The first Grand Slam of the season turned out to be a showcase of the health and diversity of European tennis, with the eight singles semi-finalists representing eight different European nations. All eyes were on the ‘Big Four’ of men’s tennis throughout the tournament, with fans eagerly anticipating the latest instalments in the rivalries between the world’s Top 4 players, who have established an almost unbreakable monopoly of Grand Slam semi-final spots over the last year. The four duly held their seedings to meet in the semis, where Rafael Nadal once again got the better of Roger Federer in a four-set match to book his place in a final. Top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic survived a strong test from Andy Murray in their rematch of the 2011 final. The Serb eventually prevailed 7-5 in the fifth set of a brutal match that highlighted Murray’s early progress under new coach Ivan Lendl and determination to win a first Slam in 2012.
Nadal had been hoping to put behind him the memory of six consecutive defeats to Djokovic last year, and many pundits believed that Novak’s marathon semi-final against Murray would give the Spaniard the edge physically. But both players proved to be indefatigable in what turned out to be a classic encounter. Nadal had played aggressively to win an 80-minute first set 7-5, but the world #1 came roaring back to level with a 6-2 second set, and took the lead after a ten-game third. In the fourth set, during which the quality of tennis was matched by the drama, Nadal came from the brink of defeat to force a decider as the clock passed midnight. The world #2 then ground out a 4-2, 30-15 lead when he missed an easy backhand shot into the open court. The miss seemed to disrupt his momentum long enough for Djokovic to respond. Eventually the Serb triumphed on his first match point to seal a classic win that will be remembered for many years to come. Just shy of six hours, the match was the longest final in Grand Slam history, and ended at 01:37 local time. Both players were so exhausted during the presentation ceremony that they had to be seated for the speeches, during which Novak echoed the thoughts of many, saying “Unfortunately there could not be two winners, and I hope we have many more matches like this.” Nadal may not agree; the victory is Djokovic’s fifth Grand Slam, and third in a row, having now beaten Nadal in three consecutive finals.
The women’s final was much less dramatic, as Victoria Azarenka produced a steely performance in her first appearance in a major final to brush aside the challenge of the more experienced Maria Sharapova. With her confidence sky-high having won the tune-up event in Sydney with wins over three top ten players, Azarenka continued her march in Mebourne, ending the reign of defending champion Kim Clijsters in a three-set semi-final, while Sharapova had ended the #1 hopes of Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova. The Russian started the final strongly, breaking her opponent’s serve at the first opportunity and holding for a 2-0 lead, prompting commentators to speculate whether Azarenka would follow in the footsteps of Natasha Zvereva, her only other compatriot to have reached a Grand Slam final, who famously froze against Steffi Graf at Roland Garros and did not win a game. What happened next was quite the opposite; Azarenka found her range, and Sharapova mis-fired, allowing her opponent to dictate play. Azarenka reeled off twelve of the next thirteen games to secure a first ever Grand Slam title for Belarus, as well as the world #1 ranking. The win means that for the first time in history, all four women’s Grand Slam titles are held by first-time Slam winners.
Both the men’s and women’s doubles competitions were won by unseeded teams of veteran players. Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova & Vera Zvonareva boosted their hopes of Olympic gold by teaming up to win what was a second Grand Slam doubles title for both players. Their final opponents Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci - another likely Olympic team - provided a tough test, but ran out of steam with Kuznetsova in particular playing inspired tennis during the deciding set.
In the men’s event, 38-year old Leander Paes finally completed the Grand Slam, teaming with Radek Stepanek for just the second time since 2004 to record a win over the world #1s and defending champions Bob & Mike Bryan. The brothers were hoping to break the Open era record for most Grand Slam titles as a team, a feat which will surely remain their objective for the rest of the season, while India’s Paes joins an elite group of players to have captured all four Slam titles during their career.
There were surprise winners of the mixed event too, as the US-Romanian pair Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Horia Tecau upset the more experienced partnership of Elena Vesnina & Leander Paes with a match tiebreak win. Vesnina’s appearance ensured that all three main championships featured a Russian woman in the final.
Luke Saville was the only Australian to feature in a final, and he didn’t let the home fans down, recovering from the loss of the second set to outlast Canada’s Filip Peliwo and recording his second Junior Grand Slam title and consolidate his position as the world #1. The boys’ doubles went to British pair Liam Broady, runner up to Saville in last year’s Wimbledon final, and Joshua Ward-Hibbert.
15-year old American Taylor Townsend was the talk of the girls’ event, announcing her arrival on the world stage by teaming with compatriot Gabrielle Andrews for the doubles title, and then posting a shock three-set win over Yulia Putintseva of Russia to wrap up her first ever Junior Grand Slam title.
Many players will now go onto Davis and Fed Cup duty in February, while Rafa Nadal has already stated his intention to take the month off. Having suffered one of the most bruising defeats in tennis history, it’s impossible to argue that he deserves it. Meanwhile, Djokovic continues to go from strength to strength, and in an Olympic year, the tennis world continues to wonder who will be the player to step up and solve the Novak Problem.
2012 Australian Open Roll of Honour
Men’s Singles
(1) Novak Djokovic (SRB) d. (2) Rafael Nadal 57 62 64 67(5) 75
Men’s Doubles
Paes (IND)/Stepanek (CZE) d. (1) Bryan/Bryan (USA) 76(2) 62
Women’s Singles
(3) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (4) Maria Sharapova (RUS) 63 60
Women’s Doubles
Kuznetsova/Zvonareva (RUS) d. (11) Errani/Vinci (ITA) 57 64 63
Mixed Doubles
Mattek-Sands (USA)/Tecau (ROU) d. (5) Vesnina/Paes (IND) 63 57 (10-3)
Boys’ Singles
(1) Luke Saville (AUS) d. Filip Peliwo (CAN) 63 57 64
Boys Doubles
(6) Broady/Ward-Hibbert (GBR) d. Pavlasek/Veger (CRO) 63 62
Girls’ Singles
(14) Taylor Townsend (USA) d. (4) Yulia Putintseva (RUS) 61 36 63
Girls’ Doubles
Andrews/Townsend (USA) d. (1) Khromacheva (RUS)/Kovinic (MNE) 57 75 (10-6)
Men’s Wheelchair Singles
(1) Maikel Scheffers (NED) d. Nicolas Peifer (FRA) 36 76(2) 60
Women’s Wheelchair Singles
(1) Esther Vergeer (NED) d. (2) Aniek van Koot (NED) 60 60
Men’s Wheelchair Doubles
(2) Ammerlaan/Vink (NED) d. (1) Houdet/Peifer (FRA) 62 46 61
Women’s Wheelchair Doubles
(1) Vergeer/Walraven (NED) d. (2) Buis/Van Koot (NED) 46 62 64
Quad Wheelchair Singles
(2) Peter Norfolk (GBR) d. (1) David Wagner (USA) 46 64 62
Quad Wheelchair Doubles
(1) Lapthorne/Norfolk (GBR) d. (2) Wagner (USA)/Gershony (ISR) 64 62