Most Improved Players of the Year.

Going into the 2009 French Open, Robin Soderling was on nobodys radar.  Before his improbable upset of the "reigning king of clay" Rafael Nadal, Soderling had never made it past the 3rd round of a Grand Slam Event.  With that miracle upset came a new and improved Robin Soderling.  Soderling reached the final of the French Open where he was dismantled by Roger Federer, but walked away with a a new found confidence in himself and his game.  Soderling saw improved play and the best results of his career at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.  He reached the 4th round of Wimbledon, and made it to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open.  Soderling showed a consistently high level of play throughout the 2nd half of the year, and that consistency paid off.  He was invited to the ATP World Tour Finals in London.  Soderling the #8 seed in the year end event, once again upset his nemesis Rafael Nadal in his first match of the tournament.  Soderling was able to win his group, and eventually lost in the semifinals of the event, nobody thought he had a chance of attending, at the beginning of the year.  But the greatest accomplishment, by far of Robin Soderling this year was him being named my Most Improved Player of the Year....and that is something to be proud of. 

Even being afflicted (allegedly) by "the curse of Fernando Verdasco's weiner",  Caroline Wozniacki was able to take her game to an all-time high level.  In 2009 Wozniacki made it to a career best #4 ranking, and reached her 1st Grand Slam final when she lost to Kim Clijsters at the U.S. Open.  Her excellent play helped her to reach the 2009 year end Sony Ericsson year end WTA Tour Championships in Doha, Qatar for the 1st time in her career.  In her first WTA Championship, Wozniacki, like Soderling was able to make it to the semifinals before losing.  The future looks extremely bright for the 19 year old from Denmark.  And with more improvement and the experience she gained from reaching her first grand slam final and WTA championship, 2010 could be another great year for Wozniacki.