By Mike Cormack

SPORTSNET.CA

After breaking down at the 2009 Australian Open, many wondered whether Roger Federer had it in him to win another Grand Slam.

What a difference a year makes.

Rewind to 12 months ago following his second consecutive Grand Slam final defeat to Rafael Nadal. It looked like Federer’s tears were a sign that he had come to the realization that he had met his match and had no answer for him.

A few months prior, the Spaniard had snapped Federer’s streak of five straight Wimbledon titles in what many consider to be the greatest match ever played.

If Wimbledon was a sign that Nadal had caught him, the loss in Australia seemed to prove that he had passed him.

Fast forward a year however and Federer has reclaimed his No. 1 ranking in the world, completed the career Grand Slam and passed Pete Sampras for most career Grand Slam titles.

The question a year ago was whether Federer’s best was behind him and he answered it in his usual emphatic style by winning two Slams (French Open, Wimbledon) and by reaching the final in the other two (Australia, U.S. Opens).

With the first Grand Slam of the year set to begin in Melbourne Jan. 18, sportsnet.ca looks at the burning questions facing tennis in 2010:

Who are the favourites Down Under?

Men (seeds in parenthesis)

Roger Federer (1): Four-time champion found his mojo again after last year’s meltdown in the final.

Novak Djokovic (3): Defeated Federer in the semis en route to ’08 title. Loves playing in the Melbourne heat.

Nikolai Davydenko (6): Hottest player in the world. Beat Federer and Nadal in each of his past two tournaments.

Rafael Nadal (2): Hasn’t looked 100 per cent since returning from knee tendonitis last summer.

Andy Murray (5): Was the hot favourite of many a year ago. Would love to win a Slam before arriving at Wimbledon.

Women (seeds in parenthesis)

Serena Williams (1): There’s a reason why she’s No. 1. No one can beat her when she’s healthy and at her best.

Kim Clijsters (15): Reigning U.S. Open champion won last week at Brisbane and could challenge for No. 1 ranking by year’s end.

Justine Henin (unseeded): Strong performance last week in comeback tournament. Stamina will be key this week.

Maria Sharapova (14): Well rested and with shoulder trouble now behind her, a serious threat to repeat 2008’s success.

Venus Williams (6): The elder Williams appears to be on the downside of her career but might have one more Slam in her.

Will Nadal’s knees hold up?

Given his all-out style of play, it’s no surprise that Rafael Nadal developed knee trouble. What is surprising is that at just 23, the problem is with both knees, and it appears to be chronic. The first sign of trouble emerged at last year’s French Open when he fell to Robin Soderling, his first-ever defeat in five years on the red clay in Paris.

He subsequently withdrew from Wimbledon, missed two months to treat tendonitis in both knees and then struggled against top players after returning to action. Although seeded second for the Australia Open Nadal, has yet to win a title and has beaten just one top-10 player since his return.

Can the Belgians re-claim No. 1?

Women’s tennis is as deep and as talented as ever but the return of Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin should create one of the most competitive years in the history of the WTA. The Belgian duo is returning at time when no less than six other former No. 1 ranked players are still in their prime: V. Williams, S. Williams, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Dinara Safina and Jelena Jankovic. Despite the stiff competition, the 26-year-old Clijsters showed no rust following her 26-month retirement by winning last September’s U.S. Open.

As for Henin, she walked away in May 2008 while ranked No. 1, and in her comeback tournament last week at the Brisbane International, she made it all the way to final where before losing to Clijsters in three sets. Australian Open organizers have decided against seeding the 27-year-old Henin for the upcoming tournament, but that hasn’t deterred British bookmakers from installing her the third favourite at 5-1 next week, right behind Clijsters

Is this the year at Wimbledon?

Last summer before bowing out to Andy Roddick in a tight semi-final match, Murray got a taste of the national frenzy he can expect should he make another serious run at the title. There was even talk of Queen Elizabeth planning to attend the final had Murray defeated Roddick. The 22-year-old Scot has the talent to win multiple Grand Slam titles, but he’s also burdened by the pressure of being Britain’s lone hope to end its 80-year winless drought at Wimbledon.

There’s no question Mike Weir is under considerable pressure from the media — and himself — each summer to win the Canadian Open, but it pales in comparison to the expectations being heaped upon Murray. Federer is almost unbeatable on grass, but should the unthinkable happen and he’s upset early in the fortnight, Murray will have as good a chance as anyone.

Will the real Aleksandra Wozniak please stand up?

The 22-year-old native of Blainville, Que continues to be an enigma. The world’s 34th ranked player was recently named the Canadian Press female athlete of the year, yet her 2009 resume still left much to be desired. Sure, she knocked off the reigning French Open champion, beat three other top-15 players and sent Amelie Mauresmo packing at the U.S. Open, but since reaching a career-high ranking of No. 21 last June, Wozniak’s game has regressed.

She hasn’t exactly burst out of the gate in 2010 either, falling in the second round at Brisbane and Thursday at Hobart. If she’s serious about her stated goal of becoming the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam singles, her fitness and match toughness will need to improve in 2010.

New-look Rogers Cup

This summer when the women arrive in Montreal and the men come to Toronto there will be as much as talk about next year’s Rogers Cup as the 2010 edition. That’s because with both the men’s and women’s events slated to be held in different cities, but the same week in 2011, Tennis Canada has been floating the idea of playing half the men’s and half the women’s draws in each city before having a finalist from each city travel to the other city for the championship. The idea is receiving support from the suits at the WTA and ATP, but it has been met with considerable head scratching on the part of the players. Tennis Canada must also concern itself with Rogers, whose title sponsorship expires at the conclusion of the 2011 event.

Odds: ladbrokes.com