SAMPRAS AND RUSSIAN DAVIS CUP TEAM PROVIDE BIG THRILLS

Serena: queen of the Williams mountain,
Hewitt repeats at the top of ATP

From conquests by Serena Williams of her sister, Venus, in three Grand Slams to Pete Sampras' emotional US Open victory to the historic comeback of the Russian Davis Cup team to Jennifer Capriati's inspiring win Down Under, it was another spectacular tennis year. tennisreporters.net tells you about our favorites … and a few disappointments.

Lleyton Hewitt Photo: Fred Mullane/Camerawork USA, Inc. Design: Ron Cioffi/tennisreporters.net

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Player of the Year: Lleyton Hewitt. Took the Big W and grabbed the Tennis Masters Series title by the throat. There was no one even close. Runner-up: Marat Safin. While Andre Agassi finished a hair above him in the final ATP rankings, Safin led his country to its first Davis Cup victory and Andre … well, he didn't show up.

Impact Player of the Year: Pete Sampras. How can a player win one tournament (the US Open) and have more impact than anyone else? History. One hundred years from now, grandparents will still be telling bedtime stories about the myth-making Greek-American's Zeus-like re-ascendance to glory at the Open.

Most Inspiring Run: Pete Sampras. See above.

Match of the Year: Youzhny defeats Mathieu, Davis Cup final. OK, the hype around Sampras' four-set victory over arch-rival Agassi in the US Open final was great theater. But it doesn't compare with Mikhail Youzhny's history-making comeback to win the Davis Cup for Russia. Youzhny lost the first two sets to Paul-Henri Mathieu in the fifth and deciding rubber … and in front of the partisan French crowd. Down 0-3 in the third, he became the first man to dig himself out of a two-set deficit to win the final match.

Most Improved Player of the Year: Paradorn Srichaphan. While Thailand's Srichaphan didn't have the impact at the Slams that Fernando Gonzalez did, the Chilean's rise to prominence was expected, while the Thai's was not.

Comeback Player of the Year: Guga Kuerten. Basically no one, but we'll give the sore-hipped Guga the edge because at least he made an impact at two Slams.

Biggest Disappointment: Roger Federer. At least Safin saved his year with Davis Cup heroics. The 2002 season should have been a breakthrough year for the multi-talented Federer, who showed little heart in big occasions.

Paul-Henri Mathieu Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

On the Verge But Didn't Break Through Like We Thought He Would: James Blake. So close, yet so far away from being a major factor when it mattered most.

Newcomer of the Year: Paul-Henri Mathieu. The big-hitting young Frenchman who pushed Agassi at Roland Garros, was a terror in the fall. However, his loss to Youzhny in the Davis Cup's final match must have been a terrible blow to his confidence.

Best doubles team: Mark Knowles/Daniel Nestor. Knowles (aka Michael Rapaport) and Nestor (AKA Steve Buscemi), who nailed six titles together, including the Aussie Open and three TMS crowns.

Peace prize: Amir Hadad/Aisam-ul-Haq Querishi. Hadad, an Israeli Jew, and Querishi, a Pakistani Muslim, defy politics and form a united front as good friends and doubles partners, making world headlines at Wimbledon. The relationship causes tension for Querishi back home with the Pakistan Sports Board threatening to ban him from Davis Cup, but refuse to yield to the pressure.

Serena Williams Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

WOMEN

Player of the Year: Serena Williams. Three for three in Grand Slams. Two total demolitions of her sister, Venus, in the US Open and Roland Garros finals (the only competitive match they played was in the Wimbledon final). One cat suit. Need we say more.

Impact Player of the Year: Serena Williams. See above.

Match of the Year: Capriati defeats Hingis, Australian Open final. It was about time. It had been four years since Martina Hingis' last Grand Slam victory. She had four match points in the second set. But the intense heat and an even hotter Jennifer Capriati stole the second set, blazed through the third and the championship in an unforgettable comeback. Runner-ups: Serena's wins over Capriati in the Roland Garros and Home Depot semis and the Williams' Wimbledon final.

Most Inspiring Run: Jennifer Capriati. See above.

Most Improved Player of the Year: Daniela Hantuchova. Sure, the Slovak was also a minor threat in '01, but unlike her three main contenders for this award (Anastasia Myskina, Anna Smashnova and Alexandra Stevenson), Daniela played tough in three major events – Wimbledon, the US Open and Fed Cup.

Comeback Player of the Year (tie): Corina Morariu and Chanda Rubin. Corina, because she managed to play competitively on tour just a year after being diagnosed with acute leukemia; and Chanda, because she was off for four months with a bad knee injury and came back a major force in the summer. Rubin was the only player outside of Kim Clijsters who pushed Venus and Serena after June.

Jennifer Capriati Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

Biggest Disappointment: Elena Dementieva. It's tempting to give this award to Jelena Dokic, who consciously overplays even though she knows that will negatively affect her in big tournaments. Is she looking for a built-in excuse? Dementieva has more talent than Dokic, but has allowed her fear of failure to pursue with more verve than Agent Smith chasing Trinity in the open scene of "The Matrix."

On the Verge, But Didn't Break Through Like We Thought She Would: Amelie Mauresmo. Amelie, who had the "Scent of a Gaby" attached to her at Wimby and the US Open and ended her year on the couch with a bad knee.

Newcomer of the Year: Eleni Daniilidou. Greece's Daniilidou, who is buff enough to trade blows with the Williamses, but may not be quick enough to match them stride for stride.

Best doubles team: Paola Suarez/Virginia Ruano-Pascual. Suarez and Ruano-Pascual: Seven titles including two Slams makes this not so powerful but very inventive team the surprise No. 1 duo.