Firsts for Azarenka; Djokovic wins epic final

Written by: Staff on 30th January 2012

Firsts for Azarenka; Djokovic wins epic final

epa03084667 Novak Djokovic of Serbia holds the winner's trophy after winning his men's single final match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 30 January 2012. Djokovic won in five sets. EPA/MAST IRHAM |

(Curtesy of the ITF – original at itftennis.com)

The women’s game has a brand new world No. 1 after Victoria Azarenka stunned Maria Sharapova 63 60 in the Australian Open final to claim her maiden Grand Slam title. On Sunday, Novak Djokovic was crowned Australian Open champion for the third time in what will be remembered as one of the greatest finals in Grand Slam history.

Djokovic battled past Rafael Nadal 57 64 62 67 75 in five hours 53 minutes in the longest Grand Slam final on record and the longest ever match at the Australian Open. The world No. 1 came from 4-2 down in the fifth set to record his seventh successive victory over Nadal, and all in finals. Djokovic’s triumph handed him his third successive Grand Slam title, making him just the fifth man in Open Era history to win three majors in a row.

“I’m very proud to be part of this history, part of the elite players that have won this tournament several times,” said Djokovic. “I was very flattered to be playing in front of Rod Laver, in front of the all-time greats, and in front of 15,000 people that stayed until 1:30am. It’s incredible.”

The match had looked like it was nearing its conclusion in the fourth set as Djokovic went 4-3 0-40 up on Nadal’s serve, but the ten-time Grand Slam champion roared back to win five straight points and level the match. An untimely rain shower then caused a short delay and when play resumed with the roof closed, Nadal held his nerve to force the decider. Djokovic’s moment came when Nadal missed an easy backhand pass when he was serving at 4-2 30-15, and he forged ahead with a further break at 5-5.

“I had my chances against the best player of the world,” Nadal said after the match. “For a long time I didn’t feel I was playing at a lower level than him. I am very happy about my mentality, I did alot of positive things, much more than in 2011.”

Azarenka became the latest Grand Slam champion to have benefited from the support of the Grand Slam Development Fund, having been a member of two ITF/Grand Slam Junior Touring Teams in 2004. In stark contrast to Sunday’s match, the Belarusian needed just one hour 22 minutes to dispose of three-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova in a one-sided affair.

Sharapova had started the final with a break but despite an initial 2-0 lead, the 24-year old was unable to assert any kind of dominance, winning just one more game as Azarenka raised her level. The newly-crowned world No. 1’s previous best result was reaching the quarterfinals at last year’s Wimbledon, but she has started the 2012 season in imperious form, securing her first Grand Slam title on the back of the title at Sydney.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Azarenka. “I have been dreaming and working so hard to win the Grand Slam and being No. 1 is a pretty good bonus.”

In the doubles, the unseeded pair of Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek shocked American No. 1 seeds Bob and Mike Bryan 76 62 in the men’s doubles final. It was Paes’ seventh Grand Slam doubles title, but a first major trophy for Stepanek.

Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva topped Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci for the women’s doubles title, and Bethanie Mattek-Sands partnered Horia Tecau to mixed doubles victory. Tecau was also a member of two ITF/Grand Slam Development FundTouringTeamsbackin1999.

Topics: Novak Djokovic, Victoria Azarenka