What did we learn from US

1. WHAT YEAR IS IT AGAIN?

For the first time since 2010, Nadal and Roger Federer have shared all the slam titles between them. The Swiss won in Australia and at Wimbledon while the Spaniard collected his 10th French Open title and a third at Flushing Meadows. Now they sit together at the top of the rankings for the first time in six-and-a-half years. At 36 and 31, Federer and Nadal cannot go on for ever but, with fitness doubts around many of their top rivals, it would be no surprise if 2018 saw them add to their record-breaking achievements.

2. THE WOMEN’S GAME REMAINS IN FLUX

After a turbulent first half of the season, it appeared a hierarchy was emerging at the top of the women’s game in the absence of Serena Williams. The likes of Karolina Pliskova, Simona Halep and Garbine Muguruza were dominating the big events – bar Jelena Ostapenko’s shock victory at the French Open and eight women arrived in New York with the chance to be world No 1. But only one of those eight – Venus Williams – reached the semi-finals and the title was won by an unseeded player only two months into her comeback from foot surgery. What happens next is anyone’s guess.

3. THE YOUNG ONES ARE COMING

While it has been a throwback year in men’s tennis, 2017 has also provided a glimpse of an exciting future. Nineteen-year-old Andrey Rublev became the youngest player to reach the US Open quarter-finals for 16 years but it was Denis Shapovalov, a year younger, who really stole the show and oozes star quality. Throw in world No 4 Alexander Zverev, Frances Tiafoe and, love him or hate him, Nick Kyrgios, and the picture looks pretty rosy.

5. SLIM PICKINGS FOR BRITAIN

Andy Murray’s enormous success has moved the goalposts. With the Scot sidelined, hopefully only until the end of the year, and Johanna Konta beaten in the first round, Britain’s lack of strength in depth was exposed, though Kyle Edmund is maturing nicely and was unfortunate to suffer an injury during his clash with Shapovalov.