In 2018, two players who would eventually qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals spent the early part of the season struggling to recover from injuries. Novak Djokovic overcame a right elbow procedure and a 6-6 start to climb from No. 22 to No. 1 in the ATP Rankings. Kei Nishikori, who began the year on the ATP Challenger Tour as he returned from a wrist injury, also earned his spot at the season finale in London.

Will we see more impressive comebacks in 2019? Four former Top 5 stars who missed chunks of time in 2018 could make a major impact next year.

Andy Murray
The former World No. 1 underwent hip surgery this January, falling as low as No. 839 in the ATP Rankings in July. Murray returned in June at the Fever-Tree Championships, competing in six events before ending his season after the Shenzhen Open to fully recover for 2019.

But despite Murray understandably not roaring to the top of the sport from his first tournament back, he gave fans around the world plenty of reason for optimism heading into 2019. The former World No. 1 was perhaps most impressive at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. In just his third tournament back from surgery — and his first on hard courts — Murray won three matches to reach the quarter-finals. But it’s not the fact that at World No. 832 he made the last eight, it’s how he did it.

Murray won three three-setters, including an impressive victory against British No. 1 Kyle Edmund. The Scot showed that his will to win is as strong as ever in the Round of 16 against Marius Copil, surviving a third-set tie-break that ended at 3:02 am before bursting into tears, showing his investment into the moment.

In his final event of 2018 in Shenzhen, Murray defeated 2017 Nitto ATP Finals runner-up and 2017 Shenzhen champion David Goffin before ultimately losing to Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco. Murray showed that his level is still there, but it may just take matches to round into top form. So look for him to steadily improve in 2019, with perhaps one big result giving Murray all the momentum he needs.

Stan Wawrinka
The Swiss No. 2 underwent two surgeries to treat a knee cartilage injury in August 2017. But already back to No. 66 in the ATP Rankings after falling as low as No. 263 this June, Wawrinka has shown that he is well on his way to returning to his very best.

The former World No. 3 beat 2017 Nitto ATP Finals titlist Grigor Dimitrov in the first round at both Wimbledon and the US Open, winning six of the seven sets they played this year. Those were particularly strong wins as the Bulgarian had come out victorious in their previous four FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings.

Wawrinka improved towards the end of the season. Not only did he push then-World No. 1 Rafael Nadal in a tight two-setter at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, but he extended Roger Federer in the quarter-finals of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, battling through a second-set tie-break to force a decider before succumbing in the all-Swiss affair.

Throughout 2018, Wawrinka has remained optimistic, saying repeatedly that he believes that eventually he will find his best tennis. And with the momentum of his first semi-final in seven months at the St. Petersburg Open in September, Wawrinka looks set to come out firing in 2019.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Tsonga was forced to miss more than seven months of the 2018 season due to a knee injury. And while the Frenchman won just one of his six matches after returning in September, he showed that his game is not far off.

The former World No. 5 might have struggled to get over the hump in his return when it comes to winning matches, but five of his six clashes went to a deciding set, with all of his opponents in those meetings sitting inside the Top 65 of the ATP Rankings. The 16-time tour-level champion was competing well against some of the best players in the sport.

Tsonga has long been one of the most athletic players on the ATP Tour, and his all-around firepower will keep him in many matches early in 2019. And once he adds more wins under his belt, his confidence will continue to build.

Tsonga also has consistency on his side. While 2018 will be seen as a hiccup, the 33-year-old has proven his ability to maintain his standing towards the top of the sport, finishing inside the Top 20 of the year-end ATP Rankings in 10 consecutive seasons (2008-17). It’s safe to say that Tsonga will not be World No. 256 for long.

Tomas Berdych
Berdych did not compete after the Fever-Tree Championships in June due to a back injury. And while the Czech — who had finished 12 consecutive seasons (2006-17) inside the Top 20 of the year-end ATP Rankings — will be disappointed to have fallen as low as World No. 77, there’s no reason to believe the former World No. 4 will not be able to bounce back.

Berdych began 2018 on a high note, reaching the quarter-finals at the Australian Open, losing to eventual champion Federer. But in that event, Berdych defeated Juan Martin del Potro and Fabio Fognini, two of the season’s biggest standouts. Del Potro won his maiden ATP Tour Masters 1000 title less than two months later in Indian Wells, and Fognini would capture three titles.

Berdych is scheduled to return to action in Doha, where he reached the final in 2015 and the semi-finals in 2016-17. The Czech star is also entered in the Australian Open.

Rafael Nadal is nearly set to kick off his 2019 ATP Tour campaign at the Brisbane International in Australia. Carlos Moya, who will be coaching Nadal for the third straight season, will be keeping a close eye on how the World No. 2 performs in his first match since the semi-finals at the 2018 US Open (l. to Del Potro). Coach Moya is also eager to ensure Nadal avoids aggravating any of the injuries he suffered in 2018, including one that required arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle.

Moya spoke with ATPTour.com to describe the hurdles Nadal encountered in 2018, divulge the steps being taken to dodge those obstacles (preventable ones and otherwise) in the upcoming season, and why Nadal will be more aggressive than ever upon his return.

Rafa is coming off a very difficult past six months.
It’s not the most glamourous part of my job, but it is a requirement and a responsibility I have, to be in his corner through times like these. We’re always in preparation mode, whether it’s for a match or during recovery time. Matters don’t stand still just because Rafa is on the sidelines; we had to plot out his rehab and eventual return.

Obviously times were difficult for us when Rafa was out of action and things were uncertain. The hardest part of it was having to watch Rafa retire from that Grand Slam semi-final match in New York. We knew then that it was unlikely Rafa would compete in Asia. However, the goal was to play Paris (the Rolex Paris Masters) and London (the Nitto ATP Finals).

Things didn’t work out as planned; Rafa sustained a small abdominal injury, and his ankle wasn’t where we wanted it to be. Once we decided to skip Paris, we decided it was best to change directions and, seeing that he wouldn’t be at full strength in time for London, we choose to undergo the foot operation at that time.

All things considered, how would you rate 2018?
When he was on court and competing, Rafa was spectacular. Of the nine tournaments he played, he won five. He lost a total of four matches, and two were matches in which he was forced to retire (Australian Open, US Open). That forces us to look for solutions. What could we have done better? Is there an answer, a solution, to things we didn’t get right in 2018?

What type of answer or solution are you talking about?
Mixing things up, changing things. Training systems, for example. The frequency of workouts, the methods, the intensity. We have to find a balance to guarantee results without putting Rafa in the situation he was in during the second half of 2018.

How is that applied on a day-to-day basis?
As a team, we’re all thinking the same thing. At this point in Rafa’s career, there isn’t much overhauling we can do in an hour or a day. That would be more harmful than beneficial. That’s something we can all agree on.

Does that mean training won’t be as brutal or as punishing?
Well, since I joined Rafa’s team, training sessions haven’t lasted longer than two hours. That’s more than enough time in practice, considering the level of intensity Rafa puts into training. We give his well-being the highest priority and take all precautions necessary to avoid injury. Going three-and-a-half hours would be overkill and wouldn’t make for more quality training.

I’m in favour of the shorter workout sessions. As an example, we’ve reduced the double workout sessions in a day; we reserve that for tournaments and that’s because the goal then is to work around the scheduled morning/evening sessions and get work in when it’s available.

Nadal turns 33 years old this season. Is the wear and tear on his body a reason for concern among your team, considering his age?
We understand that injuries play a factor in a player’s longevity. In fact, 99 per cent of players retire because of injuries and also what that entails, like losing confidence and a drop in desire. Spending more time at the doctor’s office than on the tennis court and falling in the ATP Rankings, those things take all sorts of tolls on a player. 

I’ve been through that and I know what it does to a player’s spirit. You have to try to avoid it, or at least prolong things as long as possible. That’s where we are concentrating our energy. We ensure Rafa spends just the right amount of time in training and [performing] in events has a high priority. We are focused to ensure Rafa doesn’t over-exert himself.

Do you plan on reducing his playing schedule?
There’s always talk about that and it’s always something we take into consideration. He played nine tournaments in 2018. I wonder if any other player has finished the year as World No. 2 after participating in just nine tournaments? Of course, we wish he could have competed in more, but due to the circumstances, that’s the most we could handle. If he’s at full strength, Rafa can endure 14, maybe 15 tournaments in a calendar year, but no more. Fitting more into his schedule doesn’t seem realistic.

The preseason is just about over. You’re going into the new season with some unknowns and a lot of time on the sidelines.
The goal has been to take things one step at a time, especially following the foot surgery. In principle it was simple surgery, but we still don’t want to rush into anything. So far, we’re exactly where we want to be. Recovery is right on track. Nothing has been over the top, and I’m optimistic as Rafa heads to Australia.

You said before that things were spectacular when Rafa was on court and competing in 2018. What have you sought to improve before the start of 2019?
We’re working on his shape, his conditioning and on specific on-court tactics. Joan Forcades (Nadal’s physical trainer), Francisco Roig and I are preparing Rafa to be a more aggressive player — even moreso than he has been throughout his career. Matches are settled within four strokes and 70 per cent of that is the serve and how one returns, then what follows, plus the next shot.

It’s not the style of play Rafa prefers, but we’re working to find a way to make that sort of matchplay fit into his comfort zone. Rafa likes to find the rhythm, although he has shown that he can play just as well when there is no such rhythm to be found. I am very much instrumental when it comes to moulding Rafa in being more aggressive. Sometimes he gets it, other times he doesn’t.

I know we’ll never turn Rafa into a (Roger) Federer, (Milos) Raonic or (Tomas) Berdych, who all excel as two-shot players, but we have to try and push Rafa to come close to that, without losing the essence of his game. That’s why, in practice, we try new things and to instill confidence so that he can implement those techniques during matches.

Aggression seems to be the ultimate goal.
He accomplished (being more aggressive) in 2017 and was also very aggressive in 2018. The last three matches Rafa played at the US Open — his last three of the season — didn’t show the type of attacking game we were trying to achieve. When he was 20 years old, perhaps he could get away with being less assertive. But at this point, Rafa has to force the issue a little more and be the one dictating matters.

Being a former player myself, I understand where he’s coming from at times, and I get why sometimes he feels more comfortable pulling back rather than pushing forward. When you lack confidence, it’s difficult to be aggressive. Sometimes Rafa feels that isn’t the best form of attack, but one thing we’re trying to get him to understand is that he needs to impose his will whenever possible.

Nadal has played a part in three of the best Grand Slam matches contended in 2018. What are your thoughts on that?
Nadal is the undisputed king of epic matches, you can’t argue that. His matches tend to be long, drawn-out and suspenseful. But as his coach, I prefer less drama. The more the theatrics, the longer Rafa is on the court and that makes me uneasy. Ten years ago, I’d support Rafa in dragging things out, but that’s no longer beneficial to his success. The fans love it, though, when Nadal manages to win when seemingly all hope is lost.

How does Nadal manage to do that — to win, when all hope seems lost? He has a knack for doing that.
I’m his coach and even I don’t know how he pulls those wins off. I can’t begin to explain it. All I know is that the fans love it, and when the fans are loving it, he’s inspired to play his best and no further explanation is necessary. That’s the essence of Rafa.

Nadal collided with Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon this year and wound up on the wrong end of their dramatic encounter. Do you look back and question what you could, as a team, have done better?
Things like that always go through your mind. What if Rafa had defeated Novak? [Kevin] Anderson was coming off a brutal semi-final encounter against John Isner and Rafa would have been favoured to win over Anderson. What would it have all meant? Who knows. Djokovic wouldn’t have won his first Grand Slam since 2016 (Roland Garros). But still, who knows how things would have played out in the long run?

At this point, do you consider yourself a more influential figure on or off the court?
It’s hard to say. It’s not easy to analyze myself as his coach… Rafa is better suited to answer that question. All I can say is that I’m doing everything I can. As a coach, you always strive to do the best job possible.

In the past two years, how many times have you been annoyed with Nadal?
Practically none. Of course, there are times we agree and other times we don’t see eye to eye. But we always resolve those matters.

Is it hard to get on the same page as Nadal at times?
No, because it’s a relationship in which we are always honest and open. If I wasn’t always sincere, my credibility wouldn’t be worth much. I don’t want him to be a robot. I want Rafa to be receptive and understand where I’m coming from when I lend advice but I also want him to provide feedback.

Alexander Zverev was victorious at the Nitto ATP Finals in London. Do you believe this signifies a changing of the guard in 2019?
Djokovic, Nadal and Federer still rule the Grand Slams, but you’re seeing new faces capture titles at ATP Tour Masters 1000 events and at the Nitto ATP Finals. There are a lot of strong players on the cusp of making moves.

Were you surprised that Zverev defeated both Federer and Djokovic consecutively in London?
I can’t say it surprised me. Defeating both Federer and Djokovic in back-to-back matches is no easy task and I believe [Zverev] is the only player who can do something like that at the moment. We’re talking about a player who hasn’t been competing at the highest level for very long and, for whatever reason, hasn’t been able to find a lot of success at the Grand Slam level just yet. But he’s one who is clearly ready to press forward and contend for titles against the best players in the world.

What are your thoughts on the ATP Cup?
The idea makes sense. We should always support new competitions that are meant to modernize and advance our sport. Sometimes we’re reluctant to adapt new formats. The ATP is making this important effort to push forward and I see it as very positive.

With 2018 in the books, what do you want to achieve most in 2019?
All I want is for Rafa to be healthy. If he’s at full health, he’ll soar to new heights. Being healthy is the No. 1 priority for our team.

Andy Murray’s resolve to work his way back from hip surgery is ingrained in his desire to ensure that the latter stages of his career are played on his terms. As he prepares to play just his seventh tournament in the past 18 months at next week’s Brisbane International, the Scot says he is determined to not let injury define his remaining seasons.

“I owe it to myself to give myself a chance to get back to the level that I’m happy competing at… I want to go out on my own terms. If I stopped six months ago or not given the hip time to recover, I may look back and regret that decision,” he said Friday.

Murray, 31, was speaking to media in Brisbane after earlier in the day practising with Grigor Dimitrov. This time last year Murray arrived at the season opener hopeful of returning to the tour after a six-month injury layoff. But he withdrew from the event and underwent right hip surgery in early January. By the time he returned to the tour in June at Queen’s, he’d been away from tournament play for 11 months.

Murray had a modest 7-5 win-loss record in 2018, with the best showing of his six tournament appearances being a quarter-final run in Cincinnati. He missed the final five weeks of the 2018 season with an ankle injury and in October and November Murray spent around six weeks working in Philadelphia with sports rehab specialist Bill Knowles.

“As I’ve gotten older, and with the last 12 months, I can’t believe how quickly things can change,” Murray said. “When I first had issues with the hip I was No. 1 in the world and 12 months later I was struggling. I thought I had time on my side. There’s nothing I’d rather do more than stay out on tour. I love the practice, the competition, the locker room. I want to play as long as I can. There are still things I want to achieve. Whether I am capable of doing that or not, we’ll see.”

At No. 256 in the ATP Rankings, Murray is using his protected ranking of No. 2 to enter Brisbane. But that ranking can’t be used for seedings, meaning Murray could draw any of the top eight seeds – including Rafael Nadal – in the early rounds. But the 31-year-old is focused on finding a way to regain form, win some matches if possible, and start enjoying tennis again.

“I have to be smart with how I train and manage [the hip] as best I can. Last year I was in more pain than I am now. It was a hard year in which I went through a lot, but I had to accept that pain was something I had to deal with. This time I’m trying to enjoy myself. I missed playing here and I’m going to go out and compete as hard as I can.”

Did You Know?
Andy Murray has spent 41 weeks as World No. 1 during his career. See the No. 1 weeks leaderboard

John Millman enjoyed the best season of his career in 2018, climbing as high as World No. 33. Perhaps the Australian’s two biggest highlights were reaching his first ATP Tour final in Budapest and defeating Roger Federer at the US Open to reach the quarter-finals. That’s not bad for someone who had not previously finished higher than No. 84 in the year-end ATP Rankings.

But while the 29-year-old is happy with his year, that doesn’t mean he is ready to slow down.

“I still feel like I’ve got a little bit more improvement to come and I feel like next season can be even better hopefully,” Millman said. “Touch wood, the body holds together and I’m looking forward to putting myself up against the best players in the world. That’s what you want to do, that’s why you play tennis.”

Judging by his performance in 2018, it would be tough to tell that Millman has missed a lot of time on the court over the years due to injury. In February 2017, Millman underwent the third major surgery of his career, that one on his groin. Staying healthy was a big victory for the grinding baseliner in 2018, and his great results were a nice bonus.

“For him to finish where he finished was incredible. What he did at the US Open was fantastic,” said former World No. 8 Mark Philippoussis. “It was a hell of a year, so hopefully he can continue that and stay healthy, and then who knows how far he can go.”

Millman, who is known for his work ethic and how hard he competes, took some time off after his career year. But it didn’t take long for him to get back to work, joining a group of Aussies that was led by former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt and legendary coach Tony Roche to prepare for the new year.

“The Australian Open conditions are some of the toughest of the year and not just that, I think it’s important when you can to lay a foundation and this is the best opportunity to do so, to lay a foundation right now. This is the time to do it,” Millman said. “I think that Australians are really lucky to train here in the conditions where we start off the season and I think we’re really making the most of it.”

It’s always important to start the year on a high note. But it’s even more critical for Millman, as he wants to show his family and friends at home his very best.

“I want to put on the best show I possibly can because this is a real opportunity where my friends and family get to come and watch me play. You want to go out there and you want to do them proud,” Millman said. “The way I can do that is to compete as hard as I can and play really good tennis. So definitely that’s in the back of your mind when you’re out here training and you’re doing everything possible to put yourself in the best physical and mental shape.”

With the season ready to begin and the hard work behind him, Millman is in a different place. With health on his side and the momentum of an impressive 2018 campaign that earned him a nomination for ATP Comeback Player of the Year, all Millman has to worry about is what he’s best at: going out and competing.

“He’s all heart on the court,” Philippoussis said. “He takes what he has, as far as his game, to the absolute max and heart can take you a very, very long way.”