So, the US Open reaches its close amid somewhat surprising scenes. The somewhat miserable weather has been combatted by the roof over the Arthur Ashe court and the faces, for the most part, that will be seen in the finals are unexpected, to say the least. American tennis is clearly blossoming again and the absence of friends has thrown up new and familiar faces as favorites, of which most have long since fallen in both the men’s and women’s draws.

The final slam of the year has been anything but predictable. In a year that has seen Roger and Rafa dominate once again the ladies’ tour will have seen four different grand slam winners across 2017, an ongoing battle for the number one spot and returns to action from distinctly different circumstances by Kvitova, Azarenka, and Sharapova. Each of those situations has proffered some deep and compelling talking points regarding aspects of the game not discussed every day.

In a year that has seen many eventful occurrences perhaps we should be less surprised, but certain players had played their way into what seemed like perfect form, the seedings have had little reflection of the actual events, and the players of these final stages again show the quality in depth of both men’s and women’s tennis. In the absence of Serena, Novak, and Andy there have certainly been those stepping up to the plate.

It is the year of ‘The Comeback from Injury’. It is also a year in which we see that true graft and desire are as much at the core of success as ability, that we can gain a sense of appreciation for the work the entire team of an individual player has done to get them back into their best shape to make an impact on the ATP and WTA tours.

Del Potro, Kvitova, Nadal, Federer, Stephens, and Keys are just some of the main players returning from injury and doing some real damage this year, but the likes of Murray, Djokovic, Wawrinka et al. will all be hoping to come back to action with the same results as the former group of players has had.

It makes perfect sense in the end that the final grand slam of 2017 should see such unexpected treasures. After all, this was the year that saw the greatest two male players ever return to numbers one and two (Roger should overtake Murray at number two on Monday and regardless of the coming days Rafa’s stay at number one is safe for a while longer) in the world again. They have shared the first three slams of the year, and frankly who could predict what might happen in the final days at Flushing Meadows? It has also seen Serena conquer in Melbourne and take leave to become a mother. Pliskova recently reached world number one still without winning a slam. Halep came close to number one and a slam (French Open) to be pipped at the finish line by Latvian kid Ostapenko lifting the Roland Garros trophy, having just turned twenty days before the final.

Wimbledon saw Muguruza win her second slam after disappointment defending her title in Paris and subsequently go on a tear that will see her crowned the new world number one on Monday 11th September. That tear was ended by some sublime tennis from Kvitova, the best she had played since returning from her horrific incident just prior to last Christmas, before she was then stopped in her tracks by Venus, always the bridesmaid and never the bride, as she reached the latter stages – two finals (in Australia and Wimbledon) and a semi-final at the US Open – but couldn’t get her hands on a first slam in nine years. So, in Serena’s absence the women’s game has been anything but predictable and this year has seen many players winning events on all surfaces, but very few winning more than a couple, and as for the men, well, the dip in form and fitness of Murray and Djokovic, as well as other key male players, has been thoroughly taken advantage of by both active GOATs and the youngsters who have their eyes fixed on the prize. Isn’t this what we wanted for tennis? A little unpredictability and the rise of some new faces, the shock of the greats somehow finding a way back to the top, and the return of faces from injury, which seems to have shaped the entire year and its events.

In the women’s final, Keys and Stephens battled for a shot at a slam title that they themselves wouldn’t have expected (just like Roger and Rafa less than a year ago) and it seems harsh that someone had to lose. It’s a long road back from injury and the rewards being reaped are thoroughly deserved. The all-American final ended with Stephens being crowned champion, and how wonderful once again to see a new name on the trophy. When it comes to the men’s side of things, it’ll either be Anderson or Nadal. Who could argue with either of the remaining players stealing the show come Sunday evening? Here’s to a wonderful end to grand slam tennis in 2017!