Best Male Player of the Year 2008

Andy Murray became one of the big 4 this year. Back to back Masters Series titles, a maiden Grand Slam final and some fantastic wins over Nadal, Federer and Djokovic. He has added extra bulk to his physique, zip to his serve, greater speed, strength, accuracy and a better temperament.

Josh Goodall moved back up towards the top 200 ready for an assuallt on the top 100 in 2009, but this time he has scheduled an earlier end to his season to ensure recuperation for the following year. His successes have been spread throughout the year which may mask his 3rd highest points haul among Brits with 207 points in the calendar year. Can he reclaim the form which once saw him qualify for 3 slams?

James Ward has navigated one of the difficult barriers of men's professional tennis. Moving from 500 to 275 in one year has been a hard slog with tournament appearances nearly every week, but where in the past he may go deep one week and straight out the next he has found more consistency and claimed his first Futures Titles.Ward is one fo the Brits who is able to play on all courts and sufaces though prefers Outdoor Hard. Next year requires the step up to Challenger level and some ATP qualies.

Daniel Evans has had a great year on the court and a difficult one off the court. Perhaps if he had not got himself banned form LTA funding whilst he was in his purple patch he could have gone even higher. A greta leap up the rankings and three Futures Titles, breaking into the top 500 by year end is a major improvement. Perhaps underperformed in the junior slams?

Ross Hutchins found in Stephen Huss the partner to help him break through at ATP level. A regular in the latter stages of the Super Challengers and a notable start on the ATP tour have seen him go top 50 in the Doubles rankings and break into the British Davis Cup Reckoning. Could have performed better in Slams? Sky's the limit in 2009.

Stats...

Andy Murray
Titles - Doha, Marseille, ATP Masters Series Cincinnati, ATP Masters Series Madrid, St. Petersburg (5)
Other Notable performances - US Open finalist / Masters Cup semi finalist
Rankings improvement - +70%

Josh Goodall
Titles - Great Britain F4, Great Britain F6 (+ 3 doubles titles)
Other Notable Performances - Final at New Delhi IV Challenger Semi Final at Mexico City, New Delhi III, Rimouski challengers
Rankings Improvement - +47%

Daniel Evans
Titles - Great Britain F12, Great Britain F13, Great Britain F16 + 1 futures doubles.
Other notable performances - Semi Final at Great Britain F11, Belgium F3, Great Britain F15
Rankings Improvement - +62%

James Ward
Titles - Spain F28, France F20 (+ 1 doubles challenger)
Other Notable performances - 2 futures finals and 5 semis.
Rankings improvement - +47%

Ross Hutchins
Titles - ATP Beijing, Segovia Challenger.
Other Notable performances - 3 ATP finals, Davis Cup call.
Rankings improvement - up to 44 in world at year end.

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Thanks to Johnnylad for all of the above...as ever we all have our opinions. You may not agree with these nominees. so post your own.