Year of firsts in eventful 2016 tennis season

Updated 1105 GMT (1905 HKT) December 5, 2016

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Photos: A year to remember in tennis

What a year in tennis. It was a season of many memorable firsts ...

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Roger Federer ended the season outside the top 10 for the <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/07/tennis/roger-federer-tennis-rankings-rafael-nadal/">first time since 2001</a>. He also missed a major, <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/19/tennis/federer-french-open-tennis-injury/">the French Open</a>, for the first time since 1999.

Photos: A year to remember in tennis

Roger Federer ended the season outside the top 10 for the first time since 2001. He also missed a major, the French Open, for the first time since 1999.

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One of the Swiss' main rivals, Novak Djokovic, became the<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/05/tennis/djokovic-murray-french-open-tennis/"> first man since 1969</a> to win four consecutive majors when he bagged the French Open in June.

Photos: A year to remember in tennis

One of the Swiss' main rivals, Novak Djokovic, became the first man since 1969 to win four consecutive majors when he bagged the French Open in June.

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His longtime friend, Andy Murray, became the first man other than Federer, Djokovic or Rafael Nadal to <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/20/tennis/murray-djokovic-atp-finals-world-no-1/">end the season as No. 1</a> since 2003.

Photos: A year to remember in tennis

His longtime friend, Andy Murray, became the first man other than Federer, Djokovic or Rafael Nadal to end the season as No. 1 since 2003.

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That wasn't all. The Scot became the first tennis player to win <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/14/tennis/andy-murray-del-potro-olympic-tennis-final/">back-to-back singles gold</a> medals at the Olympics.

Photos: A year to remember in tennis

That wasn't all. The Scot became the first tennis player to win back-to-back singles gold medals at the Olympics.

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<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2016/08/18/spc-open-court-angelique-kerber-workout.cnn">Angelique Kerber</a>, meanwhile, became the first women's player other than Serena Williams <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/10/tennis/us-open-pliskova-kerber-tennis/">to win two majors in a season </a>since 2007.

Photos: A year to remember in tennis

Angelique Kerber, meanwhile, became the first women's player other than Serena Williams to win two majors in a season since 2007.

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Kerber replaced Williams as the women's No. 1,<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/29/tennis/tennis-navratilova-evert-kerber-radwanska/"> earning praise from Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.</a>

Photos: A year to remember in tennis

Kerber replaced Williams as the women's No. 1, earning praise from Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.

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Maria Sharapova, for the first time since turning pro, dropped out of the rankings. That was because the Russian is <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/04/tennis/tennis-sharapova-cas-drugs/">serving a drug suspension</a>.

Photos: A year to remember in tennis

Maria Sharapova, for the first time since turning pro, dropped out of the rankings. That was because the Russian is serving a drug suspension.

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Argentina won its <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/27/tennis/davis-cup-tennis-argentina-croatia-sunday/">first Davis Cup title </a>when, led by Juan Martin del Potro, it rallied to beat Croatia 3-2 in the final. Argentina had lost its four previous finals.

Photos: A year to remember in tennis

Argentina won its first Davis Cup title when, led by Juan Martin del Potro, it rallied to beat Croatia 3-2 in the final. Argentina had lost its four previous finals.

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The Czech Republic won the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cnnopencourt/" target="_blank">Fed Cup title for the fifth time </a>in the last six seasons when it also rallied from 2-1 down to beat France in the final. The Czechs became the most successful team in the competition since the US won seven titles in a row from 1976-82.

Photos: A year to remember in tennis

The Czech Republic won the Fed Cup title for the fifth time in the last six seasons when it also rallied from 2-1 down to beat France in the final. The Czechs became the most successful team in the competition since the US won seven titles in a row from 1976-82.

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