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Andy Murray won Wimbledon, retained Olympic gold at Rio and ended the year as world No. 1 -- but the Scot was not the only reason why 2016 was such a remarkable year for British tennis.Heres a look at some of the highlights...Konta cracks top 10For the first time in 32 years, Britain has a player in the top 10 of the womens world rankings.Jo Kontas rise has been nothing less than extraordinary -- consider how, as recently as June 2015, she was outside the top 150.At this years Australian Open she became the first British woman to appear in the semifinals of a Grand Slam singles tournament since Jo Durie in 1983. Durie was also the last British female to be in the top 10, way back in 1984.Murray the elder leads the wayJamie Murrays new partnership with Brazils Bruno Soares has brought him the most successful year of his career.After winning a first mens doubles Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, he snaffled a second at the US Open.In between, he became the first Briton -- getting there before his younger brother -- to hold the No. 1 ranking for singles or doubles.With Andy following suit later in the year, the Murray brothers have now achieved something that eluded even the great John and Patrick McEnroe. Never before have two brothers been simultaneously at the top of the singles and doubles team rankings.Willbomb shocks WimbledonIn which other year has a British qualifier ranked No. 661 sent the most perfect lob over Roger Federers head on Centre Court?This years Wimbledon Championships will long be remembered for the improbable tale of Marcus Willis.The 26-year-old from Slough became the lowest-ranked qualifier to reach the second round at a Grand Slam since the 1988 US Open.What a turnaround for a man who once refuelled during changeovers with chocolate bars and cans of cola.?Evans goes toe-to-toe with Federer & WawrinkaDan Evans, once known as the rascal of British tennis, had the greatest season of his career with his ranking peaking at No. 53.It took Roger Federer to stop him at Wimbledon, in the third round, after Evans knocked out 30th seed Alexandr Dolgopolov along the way.At the US Open, and again in the third round, Evans had a point to beat Stan Wawrinka, who would not only salvage that but go all the way to winning the title.Edmund rises to the challengeAny 21-year-old who breaks into the top 40 -- as Kyle Edmund did this season -- is doing something right.As well as prospering on the circuit -- with a highlight being a run to the fourth round of the US Open, beating Richard Gasquet and John Isner along the way -- Edmund also played some fine tennis in Britains Davis Cup quarterfinal against Serbia in Belgrade.The tie was played just days after Andy Murray won Wimbledon and both he and Novak Djokovic sat it out, leaving Edmund to take centre stage by winning two singles rubbers.That took Britain, the defending Davis Cup champions, into a semifinal against Argentina in Glasgow. But unfortunately that was where the run ended, with Murrays epic against Juan Martin Del Potro a stirring way to lose grip of the trophy.Watson adds to the mixHeather Watsons victory in Wimbledons mixed doubles tournament -- in partnership with Finlands Henri Kontinen -- made her the first British woman to score a title on those lawns since Durie won the same trophy with compatriot Jeremy Bates in 1987.However, Watson did not perform as well as she would have liked in the singles, crashing out in the first round at three of the four Grand Slams in 2016.?... And then there was Andy, of courseAndy Murray achieved the unthinkable on Centre Court this year -- he ripped most of the stress and drama out of a Wimbledon final.If Murrays 2013 triumph was historic -- ending as it did a 77-year wait for a British male to win the nations most treasured tennis event -- it was also a match of great angst and tension capped by an epic final game where Murray had to save breakpoints against Novak Djokovic.Had he lost any one of those, Murrays afternoon -- and possibly career -- would have been flipped on its head.Its true that both the 2013 and 2016 finals were straight-sets victories for Murray. But it is there the similarities end.This years title-match, against Milos Raonic, was a one-sided affair -- It never looked as though Murray would lose. There was hardly even the smallest of kink in the narrative. Such was Murrays class as he won his third Grand Slam, and his first for three years.?Then it was on to Rio. While some tennis players are ambivalent about the Olympics, Andy Murray most definitely isnt.With his gold medal in Brazil -- captured after a brutal, four-hour victory over Juan Martin del Potro -- he became the first player in history to retain an Olympic singles title.How dearly Federer would like a singles gold medal, and Djokovic, too. Murray now has a couple of them. But here is the surest sign of Murrays resilience and determination -- that seven years passed between first becoming the world No. 2 and when ascending to the No. 1 ranking. Thats a record.At 29, Murray was also the oldest first-time No. 1 since 1974 (so the oldest of his lifetime).After all those years of trailing Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic, Murray finally had true alpha status.Since the official rankings were introduced in 1973, only a very select group of men have held that status, with Murray only the 26th. And then his victory over Djokovic in London in November brought him membership of an even more elite club.For the first time in the history of the ATP World Tour Finals, the title-match determined who would end the year as the World No. 1.So, with his victory, Murray not only won the season finale for the first time but also became only the 17th different man to finish a season at the top of the standings. Tom Wilson Jersey . LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end. Evgeny Kuznetsov Jersey . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. http://www.capitalsteamstoreonline.com/authentic-john-carlson-capitals-jersey/ . As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. Jakub Vrana Jersey . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. Braden Holtby Capitals Jersey . Kiriasis and brakeman Franziska Fritz finished two runs in one minute 55.41 seconds -- a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Meyers and Lolo Jones, who likely bolstered her Olympic hopes by helping give USA-1 a huge push in the second heat.Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal will be without eight first-team players for Saturdays trip to Sunderland. Mondays 7-0 U21s victory over Norwich added to Van Gaals injury woes, with Phil Jones, Adnan Januzaj and Guillermo Varela all picking up knocks.But United will be looking to build on their recent improvement when they travel to Wearside, despite conceding a late equaliser against Chelsea last Sunday. Louis van Gaal has accused the media of inventing stories ahead of Manchester Uniteds Premier league game at Sunderland on Saturday Van Gaals side are six points behind bitter rivals Manchester City in their pursuit of a top-four finish, but have a chance to close that gap, if only temporarily, in the early kick-off at the Stadium of Light.A spirited fightback at Liverpool last time out has given Sam Allardyce cause for optimism, but just one win in four means the Black Cats remain 19th, four points from safety.Team news Sam Allardyce says Louis van Gaal must find out if Manchester United are planning to replace him Long-term United absentees Luke Shaw (leg), Marcos Rojo (shoulder), Antonio Valencia (foot), Bastian Schweinsteiger (knee) and Ashley Young (groin) remain sidelined.Striker Will Keane has been rewarded for his five-goal haul against the Canaries with a place in the match-day squad.Sunderland defender Younes Kaboul and striker Duncan Watmore are both out with ankle ligament injuries. Jeremain Lens is a doubt with a suspected hernia problem. Sky Sports News HQ reporter James Cooper explains what Manchester Uniteds latest finance records mean Billy Jones is struggling to shake off a hip injury and the game is likely to come too soon for midfielder Sebastian Larsson following his return to training following a long-term knee problem.dddddddddddd Fabio Borini is available after missing the trip to Liverpool because of a virus.Opta statsSunderland have failed to score in eight of the last 12 Premier League matches against Manchester United and only once in each of the other four encounters.United have won 21 and lost just two of their 29 Premier League games against Sunderland.The Black Cats have never beaten Manchester United in the league at the Stadium of Light (D4 L9). Jermain Defoe applauds fans after Liverpool draw Wayne Rooney has been involved in as many Premier League goals in six games in 2016 (five goals, three assists), as he had in 33 games in 2015 (six goals, two assists).Sunderland are on the longest current run without a clean sheet in the Premier League (11 games) while United have collected just six points from their last six Premier League away games (W1 D3 L2).Only Sergio Aguero (7) has scored more Premier League goals in 2016 so far than Jermain Defoe (6) and Wayne Rooney (5).Marouane Fellaini could make his 200th Premier League appearance in this match and would be only the second Belgian to reach this landmark in the competition after Vincent Kompany. Jamie Redknapp looks ahead to Chelseas Saturday Night Football clash with Newcastle before previewing the 3pm kick-offs. Mersons predictionManchester United have turned the corner, Ive been impressed. They looked really good at Chelsea and thoroughly deserved a draw at least. Sunderland, meanwhile, will have felt they did well against Man City, despite losing, and then they got a lucky draw at Liverpool if Im being honest. We will have to see whether the speculation surrounding Van Gaals future affects United but they seem to have turned the corner and I expect them to win at the Stadium of Light.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)BettingSunderland (4/1) are the biggest price of all home sides in Premier League action this weekend ahead of the visit of Manchester United (3/4) with the draw available at 5/2. The Black Cats remain odds-on shots with Sky Bet to be relegated with United 7/4 shots for a top four finish. United won this fixture 3-0 at Old Trafford earlier this season and are available at 7/4 to win to nil, while Sunderland are evens to win or draw in the Double Chance market. Jermain Defoe and Anthony Martial both to score is available at 17/2.Check out tips from our Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp, Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier here. ' ' '