Tennis in 2019: Nadal on top as new faces make mark in women's game

Rafael Nadal finished the season on top of the world to give the men's rankings a familiar look but a new crop of women is showing the old guard can be overthrown.

The Spanish world number one and Novak Djokovic won two Grand Slams each in 2019, holding Father Time and their young rivals at bay for another year.

But Ashleigh Barty and teenager Bianca Andreescu were two new faces on the list of women's Major winners as familiar names slipped from view.

AFP Sport looks at some of the big talking points of the season.

Can Nadal stay on top in 2020?
==============================
"I believe I'm really close to being crowned a Grand Slam champion," said
Tsitsipas after beating Dominic Thiem in the final in London. Women's NextGen show the way
============================
"You see many fresh faces and I think we're only going to get better from here." Federer's Wimbledon pain
========================
Serena's Court problem
=======================
"It's definitely frustrating, but for the most part I just am still here. I'm still doing what I can do." Comeback of the year
====================
-- In January, British former world number one Andy Murray admitted the 2019
"It means a lot," Murray said after his triumph. "The past few years have been extremely difficult.... I didn't expect to be in this position at all, so I'm very happy." A star is born
==============