A widely-held opinion among some of tennis’  finest writers and analysts is that 2013 could well be the most interesting ‘tennis year’ in close to a decade. The last few years have been spectacular, but at the same time have been predictable and very often, one-sided. With four different men's champions at the Grand Slams last year for the first time since 2003 and a number of players on the ‘verge’  of winning their first majors, this season promises to be an intriguing and open one, leaving tennis fans across the globe salivating in anticipation.

And so we start 2013 with the first Grand Slam of the year, the ‘happy slam’, the much-loved Australian Open. Sure, there have been a few tournaments played in the lead up to this Grand Slam, but once the Australian Open gets underway, there’s always that sense that tennis is back for the season.

2008 was a breakthrough year for Novak Djokovic. He beat Roger Federer en route to claiming his first Grand Slam title – the Australian Open. Back then Federer was the world no.1 and defending champion. Now fast forward to 2013. Djokovic comes into the tournament having won it two times in a row. He is the top seed and the overwhelming favourite for the title. The tables have been turned and now Roger Federer is the underdog. In the absence of Spanish legend Rafael Nadal, the role of the major challenger to the big two falls on Andy Murray, the new world No. 3.

With the Federer – Nadal era in its death throes, Murray and Djokovic look set to step in to take on the mantle. And with the duo having been placed on opposite sides of the draw, there is every chance of them meeting in another epic final.

The draw for the 101st edition of the Australian Open took place in Melbourne today and wasn't particularly kind to any of the top seeds. Defending men's champion and world no.1 Novak Djokovic will open his title defence against Frenchman Paul Henri Mathieu, and faces a possible quarter-final showdown against the no.5 seed Tomas Berdych. David Ferrer is the highest seed in Djokovic's half of the draw, meaning Roger Federer and Andy Murray were drawn in the same half of the draw once again.

Federer hardly has it easy either with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga drawn in his quarter, and a possible third round meeting with Aussie hotshot Bernard Tomic. Federer will open his campaign against Benoit Paire.

The seedings for the 2013 Australian Open, scheduled to begin on the 14th of January have been announced. There were no surprises in both the men’s and women’s seeds as the organisers stuck closely to the current world rankings. Defending champions Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka have been announced as the top seeds in the men’s and women’s draws respectively. There have been no withdrawals on the women’s side but the men’s side witnessed the withdrawal of Rafael Nadal who would have otherwise been seeded 4th.

With two consecutive wins in 2011 and 2012 and a good run at the Hopman Cup, Djokovic clearly holds the edge over his opponents. The second seed is the men's draw is Swiss Maestro Roger Federer who proved that he still has a couple of slams left in him by winning Wimbledon last year and with Nadal’s withdrawal he will have an easier route to the final.  Third seed Andy Murray will look to carry forward the confidence from his win at Brisbane on Sunday and should he not be in a honeymoon period following his maiden slam win in New York, will be a threat to the big 2.

The top-seeded Serbian pairing of Ana Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic overhauled a rampant Australian team to clinch a 6-4 6-7(8) [10-6] mixed doubles thriller in front of a capacity crowd of more than 13,500 – a record for a tennis event in Western Australia - at Perth Arena on Wednesday night.

Australia got off to the best possible start in the tie, Bernard Tomic stunning world No.1 Novak Djokovic 6-4 6-4 with a masterful display of cat-and-mouse tennis.

The ITF announced today that Novak Djokovic of Serbia and American Serena Williams are the 2012 ITF World Champions. This is the second successive year Djokovic has received this honour, while Williams is named Women's World Champion for the third time. Americans Bob and Mike Bryan are named Men's Doubles World Champions for the ninth time in 10 years, while Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci of Italy become Women's Doubles World Champions for the first time.

Canada's Filip Peliwo and Taylor Townsend of USA are named ITF Junior World Champions, while the ITF Wheelchair World Champions are Esther Vergeer of Netherlands and France's Stephane Houdet. Vergeer becomes world champion for an astonishing 13th successive year.

At long last the caravan that rolls around through the year beginning Down Under, traversing the entire the entire world before pitching tent in London signaled a temporary halting of proceedings for 2012. This tennis year was one that could be described in many ways notably historic, phenomenal and perhaps more than any other 'a season of parity'. In a season of split successes amongst the 'Big Four' Novak Djokovic emerged as the first among equals on the ATP Tour while Victoria Azarenka took her place on top of the WTA rankings holding off Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.

It was a rare year that included the Olympics, held at London on this occasion and on the hallowed Wimbledon turf to boot, and the tournament was a wonderful addition to the calendar bringing forth a level of emotion dissimilar from those seen at the annual tournaments storied though they may be. Like any year, it had its moments of bitterness and controversy to balance the wonderful storylines and the remarkable achievements over the year. All in all this year was memorable and on that note let's take a dive down memory lane to review the professional tennis year of 2012.