Roger Federer's withdrawal from the year-end final was a shocker -- and so was the ATP World Tour's season.
Who saw Stan Wawrinka's Australian Open win coming? Or Marin Cilic's triumph at the US Open? Or Fed's bad back in London?
As the holidays approach, we're feeling generous. So here's one last ATP Up or Down of a few select players, a full baker's dozen for your perusal.
No. 1 Novak Djokovic: It comes with an asterisk. He never got to play the championship match against Federer, but Djokovic did run off with the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals trophy for the third consecutive year, something that hasn't happened since Ivan Lendl, circa 1987. Djokovic -- who has won 31 consecutive matches indoors -- is your year-end No. 1 for the third year in four. But there's a widespread feeling the Wimbledon champion should have won more than one major.
No. 2 Roger Federer: Here's all you need to know about the 33-year-old father of four: Federer won five titles and more matches (72) than anyone on the ATP World Tour and played so well the No. 1 ranking was hanging in the balance until the last week of the season. Now, can Federer carve out one more major in 2015 to add to his record total of 17?
No. 3 Rafael Nadal: Outside of the usual sterling performance on his favorite court at Roland Garros, it was a difficult year for Rafa. Yes, Nadal won his ninth French Open title in a decade (he's 66-1 at R.G.), but a series of injuries (wrist, knee, back) limited him to seven matches after Wimbledon. His last match was a loss to 17-year-old Borna Coric in Basel, a poignant reminder of how fearless and invincible Rafa looked as a teenager. Now, there are reports Rafa will use stem cells to strengthen his back. Everyone -- probably even Djokovic and Federer -- is hoping he returns soon.
No. 4 Stan Wawrinka: Try to look past the whimper at the end of the season. The 28-year-old Swiss player finally believed in himself and good things happened. He won his first major at the Australian Open and then his first Masters title in Monte Carlo. Wawrinka also reached the semifinals at the year-end tournament in London; that nearly three-hour match against Federer, in which Wawrinka blew four match points, might cost him a Davis Cup win over France.
No. 5 Kei Nishikori: The world has been waiting for the best Japanese player ever to soar after breaking through with his first title six years ago in Delray Beach -- at the age of 18. After a disappointing series of walkovers, Nishikori showed his mental and physical toughness at the US Open, weathering back-to-back five-set matches and reaching his first major final. He acquitted himself well in London, too, reaching the semifinals -- and actually taking a set off Djokovic.
No. 6 Andy Murray: With Rafa ailing and Federer waning in his mid-30s, Murray wasted a terrific opportunity to add to his Grand Slam singles title total. To be fair, he was coming off offseason back surgery, but he failed to make a final for 15 months after his 2013 victory at Wimbledon. He finished strong and qualified for London, but the effort cost him. He wound up playing Djokovic in an exhibition match when Federer pulled out.
No. 8 Milos Raonic: Incremental but solid progress from the 23-year-old Canadian, who has seen his ranking improve from No. 13 two years ago, to No. 11 to the current No. 8. Raonic, always a big server, has improved his movement and reached the semifinals at Wimbledon -- his best effort at a major.
No. 9 Marin Cilic: Finally, the 26-year-old Croatian delivered on the promise that he flashed five years before in reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open. Cilic won four titles and $4.5 million, but that first major title, at the US Open, was a career changer. He's into the year-end top 10 for the first time.
No. 11 Grigor Dimitrov: In 13 previous Grand Slam events, the 23-year-old Bulgarian reached the third round only once. In 2014, he made it to the fourth round of the US Open, the quarters of the Australian Open and the semifinals at Wimbledon. Can he take the biggest step in 2015?
No. 18 John Isner: The 6-foot-10 Isner banged 989 aces, No. 3 among ATP players, behind only Ivo Karlovic and Milos Raonic. His tiebreaker win percentage was .656, fourth overall. Still, this seemed like the year that a prime-time Isner would vault into the top 10 and stay there, but he finishes between Nos. 14 and 19 for the fifth straight year, so maybe this is his ceiling.
No. 34 Sam Querrey: He's only 27, but Querrey (28-21) looked tired at times in 2014. If he hadn't played three Challenger events in California -- going 15-0 and winning three titles -- this could have been a lot worse. Fellow Americans Steve Johnson (No. 37) and Jack Sock (No. 42) aren't far behind.
No. 39 Dominic Thiem: The 21-year-old Austrian is the youngest player in the ATP's top 50. He qualified into the main draw of tournaments to get his ranking up, then finished 22-23 overall. He made the final at home in Kitzbuhel and reached the fourth round at the US Open.
No. 89 Borna Coric: At 17 he's the youngest player in the ATP's top 100. The Croatian played minor events to begin the season, but finished with a winning record (7-6) on the ATP level. He was ranked No. 396 a year ago, but should be directly into the main draws of majors in 2015.