What a year for Novak Djokovic. The 24-year-old Serbian won three of the four Grand Slam titles, lifted seven other trophies and took the No1 ranking from Rafael Nadal. He went on a 70-6 record including a 41-match winning streak [GALLO/GETTY]
Published On 22 Dec 201122 Dec 2011
A welcome return for 13-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. The former No1 survived a life-threatening blood clot on her lungs and returned to competition after nearly a year in June. The American showed she had not lost her fighting spirit when she clashed with an umpire during the US Open final calling her (***)unattractive inside(***) [GALLO/GETTY]
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Libyan footballers risked everything to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. The Tripoli based stars drove to Tunisia and Benghazi-based players drove to Egypt while fighting raged within their country. Libya won (***)home(***) games in Bamako and Cairo and drew away twice to claim one of two places reserved for the best group runners-up [REUTERS]
But it was not to be for fellow-uprisers Egypt. The defending champions - chasing a record fourth consecutive title - relied on aging players like Essam El Hadary, Wael Gomaa and Mohamed Aboutreika and their only win of the qualifiers came when they were ditched in favour of under-23 stars at home to Niger [EPA]
Football fans were left stunned by the suicide of Wales manager Gary Speed. His death at just 42 came as a shock to many, particularly as Speed appeared as a pundit the day before his death. Enjoying a distinguished playing career as a new manager Speed was credited with reviving the fortunes of Wales [GALLO/GETTY]
It was a mixed year for Asian cricket. A British judge jailed three Pakistan stars, including former captain Salman Butt, for their part in a spot-fixing scandal. On-field the Pakistan team did well to put this distraction behind them, beating Sri Lanka in all three formats of the game [GALLO/GETTY]
India(***)s euphoria over winning cricket(***)s World Cup at home in April was short-lived as MS Dhoni(***)s men were dethroned as the number one Test side after a 4-0 whitewash in England. Meanwhile the wait for Sachin Tendulkar(***)s 100th international ton continues [AFP]
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The Dallas Mavericks stole the show in the NBA finals. Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks overcame years of playoff failures to capture their first ever championship title by upsetting the Miami Heat in six games. This year(***)s season has been blighted by a lockout with the season finally due to resume in late December [GALLO/GETTY]
Australia cheered as Cadel Evans finally secured his first Tour de France victory. Twice a runner-up Evans produced a series of remarkable performances to keep his dreams alive in the mountains and then on the penultimate stage(***)s time trial overturned a 57 second deficit to Andy Schleck to secure victory [GALLO/GETTY]
Spain(***)s Primera Division continues to be dominated by Real Madrid and Barcelona. The Catalan giants hold the upper hand winning three Clasicos this year, including a memorable victory on December 10 when Barca came from behind and beat Real 3-1. But Mourinho is on Guardiola(***)s heels and Real sit three points clear at the end of 2011 [EPA]
The new hot young thing: Brazilian 19-year-old Neymar inspired Santos to their first Copa Libertadores title and was still the only player based outside Europe to be named on the 23-man shortlist for the Ballon d(***)Or. Pele declared him a (***)more complete(***) player than Lionel Messi but he was outclassed in the Club World Cup final [GALLO/GETTY]
(***)Crisis, what is a crisis? We are not in a crisis. We are only in some difficulties and these will be solved.(***) FIFA President Sepp Blatter survives an election challenge and negotiates his way through allegations of corruption engulging football(***)s governing body [GALLO/GETTY]
The boxing world mourned the death of Joe Frazier. (***)Smokin(***) Joe(***) captured two major heavyweight titles in his career and famously beat Muhammad Ali in New York in 1971 in a bout dubbed (***)The Fight of the Century(***) [GALLO/GETTY]
Sebastian Vettel proved he was no one-hit wonder cruising to a second F1 world title with Red Bull. The German became the youngest back-to-back world champion to successfully defend the title and also established a new world record for most pole positions in a season [GALLO/GETTY]
New Zealand buried 24 years of hurt by winning the Rugby World Cup on home soil. Despite losing playmaker and talisman Dan Carter early on, NZ overpowered France 8-7 for the win [GALLO/GETTY]
Tiger who? The 22-year-old Rory McIlroy from Belfast produced the outstanding display of the year when he won his first Major, the US Open by eight strokes [GALLO/GETTY]
