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The year in tennis had a dramatic split personality. It was a year of exceptional achievements by well-known players, but also a year of transition. Serena Williams made history although her grip on the womens game was convincingly loosened. The ATPs Big Four spent more time breaking down than bagging titles, yet one member completed a career Grand Slam while another became the 26th player to claim the top ranking (and just the 17th year-end No. 1 since the rankings were instituted in 1973). Other players made big impressions or fulfilled long-deferred dreams. Here are our picks for tennis players of the year:10. Karolina Pliskova (WTA No. 6)2016 accomplishments:?44-23 record; two titles, including CincinnatiIs Pliskova another Petra Kvitova or Maria Sharapova? We may learn the answer in 2017 after of a breakout season for the 24-year old Czech player. During her finest run, spanning August and early September, Pliskova defeated No. 1 Angelique Kerber in Cincinnati and lost narrowly to her in the US Open final -- that after beating Venus and then Serena Williams in earlier matches. A right-hander, Pliskova can command with her serve and has an appetite for first-strike tennis that will make her dangerous to all.9. Monica Puig (WTA No. 32)51-25; one title, at OlympicsIts difficult to overstate how much it means for a place like Puerto Rico to produce a gold medalist in a popular, international pro sport -- or to overvalue how much a story like Puigs does for the sport of tennis. She created the ultimate Cinderella story in Rio de Janeiro, defeating Grand Slam champions Garbine Muguruza and Kvitova before claiming the gold medal with a win over Kerber.8. Alexander Zverev (ATP No. 24)44-24; one title, at St. Petersburg, RussiaZverev towers above his fellow ATP #nextgen brethren, literally as well as figuratively. Hes 6-foot-6 and still just 19, yet his coordination and movement are excellent, which is why this German youngster appears to be everyones cant miss future Grand Slam champion. He has already beaten a slew of great players, including Roger Federer on the grass of Halle and Stan Wawrinka in the title match on the hard courts of St. Petersburg.7. Johanna Konta (WTA No. 10)46-22; one title, at StanfordShes the official WTA Most Improved Player of the Year after a meteoric rise that began at the US Open in the summer of 2015 and continued to gain momentum through 2016. So far, the highlight has been her win at Stanford over Venus Williams. Kontas big serve and aggressive game enabled her to become the first British woman to be ranked in the top 10 since Jo Durie 32 years ago.6. Stan Wawrinka (ATP No. 4)46-18; four titles, including US OpenNovak Djokovics problems were not yet manifest when Wawrinka stunned him in the US Open final, proving to anyone who still doubted that the new Swiss No. 1 (ahead of that Roger -- whats his name?) is a superb big-match player. The US Open final match had a profound impact on the ATP narrative for the year. Wawrinka doesnt always bring his A-game (as his modest title haul suggests), but when he does, watch out.5. Juan Martin del Potro (ATP No. 38)32-12; one title, at StockholmIf we were to pick a single Player of the Year weighing impact on the game and quality of effort more highly than full results, Delpo would probably walk away with the award hands down. At the start of the year, he wasnt sure he would ever play tennis again due to his chronic wrist injuries. By the end, he had risen 1,003 ranking spots on the computer, won his first tournament in 33 months, claimed an Olympic silver medal (after a first-round upset of Djokovic) and led Argentina to its first Davis Cup championship.4. Serena Williams (WTA No. 2)38-6; two titles, at Wimbledon and RomeWilliams played just eight tournaments in 2016, due partly to various injuries as well as a laser-like focus on major events. She was well into her 34th year when she won Wimbledon to tie Steffi Graf as the Open-eras leading singles title producer (each now has 22). The physical and emotional struggles Williams experienced in 2015 carried over into much of this year, a testament to the toll exacted by her drive over the past two years to catch Graf.3. Novak Djokovic (ATP No. 2)65-9; seven titles, including Australian Open, French Open and four ATP Masters 1000sLooking at Djokovics year as a whole tends to put much of what happened in the final three months into a better perspective. Djokovic had a remarkable timing problem this year. Immediately after he became just the eighth man in tennis history to complete a career Grand Slam, he experienced an emotional letdown -- just as Andy Murrays confidence and determination kicked into high gear. All credit to Murray, but it was rotten luck for Djokovic, too.2. Angelique Kerber (WTA No. 1)63-18; three titles, including Australian Open and US OpenThis was the surprise Serena Williams could not have expected. Kerber always has been capable of pulling off the big upset, but shed stall or withdraw from the flame in the late stages. This year, she came up huge in major events, playing three Grand Slam finals and winning two. Although she won just one other tournament (Stuttgart), her record is strewn with semifinal and final appearances.1. Andy Murray (ATP No. 1)78-9; nine titles, including Wimbledon, Olympics, ATP World Tour Finals and three ATP Masters 1000sThe numbers are dazzling. But the most impressive aspect of Murrays rise to No. 1 was the remarkable combination of stamina and resolve he showed en route to stripping the prestigious year-end No. 1 ranking from Djokovic in the last match of the year. Once cast as the guy destined always to fall one match short, Murray ended his career year with a 26-match winning streak -- and a storybook finish.Honorable mentionsATP: No. 3 Milos Raonic (52-17, one title) was the Wimbledon runner-up, is now positioned for a Grand Slam breakthrough. ... No. 20 Ivo Karlovic (32-24; two titles) had one of the best years of his career at age 37. ... No. 76 Taylor Fritz (15-22, no titles) is the other 19-year old in the top 100 (joining Zverev) and finished the season nearly 100 rankings places higher than he started it. Hes boosting the hopes of U.S. tennis.WTA: No. 7 Garbine Muguruza (35-20; one title) was brilliant in winning the French Open but stunningly unimpressive for the rest of the year. ... No. 8 Madison Keys (47-17; one title) showed signs of greater consistency and almost punched through to the elite level a few times. ... No. 26 Daria Kasatkina (36-23; no titles) is 19 and had wins this year over Pliskova, Roberta Vinci, Venus Williams and Dominika Cibulkova to improve her ranking by 49 places. Discount Football Jerseys . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Cheap Football Jerseys Authentic . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. http://www.cheapfootballjerseys.us.org/ . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining. Wholesale Football Jerseys Online . Jane Virtanen scored two, and Alex Roach and Elliott Peterson rounded out the offence for the Hitmen (40-15-6). Brady Brassart chipped in with three assists. Colton McCarthy scored twice, Brayden Point had a goal and two assists, and Jack Rodewald also scored for the Warriors (15-35-9), who were 2 for 5 on the power play. Cheap Jerseys From China . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. The Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas pay-per-view undercard will consist of three world title fights, giving the card four in all, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said.Pacquiao, boxings only eight-division world titleholder, is coming out a brief retirement to challenge Vargas for his welterweight world title in the main event on Nov. 5 (Top Rank PPV, 9 p.m. ET) at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, but the rest of the telecast will also include one title fight after another, Arum said.We were bound and determined to make this the best overall boxing card of the year, and four world title fights on it with fighters from all over the word does just that, Arum told ESPN.com. We think boxing is a great sport and it has global ramifications, and we will have fighters from the United States, from Mexico, from China, the Philippines and Japan. I love that. Its like Im promoting fights in the United Nations.Arum will host a news conference Tuesday in Los Angeles to formally announce the undercard.In the co-feature, junior featherweight titlist Nonito Donaire (37-3, 24 KOs), 33, the most famous active Filipino fighter other than Pacquiao, will make his second defense when he takes on mandatory challenger Jessie Magdaleno (23-0, 17 KOs).Jessie is a great challenger, a mandatory defense and I know hes hungry because he has been calling me out on social media, said Donaire, the 2012 fighter of the year who has won world titles in four weight classes (five if interim titles are included) from flyweight to featherweight.Donaire has parted ways with his father, Nonito Donaire Sr., as his trainer for this fight and is working with Ismael Salas, a former Cuban amateur national team trainer.I am working great with my new trainer, Ismael Salas. We are learning about each other and hes instructing me about a more precise, compact way of fighting, but still [how to] be very explosive as everyone is going to see on Nov. 5, Donaire said.Said manager Cameron Dunkin: [Donaire has] fought the best and beat the best. Hes faced many tough challenges. This is a very tough challenge, but this is what Nonito does.Magdaleno, 24, of Las Vegas, will be facing his most significant opponent but says he is ready for the big time.As a kid, Ive dreamt of this moment, and the time is finally here, said Magdaleno, younger brother of former lightweight world title challenger Diego Magdaleno. Nov. 5, I will be victorious with my hands up high.Frank Espinoza, Magdalenos manager, has watched Donaire for years and respects him but believes his fighter is ready to knock off the veteran.Jessie Magdaleno is very, very motivated for his fight against Nonito Donaire, Espinoza said. Nonito has been a great champion and has fought in many big fights for a long time. But this is Jessies time. He has worked hard, and he has what it takes to win and become a world champion.Said Arum: I think its a terrific fight. The managgers are really confident, Cameron and Frank.ddddddddddddMagdaleno, when he lets his hands go, is terrific, and I love Donaire as a fighter. This is going to be a good one.Featherweight titlist Oscar Valdez (20-0, 18 KOs), a 25-year-old, two-time Olympian from Mexico, knocked out Matias Adrian Rueda in the second round on July 23 to win a vacant belt and will make his first defense against mandatory challenger Hiroshige Osawa (30-3-4, 19 KOs), 31, of Japan. Hiroshige will be facing the first notable opponent of his 12-year career.As a world champion, you have to face tough challenges, and my first defense will be against a tough challenger, but I am ready to face him, Valdez said. I worked hard to get my belt, and I intend to keep it for a long time.Espinoza also manages Valdez and expects a similar kind of performance to the explosive one he turned in to win the belt.Oscar Valdez won his world championship with a spectacular performance in July, and on Nov. 5, I am sure he will give us another great fight and he will get the win to retain his belt.The opening bout of the pay-per-view will pit two-time Chinese Olympic gold medalist and three-time world amateur champion Zou Shiming (8-1, 2 KOs) against Thailands Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym (39-1-2, 24 KOs) for one of the flyweight world titles vacated earlier this month by Juan Francisco Estrada, who is moving up in weight.Zou, who lost a decision to Thailands Amnat Ruenroeng in his first world title opportunity in March 2015, already owns a victory against Onesongchaigym. The 35-year-olds met in November 2014 in Macau, China, on the Pacquiao-Chris Algieri undercard, and Zou cruised to a one-sided decision, 120-103, 119-106 and 119-106. But they are the two highest-rated contenders in line for the belt Estrada vacated, so they will meet again. Onesongchaigym has won 12 fights in a row since the loss to Zou.Zou is enormously popular in China and responsible for big-time boxing in Macau. Arum said Zou brings a lot to the card in terms of sponsorships, ticket sales and Chinese television revenue.And I know (casino magnate) Steve Wynn is delighted he is on the card because there will be many high-rollers from China coming in for the fight and staying at (host casino) The Wynn because Zou is fighting for a world title. And if he wins, it means huge fights in 2017 in China and Macau.In a non-televised undercard bout, but one that the pay-per-view probably will include highlights from, lightweight Robson Conceicao, 27, of Brazil, will make his much-anticipated pro debut in a six-round bout against an opponent to be determined.Conceicao thrilled the home fans in Rio de Janeiro in August by becoming the first Brazilian boxer to win an Olympic gold medal. A few weeks later, he signed with Top Rank. ' ' '