Year of the veterans

Written off as dead men walking, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal defied time to sweep the Grand Slams in 2017 while the injury curse which dogged their rivals looks set to be the new year's early storyline.

Evergreen Federer, who will turn 37 in 2018, took his majors tally to 19 with a fifth Australian Open title, which was secured by a five-set triumph over Nadal, and a record eighth Wimbledon with a stroll past a tearful Marin Cilic.

Nadal, 32 in June next year, was not to be outdone, claiming a 10th French Open, a third US Open crown and the year-ending world number one spot.

Federer finished the year at number two in the world, having started at 16, and a season-leading seven titles -- including three Masters at Indian Wells, Miami and Shanghai -- despite having skipped the entire clay court season.

"It's been an amazing year for me," said Federer who had missed the last six months of the 2016 season through injury.

Nadal added two Masters titles at Monte Carlo and Madrid to his triumphs at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows, finishing the campaign with six trophies.

The 16-time Grand Sam champion also secured the year-ending top ranking for a fourth time.

"I never would have imagined I would end up as number one at the end of the season again," said the Spaniard.

"It wasn't one of my goals going into the season -- far from it. After returning from a difficult period in my career and battling through injuries, this wasn't on my mind."

Nadal will go into the new season without his uncle Toni who has been his coach since childhood.

But one thing will be familiar -- his career-long battle with knee injuries.

Injury permitting, Nadal will start 2018 as top seed in Brisbane from next weekend with the Australian Open due to get underway on January 15.

On the women's circuit, Serena Williams started the year with an Open-era record 23rd Slam triumph in Melbourne.

The achievement was made even more remarkable when the American star revealed she had won the title while pregnant. Williams, who hasn't played since her Australian Open win, two months after the couple celebrated the birth of their baby daughter in September.

In Williams's absence, a power vacuum in the women's game opened up as Jelena Ostapenko and Sloane Stephens became two of the most unlikeliest champions at the Slams.