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It was a cathartic year in professional tennis with some notable drop-offs, flameouts, missteps and more than the usual supply of shenanigans.Here are our 10 biggest disappointments of 2016:1.?Maria Sharapovas drug banAfter five consecutive years of finishing among the WTAs top 10 players, the long, cool Russian ended 2016 with no ranking at all. That followed a cathartic year that began with a trip to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, her only on-court action of the season, and ended in October when the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced her two-year suspension to 15 months.Sharapova was caught with meldonium in her system, a drug she said was first prescribed for a heart condition 10 years earlier, but one that has shown recovery benefits and was added to the banned list in 2016. Sharapova and her team, apparently, never read that email. Thus, the second-most successful active womens player (five Grand Slams), and possibly the most successful off it (with more than $20 million annually in endorsements), was taken out of play.Shell return in time for next years French Open at the age of 30 but hardly contrite. I know who I am and I know how Ive played the sport since I was a young girl, with integrity, she said. Ive never taken the easy way out. Im one of the biggest fighters in the game. I love what I do and I will continue to keep doing it and forming my legacy.2. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer lose a stepIn a case of cruel symmetry, the French Open represented the end of an era. Federer, struggling with knee and back injuries, was forced to pass on Roland Garros, ending his record streak of 65 consecutive Grand Slam appearances that dated to 1999, when he lost in the second round of qualifying for the US Open. Nadal won his first two matches in Paris and then withdrew before the third, citing a nagging left wrist injury.He had been seeking his unprecedented 10th French Open title. Nadal, now 30, finished the year ranked No. 9. Federer, 35, is at No. 16. Theyll both be in action for 2017, but few are willing to bet either will bring home another major title.3.?Novak Djokovics second-half flameoutHe won the seasons first two majors and the talk of a single-season Grand Slam seemed quite plausible. But after he completed his career Grand Slam, taking the French Open in a four-set final over Andy Murray, it all fell apart. He acknowledged private issues after losing to Sam Querrey in the third round at Wimbledon and then lost his first match in the Rio Olympics to Juan Martin del Potro, leaving the court in tears.There was a wrist injury that dogged him for months and an unnerving lack of confidence. Djokovic gamely reached the finals of the US Open and the ATPs year-end tournament in London, but he lost to Stan Wawrinka and Murray, respectively. The season couldnt end quickly enough for the 29-year-old Djokovic.4. Serena Williams surpassed by Angelique Kerber: Like her Serbian counterpart, Serena lost her grip on the No. 1 ranking in surprising fashion. In nine years of Grand Slam play, Angelique Kerber had never, ever reached a final. In Australia, the German had only reached the fourth round twice, but in 2016, she blew through to the final opposite Williams and emerged with a three-set victory, her first ever on the major stage.Serena won the rematch at Wimbledon but Kerber took the seasons last major, the US Open, and finished the season No. 1. Serena, who averaged two Slam titles for each of the past four years, looked all of her age - 34 - and her season ended abruptly in New York for the second straight year.5.?Garbine Muguruza doesnt back it upLike Djokovic, Muguruza saw her season essentially end after capturing her first French Open title. Before meeting Serena Williams in the 2015 Wimbledon final, the young Spanish player talked a good game, saying: She knows I can win against her, that Im not afraid, and I dont think shes used to this. Muguruza lost that match but returned the favor a year later at Roland Garros, winning her first Slam title by beating Serena in a straight-sets final.And then -- nothing. Muguruza got smoked 6-3, 6-2 in the second round at Wimbledon by qualifier Jana Cepelova. Then in her third match at the Rio Olympics, she lost 6-1, 6-1 to eventual gold medalist Monica Puig. Her US Open also ended badly, with a second-round loss to Anastasija Sevastova. Muguruza, now 23, has won all of three career titles. Its time to stop talking and start winning.6.?Nick Kyrgios checks outFirst, the 21-year-old Aussie took himself out of the running for Rio following a long-running feud with the Australian Olympic Committee. Kyrgios website explained in a statement the reason was, The AOCs unfair and unjust treatment and that the organization had chosen to publicly and privately disparage him.Then, three October days after winning the biggest title of his career in Tokyo, Kyrgios visibly tanked in a 6-3, 6-1 loss to Mischa Zverev in Shanghai. If you dont like it, I didnt ask you to come watch. Just leave, Kyrgios explained. He was fined $25,000 and suspended for the balance of the season. In a tweet, Kyrgios had the last word: Im better than that. I can go on about excuses but there are none. Sorry. Hes got all of 2017 to make up for it.7.?Eugenie Bouchard drops off the (tennis) radarIn 2014, the Canadian blew through to the semifinals of the Australian Open and French Open and the final at Wimbledon. It was an astonishing breakthrough for a player who turned 20 that season, suggesting there was a new competitor at the highest level of tennis. But then Bouchard lost 18 of 30 matches in 2015 and reportedly sustained a concussion in a fall in the US Open locker room.The 2016 campaign was better (31-24 and over $500,000 in prize money), but the record in majors was a so-so 4-4 after shed gone 19-4 two years earlier. Her social media skills, on the other hand, are stellar. Bouchard spends an awful lot of time sharing provocative shots of herself on Twitter and Instagram. Might time be better spent on the practice court?8.?Gael Monfils goes rope-a-dope?The 30-year-old Frenchman was one of the feel-good stories of the 2016 season, finishing with a personal-best year-end ranking of No. 7. He vaulted into the semifinals opposite Djokovic at the US Open, his best effort ever in New York, but was visited by a fit of Monfils Madness.He was booed in the second set of a four-set loss for an apparent lack of effort, moving ESPN analyst John McEnroe -- of all people -- to call Monfils sluggish behavior bizarre and unprofessional. Djokovic became so unstrung he ripped open the collar off his shirt. Monfils later defended his actions as strategy. Instead of being able to say this was finally the year Monfils won a Slam, people were saying it was the same old Monfils.9. Roland Garros still roof-lessThe record Paris rainfall forced the Louvre museum to move its lower-level art treasures to higher ground and left the Seine rising to dangerous levels. But at Roland Garros, the only Grand Slam venue without at least one roof-covered show court, there was no defense against the weather that wreaked havoc on the schedule.French Open tournament director Guy Forget, a popular rainy-day interview subject, said the schedule for a new roof was now 2020 -- at the earliest. In other countries, Forget acknowledged, things are quicker. Welcome to France.10. The Gong Show dooms Andy MurrayThe Wimbledon champion was facing Kei Nishikori in the US Open semifinals and looking good, leading two sets to one. And then, with the score tied 1-all in the fourth, a huge noise -- much like a gong -- rang through Arthur Ashe Stadium. The point was immediately stopped by chair umpire Marija Cicak, sending Murray into hysterics.He felt he was in command of the point and it should have continued, based on Cicaks earlier promise to play through such distractions. Later, the USTA said that a digital audio sound processor had malfunctioned. By then it was too late for Murray, who dropped the next five games to lose the fourth set and then lost the fifth set 7-5.Fake Shoes For Sale . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. Fake Jordan . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. https://www.fakeshoes.net/ . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. Discount Fake Shoes . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Replica Shoes . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged.Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that midfielder Yaya Toure will be fit to face Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.The Ivory Coast international missed the midweek defeat at Liverpool with a heel injury, but returns to the squad as City look to get their faltering title challenge back on track.Aston Villa should make ideal opposition for City - they have lost their last three games in a row, conceding 10 goals in the process and scoring twice. Manuel Pellegrini hasnt given up in the Premier League title race Remi Gardes side held them to a goalless draw at Villa Park in his first game in charge in November, but they were thumped 4-0 in the FA Cup when the two sides met in January.City are looking over their shoulders at Manchester United as they aim to at least hold on to fourth, while Villa could be 11 points adrift of safety by the end of the weekend. Aston Villa manager Remi Garde has dismissed claims there is a split among his squad Team newsWith Toure returning, City have no fresh injury concerns, leaving just long-term absentees Kevin De Bruyne, Samir Nasri and Fabian Delph on the sidelines.Aston Villa have no new injury worries either. Carlos Sanchez (hamstring), Jack Grealish (ankle), Libor Kozak (ankle), Adama Traore (foot) and Jordan Amavi (knee) are all sidelined for the bottom side.Rudy Gestede could start after coming off the bench to score in Tuesdays 3-1 defeat to Everton but Charles NZogbia remains out of boss Remi Gardes plans despite being fit. Rudy Gestede could start for Aston Villa Opta statsSergio Aguero has scored four goals in his last three Premier League matches against Aston Villa.However, Aguero has scored just one goal in eight Premier League appearances in the month of March, despite playing 606 minutes.Manchester City have won seven and lost just one of the last nine Premier League games against Villa. Sergio Aguero has scored four goals in his last three Premier League matches against Aston Villa Villa have failed to score in six of the last eight Premier League games against City.ddddddddddddIf the league had started on the weekend of November 7/8, when Remi Garde first took charge in a 0-0 draw v City, Villa would still be bottom and City would be 12th.City havent lost three Premier League home games in a row since March 2007 and havent gone three home games without a win since November 2010.Villa have taken just three points from a possible 39 in their last 13 Premier League away games. Manchester City and Aston Villa drew when they met in the league in November The Villans have scored just five goals in the last 10 Premier League road trips.Defeat in this match would be a 14th consecutive winless game away from home for Villa in the Premier League, one short of their record in the competition set in December 2003 (15).Aston Villa have scored with just 10 per cent of their shots this season, the lowest percentage in the top flight. Ed Chamberlin and Jamie Redknapp preview Watford v Leicester and all Saturdays other Premier League fixtures Mersons predictionMan City have got to bounce back as they were an absolute joke against Liverpool - they are playing for the top four and it is unbelievable how they capitulated. They should not be getting beaten 3-0 with the amount of talent they have got on the pitch.So I expect them to bounce back and if they could have played anyone on Saturday, then it would have been Villa. City will roll them over.If I am being honest, with their squad City should walk the league. Put it this way - they should not be this many points behind Leicester.Paul predicts: 4-0 (Sky Bet Odds 9/1) Get ready for a mammoth month of football on Sky Sports as the Premier League title fight continues BettingManchester City fell way below expectations when beaten 3-0 at Anfield in midweek but the Capital One Cup winners are 1/5 favourites to get back on track with a home win over struggling Aston Villa. Sky Sports pundits Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson are in agreement that Aguero can set City on their way to victory and hes 9/4 to net first, with Gestede and Jordan Ayew, both 12/1, considered most likely for the away side. ' ' '