Top 5 ATP players in 2017

2017 was a year marked by comebacks. Tennis veterans, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, swept through 2017, claiming two Grand Slams apiece. While the Fedal comeback was the highlight of the year, 2017 also saw some youngsters emerge on the scene, Andrey Rublev and Denis Shapovalov being two of them.

Here is a quick look at the five best players in the calendar year:

#5 Denis Shapovalov

Denis Shapovalov was awarded the ATP Emerging Player of the Year after putting in some scintillating performances over the year. Aged just 18, he is presently ranked 51 in the world. Shapovalov won the Wimbledon Junior Grand Slam in 2016 and his best performance in a senior Grand Slam came at the US Open this year where he reached the fourth round.

Shapovalov's greatest moment in his career thus far came earlier this year when he defeated Rafael Nadal in the third round of the Montreal Open. The Canadian is certainly one to look out for in 2018 and is capable of an upset or two.

#4 Grigor Dimitrov

Grigor Dimitrov

The Bulgarian number 1 had an unforgettable 2017 which saw him climb to number 3 after he clinched the Nitto ATP Finals in November. This is Dimitrov's career-best ranking. Dimitrov won four singles titles in 2017.

He started the year on a high, winning the Brisbane Open, and ended it on an even higher note, lifting the ATP year-end Finals trophy after defeating David Goffin in the final.

He also made it to the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Finishing on a high, Dimitrov will be looking forward to a rock solid performance in the Australian Open which is scheduled to begin on 15th January 2018.

#3 Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev

20-year-old Alexander Zverev, who hails from Germany, had a successful year which saw him win five singles titles, including two Masters 1000s - Rome and Montreal.

Zverev's best Grand Slam finish came at Wimbledon this year where he made it to the fourth round. He had a lackluster end to 2017, falling early in the US Open before getting knocked out in the round robin stage of the Nitto ATP year-end Finals. He will be looking to get off to a strong start in 2018 and reach the last eight of a Grand Slam for the first time, at the Australian Open.

#2 Roger Federer

Roger Federer

One of the greatest tennis players to have ever picked up a racquet, Roger Federer started 2017 with a bang as he won the Australian Open by defeating Rafael Nadal in a thrilling 5-setter. Owing to an injury, he opted out of the French Open, but made a comeback, winning Wimbledon for a record 8th time.

The Swiss numero uno won seven ATP titles in 2017, the most by any player, and also laid claim to the ATP Comeback Player of the Year.

An underwhelming loss to Juan Martin del Potro in the US Open and a semifinal defeat in the ATP Finals meant that Federer ended the year at number 2, behind Rafael Nadal. Nonetheless, his sensational comeback was something nobody expected.

#1 Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal

At number 1 is Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who, like Federer, won two Grand Slams in 2017. He added six ATP titles to his kitty as well, one fewer than his Swiss nemesis. Rafa's greatest moment in 2017 came when he lifted the Roland Garros trophy. No man had ever won 10 Grand Slams at a single venue until Nadal rolled in, decimating his opponents to lift the trophy without dropping a set throughout the tournament. After a disappointing 4th round loss in Wimbledon, Rafa vowed to come back stronger.

Proving his critics wrong yet again, Nadal went on to win the US Open which was his 16th Grand Slam. He also picked up the China Open title and finished runners-up in the Shanghai Open. He had a disappointing end to 2017 primarily owing to fatigue and had to withdraw from the year-end finals after playing just one match.

Nevertheless, the Spaniard ended 2017 as the world number 1 and was awarded the ATP Player of the Year for his efforts.