When the 2016 tennis season unfurled Down Under, Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic were the unchallenged champions of their elite orbits.By the end of the year, the No. 1 players had been unseated in shocking fashion by two exceptionally late bloomers, Angelique Kerber and Andy Murray.Williams was the WTAs top-ranked player for 186 consecutive weeks, equaling Steffi Grafs Open era record. Djokovic occupied the ATP World Tour throne for 122 consecutive weeks. Collectively, thats nearly six straight years of dominance.The year-end obituaries of the fallen No. 2-ranked players, however, sounded a bit shrill.As 2017 rapidly approaches, we can report that Williams -- now a doddering 35 -- and the 29-year-old Djokovic are still breathing. In fact, it wouldnt be a stretch to imagine them winning multiple Slams and reclaiming their No. 1 rankings.Amid all the hype and talk of change, its easy to forget that Djokovic won the first two majors of the season and made the final of the fourth; Williams lost to Kerber in the final of the Australian Open and beat her in the Wimbledon final.In retrospect, its now clear Serena spoiled us with a late-career surge that has no historic parallel. After turning 30, following the 2011 US Open, she won nine of the next 20 Grand Slam singles titles -- dominating womens tennis over a five-year span in spectacular fashion.She and Djokovic still have their supporters.Its Jan. 30, the Monday after the Australian Open ends, said Brad Gilbert, who coached Andy Murray, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick. And you tell me that [Serena/Djokovic] double happened. No, I wouldnt be surprised -- at all.Djoker has won six of those titles. Serenas like a stock -- how do you predict it? The fact shes played as little as she has -- shes 35, and shes probably the betting favorite. Sort of like Tom Brady and the Patriots. Dont focus on the age; look at the history.Both Djokovic and Williams struggled with injuries, which led to diminished confidence -- their signature weapon in recent years.Heading into this years US Open, Williams was still a favorite, and with a title, would have strung together another excellent year. Instead she got beaten by ascendant Karolina Pliskova in the semifinals.I wasnt able to move the way I wanted to move, Williams told the media afterward. When youre injured, youre thinking of other things when you should be just playing and thinking of your shots. My mind was just a little bit everywhere.So was her season. There were surprisingly early losses in the Rio Olympics in singles and, with sister Venus, doubles. Serena finished with two titles (Wimbledon and Rome) and played only 44 matches, her lowest totals in five years. And, for the second consecutive year, she shut her season down after the US Open.Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, was moved to call it a very bad season.Williams, who was dogged by shoulder and knee issues, literally limped away from the year.Djokovic nursed a nagging arm injury and, after winning the French Open to complete his career Grand Slam, tailed off drastically. After losing to Murray in the final of the ATP year-end event, Djokovic looked and sounded weary.Right now, he said to the media, the goal is just to rest a little bit. Its been a long season, a very nice year, a lot to reflect on, a lot to take in. Its time to leave the racket aside for a little bit, just recover.There will be no recovery for six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker, the coach who was the most notable collateral damage after Djokovics second-half swoon. After three years with Djokovic, Becker was terminated at the end of the season.Because theyre getting a bit older, both Djokovic and Williams will be playing in 2017 with an enormous sense of urgency. Its suddenly a shrinking universe, with all kinds of younger players -- Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori, Nick Kyrgios, Simona Halep, Pliskova and Madison Keys -- all looking for their first Slam win.Nearing 30, Djokovic has crossed that line of demarcation for male tennis players. Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal, who have won a total of 45 majors, collected only two among them after their 29th birthdays.Djokovic, with 12 Grand Slam singles titles, needs two to equal Sampras and Nadal and five to catch Federer. Williams is tied with Graf with 22 major titles, two behind all-time leader Margaret Smith Court.What must Serena and Djokovic do to successfully hit the reset button?Pam Shriver, and ESPN analyst who won 21 Grand Slam doubles titles, said they need to make an immediate impression.I think they have to play well in Australia -- maybe not win it but go deep in the draw, she said. For their own confidence and also sending a message to rest of the field. I think its going to be easier for Djokovic than Serena. I dont have lot of confidence in this mid-30s-take-four-months-off thing. I hope she can prove me wrong. Until then, I am skeptical.I think theyll both win majors; one of them will win more than one. The current No. 1s, Kerber and Murray, are in it to win it for the year. On the mens side, I think it will be the most unpredictable year since 2003 going back to Federers first Slam. Custom Basketball Jerseys Wholesale . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football. Stitched Custom Basketball Jerseys . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. http://www.cheapcustombasketballjerseys.com/ . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. Discount Custom Basketball Jerseys . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. Custom Basketball Jerseys Outlet . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. The Buffalo Bills on Tuesday signed veteran safety James Ihedigbo, who has a familiarity with coach Rex Ryans defensive system.Ihedigbo played two seasons, 2009 and 2010, for the New York Jets when Ryan served as head coach. He played in 29 games over that span, all as a reserve.The Bills have been searching for a starting safety opposite Corey Graham since Aaron Williams was placed on injured reserve Nov. 1. Veteran backup Robert Blanton has started the past two games in Williams place.The Bills released safety?Duke Williams?in a corresponding move.The 32-year-old Ihedigbo spent the past two seasons with the Lions, the first season-and-a-half as the teams starting strong safety.He and Glover Quin were considered one of the best safety tandems in the league in 2014, but Ihedigbo was rreplaced in the lineup by Isa Abdul-Quddus midway through the 2015 season.dddddddddddd It was a season Ihedigbo called humbling, and he told ESPN without a doubt he believes he can still be a NFL starter.By the end of the 2015 season, Ihedigbo was playing on some special-teams units -- the same role he had when he started his career as an undrafted free agent with the Jets.Ihedigbo has played with the Jets, Patriots, Ravens and Lions and won a Super Bowl in Baltimore. In his career, he has made 332 tackles with nine sacks, eight interceptions, nine forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.ESPNs Mike Rodak and Michael Rothstein contributed to this report. ' ' '