Maria Sharapova's and Monica Puig's exhibition match in December 2016. Mónica Puig Invitational

María Sharapova and Monica Puig had very contrasting experiences in 2016. For Sharapova, the calendar year will be remembered negatively for her positive result for a banned substance early in the season, a test result that will ultimately cost her more than a year of her athletic prime. For Puig, she had an extreme high point as she won the Olympic gold medal in Rio at the summer games. In November, she was also honored as the Best Female Athlete at the Rio Olympics. For certain her tears of joy from winning in Brazil will remain one of the lasting images of women's tennis from the 2016 season.