Tennis Players Most in Need of a Bounce-Back Season in 2017

With the 2017 tennis season and the Australian Open a few weeks away, many players hope to punch the reset button on careers headed in the wrong direction.

Many are making coaching changes. Even 12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic felt a need to part ways with tennis legend Boris Becker.

Other top players, like Roger Federer and Serena Williams, are recovering from injuries. 

Overall, it was a rocky year for many of the game's big names. Tennis correspondent Ravi Ubha tweeted in October, "No Roger, Rafa, Serena, Maria, Vika, Petra -- 62 majors -- at their respective year-end championships."

Indeed, in 2016, several present and past top-ranked players suffered setbacks. But which of these players is in desperate need of turning things around? 

The players on this list are at a crossroads that could become a road block if they don't change course, soon. 

This includes players such as Belinda Bencic, a promising teen star on the WTA Tour who reached a career-high No. 7 in February, only to crash out of the top 40 by the year's end.

You won't find Federer, Williams or Djokovic on the list.

Federer and Williams are all-time greats trying to preserve their bodies to make runs at Grand Slams. Federer owns and Williams is tied for the record for most Grand Slams won in the Open era. They've cemented their legendary status.

Although he lost his No. 1 ranking to Andy Murray, Djokovic reached the championship game at the ATP World Tour finals. He finished the year with two Grand Slam titles, including his first French Open. Perhaps Djokovic needs to refocus, but last year is hardly a setback in need of a comeback. 

The players on this list are far deeper in the ditch. Whether in the midst of a slump or stuck in a rut, the following are the players most in need of a bounce back in 2017. 

Honorable Mention: Maria Sharapova

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Maria Sharapova hits a forehand during an exhibition match in Las Vegas.

Maria Sharapova needs more of a comeback than a bounce back, which is why she earned an honorable mention.

After she serves the remainder of her 18-month suspension for using a banned substance, Sharapova must restart a career put on hold. 

Her last match was a quarterfinals loss to Williams at the Australian Open. What awaits her when she returns?

Sharapova will have to rebuild her brand and her game. Some fans will be hostile, others hospitable. Winning will do wonders to silence critics. But make no mistake, Sharapova needs a solid 2017 performance or the "washed-up" rumors will start rolling in.

Belinda Bencic

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Belinda Benic attempts a backhand slice during a tournament in Austria.

Just a year ago, Bencic was the next superstar. When she upset Williams at the Rogers Cup, Bencic became the youngest player to defeat the Amerian (in a full match) since Sharapova in 2004.

Considered a heady player, Bencic drew comparisons to her compatriot and mentor, Martina Hingis.

But this year she struggled with injuries and managing high expectations. Her drop in the rankings could be simply growing pains.

However, with contemporaries like Daria Kasatkina, Ana Konjuh and Naomi Osaka finishing the year strong, 19-year-old Bencic needs a turnaround in 2017 to avoid confidence erosion and falling to the back of the pack of the future stars under 20.

Alexandr Dolgopolov

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Alexandr Dolgopolov hits a forehand during the 2016 U.S. Open.

Alexander Dolgopolov ended his season in October due to a back injury. He finished 17-17, stuck in a rut.

Since reaching a career-high No. 13 in 2012, Dolgopolov has finished the year above .500 just once (2014). Last year he was 26-26. 

After shutting down his season, Dolgopolov released a statement via Instagram: "Me and my team are working hard on the recovery and we hope to be back strong and healthy in 2017."

Talented and explosive, Dolgopolov can't quite be labeled an underachiever, especially when considering his slight frame. However, his recent inability to produce sustained success on the tour might make next year a make-or-break situation.

Caroline Wozniacki

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Caroline Wozniacki shows off the trophy after winning a tournament in Hong Kong.

Caroline Wozniacki already started climbing out of a nearly year-long slump. But she still has work to do before she's back in the conversation about top contenders. 

Hampered by an ankle injury, Wozniacki fell out of the top 70. A strong finish during the Asian swing helped her end the year ranked No. 19.

She lost in the first round at Wimbledon, and there were even rumors about her retirement. Following her Wimbledon defeat, Wozniacki told the Telegraph's Simon Briggs: "If I read everything that was written about me the last 15 years, by now I probably would have jumped over a cliff."

Nick Kyrgios

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Nick Kyrgios hits a forehand volley during an exhibition in New York.

When asked to reflect on his 2016 season, Nick Kyrgios considered it a success. He reached a career-high No. 13 and is the youngest player in the ATP's top 20. 

However, Kyrgios suffered a setback in terms of on-court antics. He was suspended for eight weeks for tanking during a match at the Shanghai Masters. The suspension was reduced to three weeks when Kyrgios agreed to see a sports psychologist.

Kyrgios told the AAP (via ESPN) that meeting with a sports psychologist has been good for him.

He  will need to prove he's making an effort to curtail his outbursts. There's nothing wrong with showing emotion on the court. Some of the game's best do it all the time. But tanking is never acceptable. Kyrgios is now 21, and after a second suspension, he is in serious need of a controversy-free season.

Ana Ivanovic

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Ana Ivanovic hits a forehand during a match at the 2016 French Open.

Ana Ivanovic got married this year to footballer Bastian Schweinsteiger, a life highlight. Her play in 2016 produces mostly lowlights.

The former No. 1 and 2008 French Open champion slipped to No. 63. She lost in the third round at the Australian Open and the first round of Wimbledon, the Summer Games and the U.S. Open. 

In fact, Ivanovic lost her opening match in six tournaments this year. 

In September, she issued a statement via Twitter, informing fans: "Due to my recurring wrist injury, I have been advised by my doctor to take some time off. ... I have also been delaying surgery on my toe ... This is something that I will need to take care of in the upcoming weeks."

She was back in action during the IPTL. She turns 30 next year, so the clock is ticking on her chances to win another Slam. 

Rafael Nadal

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Rafael Nadal during a match at the 2016 China Open.

Rafael Nadal ended the season in the top 10. However, he went another year without reaching a Grand Slam final. He never advanced beyond the fourth round. 

Nadal shut down his season in October after battling a chronic wrist injury. 

But even before the seriousness of the injury surfaced at the French Open, Nadal was having an off year. He lost in the first round of the Australian Open, the third round at the French Open and had to miss Wimbledon. He didn't even dominate the clay-court season. 

It's difficult to determine if Nadal is just struggling through a slump or facing the reality of a body broken down. It's clear that he has to turn it around in 2017. He's already in his 30s, and competition on the tour is as fierce as ever.

Despite finishing No. 9, Nadal may be the player most in need of a bounce back. Anything less than an appearance in a Slam final will be seen as the beginning of the end.