With only the Davis Cup left on the year’s calendar, we take a look back at the best action in 2008.

MEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Andy Murray

Murray started the year as a player on the fringe of the true elite and proceeded to establish himself as very much part of it, claiming two Masters Series titles and finishing runner-up in the US Open.

The young Scot added consistency and accuracy to his game to devastating effect and mastered both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, suggesting Great Britain’s long wait for a male grand slam champion will soon be over.

Murray will kick off the 2009 campaign as one of four players - along with Nadal, Federer and Novak Djokovic - who currently sit a step above their rivals. That he has managed to join that company is reason enough to celebrate.

WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Dinara Safina

After too long living in the shadow of her brother Marat, Safina finally claimed some headlines of her own in a season in which she claimed three consecutive tour titles and finished runner-up at Roland Garros.

Safina’s extraordinary run in Paris - most famously, her comeback from the brink of defeat to beat Maria Sharapova - underlined the Russian’s potential and saw her finish the full season ranked a lofty third in the world.

Safina now needs to build on that success heading into the new campaign. But in a women’s game where nobody seems currently capable of taking a stranglehold, Safina’s dramatic emergence may not be over yet.

MEN’S MATCH OF THE YEAR: Nadal v Federer, Wimbledon final

Not only the match of the year, but very possibly the greatest tennis match of all time: at his third attempt, Nadal finally dethroned Federer on Centre Court after the mother of all battles.

Held back by a magnificent Federer comeback from two sets down to level matters, the match seemed destined to head into an extra day with both players locked together in the final set.

But with darkness quickly falling, Nadal grabbed the crucial break and served out amid an extraordinary All England Club atmosphere to round off surely the most high-octane tennis match ever played: 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-7 9-7.

WOMEN’S MATCH OF THE YEAR: Safina v Sharapova, French Open fourth round

Sharapova looked like she was coasting into the French Open quarter-finals against the Russian, who had been in sublime form heading into the tournament but had proved next to nothing on the really big occasion.

Sharapova won the first set and led 5-2 in the second, holding match point, before Safina belatedly stirred, storming back from the brink of defeat to ultimately triumph 6-7 7-6 6-2.

It was to prove a turning point for the whole career of Safina, who went on to reach the final and ended the year very much deserving her place among the women’s elite. Sharapova, injury plagued, may never be the same again.