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K S VENKATARAMAN
The first major global sports event, the Australian Open 2010 concluded on 31st January 2010. The event as usual provided an opportunity to the sports lovers all over the world to enjoy the game fully. The veterans proved their mettle and took the game to its great heights. The only discordant note was when Rafael Nadal had to retire due to a right knee injury while playing with Andy Murray in men’s quarter-final on January 26, 2010. The scintillating match was unfortunately cut short to the advantage of Andy Murray, who was also playing very well; and progressed till the finals. All the finals proved to be tough fights. The players excelled themselves on many occasions proving their mastery of the game.
Women’s Doubles: January 29, 2010
The sisters, Serena and Venus Williams defended their Australian Open 2009 title very well. They defeated No.1 seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber in straight sets by 6-4, 6-3. This is their fourth Australian Open Championship.
Though it was Serena who showed aggression throughout, at one stage Venus dominated the game with beautiful and sustained volleys.
The William Sisters with their championship trophy
Women’s Singles: January 30, 2010
Serena Williams was at her best. She claimed her 12th Grand Slam title here by defeating Justine Henin of Belgium in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. This is her fifth win in Australia; she has won here in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010. For Henin, this was her 11th match after she returned from retirement in 2008.
Henin, no doubt, gave a tough fight and threatened Serena by winning the second set. But Serena changed gears and proved her superiority in the third game providing something memorable, especially to her fans.
Serena Williams exulting in her win
Serena was suffering from a hamstring strain. During her third round match against Carla Suarez Navarro, she had twisted her ankle; during the quarter final against Victoria Azarenka, she got a sore wrist.
But she was sportive enough to observe, “I don't know any athlete who doesn't at any point play in pain. Even Justine was taped today ... That's the thing about being an athlete, you go and you play – you don't always play 100 per cent, and that's what makes it special. Even though I had all the strapping on me, I felt like I was moving well.”
And, Serena Williams, we know, is not a person to be stopped by such handicaps.
Junior Boys’ Championship: January 30, 2010
Tiago Fernandes kissing his trophy
Tiago Fernandes of Brazil won the Australian Open junior boys’ championship at Rod Laver Arena and gave himself a remarkable 17th birthday present. He won Australian wildcard Sean Berman by 7-5 6-3 in one hour and 50 minutes.
Berman, a South-African born and New Zealand-raised player, now represents Australia.
Fernandes said, “I’m really happy. It was an unbelievable weekend. I just want to enjoy this moment and next week I’ll practice some more.”
Despite the loss, the Australian said, “It was a very good experience. It takes a while to get used to, but I’ll be able to look back at it and take good out of it. It gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the year.”
The Australian Open title was the first junior Grand Slam success for Fernandes.
Mixed Doubles: January 31, 2010
Leander Paes and Cara Black won the Australian Open 2010 mixed doubles title with a straight-sets victory over Ekaterina Makarova and Jaroslav Levinsky at Rod Laver Arena.
Paes, of India, and Zimbabwean Black took the match 7-5, 6-3 in 68 minutes against the unseeded pair, who appeared in their first Grand Slam mixed doubles final.
Paes and Black in tight embrace after the win
It is 11th Grand Slam title for 36-year-old Paes. Now he has leveled with Mahesh Bhupathi as India’s most successful Grand Slam player.
Paes and Black now have 19 doubles (men’s, women’s and mixed) between them.
Men’s Singles Championship: January 31, 2010
World No. 1 Roger Federer is the Australian Open 2010 men’s singles champion. He claimed it with a straight-sets victory over 22-year old Andy Murray. This is his 16th Grand Slam title.
Andy Murray was steadily improving his game. In the third set he looked formidable but Roger Federer’s composure and experience prevailed.
This is the fourth time Federer has won the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup at Melbourne Park; He has won here in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2010.
Federer’s win was only his fifth against Murray in 11 matches. This is the second time he had beaten him in a Grand Slam final after a straight-sets win in the 2008 US Open final.
Federer demolished the hopes of Andy Murray to become the first British male to win a Grand Slam singles title in 74 years here.
Roger Federer creates record
The third set led to a tie-break, in which both the players produced excellent shots. Federer missed two championship points, but he clinched it when he was at 12.
Source
http://www.australianopen.com |
