coach, saying you wanted to be yourself on court. But right now, the question is: Are you for real? Or are you Henri Laconte’s latest re-incarnation?

Tomas Berdych - Talent wise, you are also up there. So much power. There is no politically correct way to say this, but the only improvement this year was in the girlfriend department. You have one Slam final to your credit, so: What do you need to move up?

Mardy Fish - You got yourself in shape. You are the top American at the moment. You reached your highest ranking ever. But time is running out. You are nowhere near making the HOF, not even the American HOF. What is it you need to grab a slam?

Janko Tipsarevic - You are the Serbian Mardy Fish, just one notch below. Talent wise you are exceptional. But for somebody with Dostoyevsky tattoos and a reputation for being smart, you really play a brand of tennis that does not scream “thinker on court”. You are way below, for example, Murray, when it comes to tactics. So: Are you serious on court? Really serious?

Nicolas Almagro - What the hell are you doing on this list?

Caroline Wozniacki - You are dating the wrong Brit. Really. We know everybody loves Rory (nobody more than you) but you have to date Murray. Same sport. And same question. Again.

Petra Kvitova - You know what? You are exempted. Yes you are. You had a great year, and simply because of the way the tour awards points you almost certainly will reach number 1 by the end of spring. So go ahead. You are free to go. But rest assured that if you blunder all that talent, questions will come with a vengeance.

Victoria Azarenka - Are you ever going to shut up?

Maria Sharapova - Nice comeback. But not enough for somebody with your pedigree. The shoulder seems to be fine, but still, the double fault count is getting borderline ridiculous. So can you win another slam with that serve, even reach the top again?

Na Li - Tell us what is wrong with this list: Iva Majoli, Anastasia Myskina, Ana Ivanovic, Na Li. Actually, nothing. You fit nicely. So are you comfy with that one slam? Enough?

Samantha Stosur - Granted, we all thought your Roland Garros final was your finest hour, and that would be it. And we all thought Serena was going to impale you at Flushing. But you played the match of your life and even more, the match of a lifetime for other players. So why can’t you keep it up?

Vera Zvonareva - Great pin up shots. Anything else?

Agnieszka Radwanska - You are like Almagro. What are you doing here?

Marion Bartoli - The problem is that by definition you can’t see how weird you are. An intrinsic part of being weird is not knowing it (otherwise, you are just a phony). It is like when you said you are really smart. Intelligent people don’t say that. And an intelligent person would at least run the experiment of getting in better shape (i.e. losing weight). Can you? Actually, could you? Please.

Andrea Petkovic - Nobody, and I do mean nobody, has been funnier or more entertaining than you. Ever. Not Marat. Not Goran. Not Patty. Nobody. But for all your mental brilliance and lunacy, you play robotic tennis. We can wait for your next career in TV (the possibilities are endless as long as you don’t go corporate) because we love you so much. But can you add some more dimension to your game, and move up?

Serena Williams - No other player outside the top 10 can command as much attention as you (maybe Connors when he made his comeback, but that was last century). You are the great Serena. You came back after a Pulmonary Injury (in an aerobic sport!) and still lots of people said you would cruise through the Wimbledon draw. After that you torched the summer circuit, went to Kim Kardashian's wedding (no tennis player has ever wanted so much to be a pop star as you) and were ready to lift that trophy at the US Open. But the reality is that at both Wimbledon and the US Open you were outplayed at your own game, by players with nowhere near your mental toughness. And the cherry on top? Your last two US Open losses have been marred by ugly episodes. And to some, that signals that you are not immune to pressure. You did melt down. So, my question is this: Will the real Serena please stand up? Because there are some doubts, you know?


Photo: Caroline Wozniacki at the 2011 New Haven Open