Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams Topped Tennis Power Rankings 2009

2009 Power Rankings: November
  RK                 (LM) PLAYER COMMENT
 1 Novak Djokovic This is the kind of display most everyone expected from Novak Djokovic throughout 2009, not just in the fall. A confident, fearless Djokovic topped Roger Federer in his own backyard and trounced Rafael Nadal en route to claiming back-to-back titles in Basel, Switzerland, and Paris. He's the man to beat at the upcoming World Tour Finals.
 2 Serena Williams A women's No. 1 actually playing the part? Yes, it does happen. Serena Williams overcame a thigh injury, and as we've seen so many times before, battled past her peers to win the women's year-end tourney. She ends the campaign top ranked for the first time since 2002.
 3 Roger Federer So Roger Federer lost to Djokovic in Basel and fell early to the streaky Julien Benneteau at the Paris Masters. Big deal. He's never done that well indoors in Paris anyway. Fed will step up his game in London to ensure he reclaims the year-end No. 1 ranking from Rafa.
 4 Venus Williams She disappointed at the majors in 2009, but Venus Williams finished strong in Doha, a runner-up to Serena. It's back to the simple things in the offseason. "Making my mom's soup," she tweeted this week. "Tomatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, celery, apple, oregano, basil and salt. All fresh." Sounds good.
 5 Rafael Nadal What a week Rafael Nadal had in Paris. Nadal survived multiple match points to edge enigma Nicolas Almagro and escaped against another countryman, Tommy Robredo, before upping the ante versus French gunslinger Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Then came the thumping loss to Djokovic. Well, at least the fans were on his side in Paris, which hasn't always been the case.
 6 Caroline Wozniacki How ironic that Caroline Wozniacki's tears at the year-end championships resulted against Vera Zvonareva. Wozniacki, less than 100 percent prior to the tournament, showed real grit by edging the Russian and Belorussian Victoria Azarenka to reach the semis. Still, she'll be hard-pressed to remain in the top five in 2010.
 7 Nikolay Davydenko Nikolay Davydenko deserved a place at the World Tour Finals and booked his spot for the fifth straight year. He couldn't maintain the form he showed at the Shanghai Masters, although reaching the semifinals in Valencia and losing to Robin Soderling in Paris is far from embarrassing.
 8 Kim Clijsters Kim Clijsters opted against competing at the second-tier Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali -- it would have been a nice holiday. Instead, the U.S. Open champ is gearing up for an exhibition in Belgium and next season.
 9 Gael Monfils Yes, Gael Monfils is still playing a little too defensively. However, his acrobatics in Paris, particularly against Marin Cilic in the quarterfinals, even surpassed his usual standard. Now he has to get some results outside his native France.
 10 Andy Murray Wrist injuries are touchy, so Andy Murray must have been happy with his performance at the Valencia Open. In his first tournament in a while, the Scot cruised to the title. Not so good was falling to wily Czech Radek Stepanek in Paris after dominating the opening set.
 11 Marin Cilic Marin Cilic, the giant Croat, keeps improving. Cilic achieved his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal of the year in Paris, where he was worn down by Monfils. It followed a quarterfinal appearance in Basel and runner-up showing in Vienna.
 12 Radek Stepanek Radek Stepanek has plenty of game but continues to struggle at crunch time. Stepanek couldn't convert three consecutive match points against Djokovic in the Basel semis and got himself into a winning position facing Monfils in the Paris semis, only to fall short. Nonetheless, he'll be confident heading into the Davis Cup final.
 13 Juan Martin del Potro Most players suffer a letdown after winning a first major, and Juan Martin del Potro is no exception. Del Potro has won only two matches since his stunning performance at Flushing Meadows, although a wrist injury has much to do with it.
 14 Jelena Jankovic Jelena Jankovic took a step back in 2009, relinquishing her No. 1 ranking and failing to reach a Grand Slam semifinal. Some consolation was landing in the semis in Doha, with plenty of good fortune. "It is my goal to return to the very top in the next year, and to win the greatest tournaments," Jankovic said on her Web site.
 15 Robin Soderling Robin Soderling is a more than adequate replacement for Andy Roddick at the World Tour Finals. He probably would have edged Fernando Verdasco for the final spot had he not suffered an elbow injury. Soderling, unlike Verdasco, actually believes he can beat the top guys.
 16 Francesca Schiavone On the verge of exiting the top 50 as recently as June, roadrunner Francesca Schiavone ended 2009 as one of the tour's hottest players. Schiavone went 10-1 in her last 11 encounters, finally collecting title No. 2 and helping Italy down the U.S. in the Fed Cup final. She ends the year top 30 for a seventh straight time.
 17 Yanina Wickmayer Unless she wins an appeal, Yanina Wickmayer serves a one-year suspension for failing to adhere to the so-called "whereabouts" program. The timing is horrible. The 20-year-old Belgian proved reaching the U.S. Open semifinal was no fluke, triumphing in nine of 10 matches prior to the ban.
 18 Dinara Safina A bad back deprived Dinara Safina the chance to salvage a miserable late summer and fall. Next, it's about getting body -- and mind -- ready for the Australian Open in two months. "I'm looking forward to coming back in 2010 stronger than ever," she told her Web site.
 19 Elena Dementieva It's hard to get a read on Elena Dementieva. One minute she's a world-beater and the next she's got nothing. Dementieva failed to reach the semifinals in Doha, losing to another mentally fragile Russian, Svetlana Kuznetsova, when Kuzy had little to play for. Ugh.
 20 Andy Roddick Too bad Andy Roddick's injured knee kept him out of the World Tour Finals. Imagine the rousing reception he was bound to receive in the wake of his performance in the Wimbledon final.
2009 Power Rankings: November
	RK (LM)	PLAYER	COMMENT
	1	Novak Djokovic	This is the kind of display most everyone expected from Novak Djokovic throughout 2009, not just in the fall. A confident, fearless Djokovic topped Roger Federer in his own backyard and trounced Rafael Nadal en route to claiming back-to-back titles in Basel, Switzerland, and Paris. He's the man to beat at the upcoming World Tour Finals.
	2	Serena Williams	A women's No. 1 actually playing the part? Yes, it does happen. Serena Williams overcame a thigh injury, and as we've seen so many times before, battled past her peers to win the women's year-end tourney. She ends the campaign top ranked for the first time since 2002.
	3	Roger Federer	So Roger Federer lost to Djokovic in Basel and fell early to the streaky Julien Benneteau at the Paris Masters. Big deal. He's never done that well indoors in Paris anyway. Fed will step up his game in London to ensure he reclaims the year-end No. 1 ranking from Rafa.
	4	Venus Williams	She disappointed at the majors in 2009, but Venus Williams finished strong in Doha, a runner-up to Serena. It's back to the simple things in the offseason. "Making my mom's soup," she tweeted this week. "Tomatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, celery, apple, oregano, basil and salt. All fresh." Sounds good.
	5	Rafael Nadal	What a week Rafael Nadal had in Paris. Nadal survived multiple match points to edge enigma Nicolas Almagro and escaped against another countryman, Tommy Robredo, before upping the ante versus French gunslinger Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Then came the thumping loss to Djokovic. Well, at least the fans were on his side in Paris, which hasn't always been the case.
	6	Caroline Wozniacki	How ironic that Caroline Wozniacki's tears at the year-end championships resulted against Vera Zvonareva. Wozniacki, less than 100 percent prior to the tournament, showed real grit by edging the Russian and Belorussian Victoria Azarenka to reach the semis. Still, she'll be hard-pressed to remain in the top five in 2010.
	7	Nikolay Davydenko	Nikolay Davydenko deserved a place at the World Tour Finals and booked his spot for the fifth straight year. He couldn't maintain the form he showed at the Shanghai Masters, although reaching the semifinals in Valencia and losing to Robin Soderling in Paris is far from embarrassing.
	8	Kim Clijsters	Kim Clijsters opted against competing at the second-tier Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali -- it would have been a nice holiday. Instead, the U.S. Open champ is gearing up for an exhibition in Belgium and next season.
	9	Gael Monfils	Yes, Gael Monfils is still playing a little too defensively. However, his acrobatics in Paris, particularly against Marin Cilic in the quarterfinals, even surpassed his usual standard. Now he has to get some results outside his native France.
	10	Andy Murray	Wrist injuries are touchy, so Andy Murray must have been happy with his performance at the Valencia Open. In his first tournament in a while, the Scot cruised to the title. Not so good was falling to wily Czech Radek Stepanek in Paris after dominating the opening set.
	11	Marin Cilic	Marin Cilic, the giant Croat, keeps improving. Cilic achieved his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal of the year in Paris, where he was worn down by Monfils. It followed a quarterfinal appearance in Basel and runner-up showing in Vienna.
	12	Radek Stepanek	Radek Stepanek has plenty of game but continues to struggle at crunch time. Stepanek couldn't convert three consecutive match points against Djokovic in the Basel semis and got himself into a winning position facing Monfils in the Paris semis, only to fall short. Nonetheless, he'll be confident heading into the Davis Cup final.
	13	Juan Martin del Potro	Most players suffer a letdown after winning a first major, and Juan Martin del Potro is no exception. Del Potro has won only two matches since his stunning performance at Flushing Meadows, although a wrist injury has much to do with it.
	14	Jelena Jankovic	Jelena Jankovic took a step back in 2009, relinquishing her No. 1 ranking and failing to reach a Grand Slam semifinal. Some consolation was landing in the semis in Doha, with plenty of good fortune. "It is my goal to return to the very top in the next year, and to win the greatest tournaments," Jankovic said on her Web site.
	15	Robin Soderling	Robin Soderling is a more than adequate replacement for Andy Roddick at the World Tour Finals. He probably would have edged Fernando Verdasco for the final spot had he not suffered an elbow injury. Soderling, unlike Verdasco, actually believes he can beat the top guys.
	16	Francesca Schiavone	On the verge of exiting the top 50 as recently as June, roadrunner Francesca Schiavone ended 2009 as one of the tour's hottest players. Schiavone went 10-1 in her last 11 encounters, finally collecting title No. 2 and helping Italy down the U.S. in the Fed Cup final. She ends the year top 30 for a seventh straight time.
	17	Yanina Wickmayer	Unless she wins an appeal, Yanina Wickmayer serves a one-year suspension for failing to adhere to the so-called "whereabouts" program. The timing is horrible. The 20-year-old Belgian proved reaching the U.S. Open semifinal was no fluke, triumphing in nine of 10 matches prior to the ban.
	18	Dinara Safina	A bad back deprived Dinara Safina the chance to salvage a miserable late summer and fall. Next, it's about getting body -- and mind -- ready for the Australian Open in two months. "I'm looking forward to coming back in 2010 stronger than ever," she told her Web site.
	19	Elena Dementieva	It's hard to get a read on Elena Dementieva. One minute she's a world-beater and the next she's got nothing. Dementieva failed to reach the semifinals in Doha, losing to another mentally fragile Russian, Svetlana Kuznetsova, when Kuzy had little to play for. Ugh.
	20	Andy Roddick	Too bad Andy Roddick's injured knee kept him out of the World Tour Finals. Imagine the rousing reception he was bound to receive in the wake of his performance in the Wimbledon final.