2024 was, without doubt, the year of Jannik Sinner. The red-haired Italian became world number one, won two Grand Slams, three Masters 1000 titles, the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup, ending the season with a ludicrous 73-6 record.
Carlos Alcaraz also got his hands on two slams, but Sinner's reign as the most dominant and consistent force on the ATP Tour was undisputed.
Sinner had no interest in abdicating his throne at the start of 2025, retaining his Australian Open trophy and holding a lead of over 3,000 points at the top of the rankings.
The only thing that could halt his progress was events off the court, and in February, he was banned from tennis following the doping issue that has been circling him for months.
An opportunity for the chasing pack, perhaps? Could Sinner's rivals make a play for the seat that had been temporarily vacated?
Three months without the unequivocal best player in the world would surely open the door for the likes of world number two Alexander Zverev, Sinner's fiercest rival Alcaraz, and the declining 37-year-old legend Novak Djokovic to pounce.
However, that has not been the case. Far from it, in fact. Almost like a comedy sketch, they have slipped over every banana peel and stepped on every rake in their path.
The opportunity for Zverev to close in on the world number one spot tantalisingly presented itself to the German. But instead, he has failed to make it past the quarter-final stage at any of the five tournaments he has played in since Sinner's suspension, showcasing the fragility and inconsistencies that have made him arguably the best player of all time without a Grand Slam title.
Despite winning the Rotterdam title, it has also been a rather concerning period for Alcaraz. The Spaniard put in a diabolical (and that is an understatement) performance as he was dumped out by Jack Draper in the Indian Wells semi-finals before following that up with an equally awful Miami second-round loss to 34-year-old David Goffin. These types of results come around too often for the usually devastating four-time major champion.
Meanwhile, second-round exits for Djokovic at Doha and Indian Wells, as well as a surprise defeat to Jakub Mensik in the Miami final, continue to prove that the fists of Father Time are clenched firmly around the once invulnerable Serb, and despite his best efforts to escape their grasp, even he and new coach Andy Murray are struggling to defy the undeniable.
Daniil Medvedev, who used to be one of the most consistent and reliable players around, looks lost out on the court, dropping out of the top 10 for the first time in six years.
Taylor Fritz proceeds to maximise his potential and quality, and while he is certainly an admirable and incredibly intelligent player, he lives in that awkward place of being very good but not quite great.
So while Sinner kicks his feet up, making preparations for a King's return on home soil in Rome at the start of May, he will be staggered at the fact that he is 2,700 points clear at the top of the rankings and still leading the Race to Turin.
Yet, seeds of excitement have begun to sprout in an ever-fluctuating ATP environment.
The opportunities that have been missed by the world's best players have instead been snatched by a new, young crop of players looking to break through.
At 23 years old, Draper had always been seen as a tremendous talent. The British lefty has struggled with his health and injury issues for a number of years, as his large, muscular figure has often not been able to stand the pace and rigours of the ATP Tour.
But after a successful 2024, which saw him win two titles and reach the US Open semi-final, Draper started the year with a run to the fourth round at the Australian Open, a runner-up finish in Qatar, before winning the most prestigious trophy of his career at the Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells.
Now at number seven in the world rankings, Draper has deservedly barged his way into contention and has profited from the lack of Sinner.
Two weeks later, enter Mensik. The 19-year-old Czech was part of the ATP Next Gen class of 2024 but was without a title to his name.
Yet after an exhibition of big serving and relentless baseline tennis, Mensik defeated Draper, Arthur Fils, Fritz and idol Djokovic on his way to winning his maiden trophy and rising to 24 in the world rankings.
Draper and Mensik picked up the pieces of an ATP Tour struggling to come to terms with the fact that, without Sinner, there is no longer an obvious best player in the world.
But they haven't been the only ones. Brazilian wonderkid Joao Fonseca has firmly put his name in the spotlight following a breakthrough few months, while his raucous group of fans follow him around producing remarkable football-like atmospheres.
After winning the Next Gen tournament at the end of 2024, the 18-year-old defeated Andrey Rublev in the first round of the Australian Open, won his first ATP title in Buenos Aires, and reached the third round in Miami, playing the most breathtaking and exhilarating brand of tennis.
Learner Tien, 19, who was defeated in the Next Gen final, has also played some great tennis this year. The American beat Medvedev at the Australian Open on his way to the fourth round while also reaching the quarter-finals in Acapulco.
Another 2024 Next Gen player - albeit more established - 20-year-old Arthur Fils reached back-to-back quarter-finals at Indian Wells and Miami.
The kids are alright.
The youth have played without fear and with plenty of bravery and exuberance, which is why the start of the clay court season brings so many wonderful questions that will require answering.
Will the young guns be able to adjust to the dirt beneath their feet and continue to thrive on a surface that will require more grinding and creativity while coping with the increased physical wear and tear on the body?
Will French Open favourite Alcaraz get back to his best on the clay ahead of defending his Roland Garros crown against a well-rested Sinner?
Will last year's Roland Garros runner-up Zverev find form again during a period where his chances of winning a Grand Slam are all the more likely?
Will clay court experts who have been struggling in recent months, like Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune, prove once more why they are so good on this surface?
With the third Masters 1000 event of the season beginning on Sunday in Monte Carlo, we will begin to get some of the answers to these questions, as men's tennis tackles a unique and unusual period of uncertainty.