Five sets of tennis.It happens in a tennis grand slam tourney only in the men’s game. There are only 4 of them in a year and in very unique venues.Even though each Open occurs once annually,one can never get enough of it, it seems. Melbourne in mid to late January signals 2018 has truly begun.
In an Ashes year with BBL as well rising,would an Australian Open coming in the heart of the summer capture the same audience particularly in a commercially competitive climate ?Why not? Not only the crowds would flock into record admissions at the Melbourne Park in the heat of the day but would be departing late into the night sessions as some of the matches ended at 1 am.
One of the factors for that renewed interest has been the ongoing second wind of someone called Roger.Since he last won the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in the epic final last year against Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer has had superb 2017.His “Sunshine double” and Wimbledon trophies were hallmarks of his success initiated from the Melbourne win.
This year,even though Rafa was No. 1 heading into the Open,he was making a comeback from the knee injury which ended his season last year.Roger was seeded and ranked world no. 2 for the event and his draw was somewhat supportive.Novak Djokovic was himself coming back after a long time himself and Sascha Zverev departed to an unheralded Korean by the name of Chung Hyeon who himself resembled Novak in style of play.That might helped as Chung knocked off the six time champion.
Seeded no 5, Dominic Thiem who was also in Roger’s half was ousted to conveniently named Tennys Sandgren, opening the door for an all unseeded quarter between Chung.Roger,meanwhile had no issues getting to the second week in Melbourne as is usual for him.He didn’t even drop a set.Looking relaxed as ever,he had all the time for post match press conferences which sparked their own by line.
Rafa had reached quarters with mild difficulties. Only Diego Schwartzman in round four pressured him but by the time he faced Marin Cilic in the last eight, his injury woes became apparent.A thigh tear in the fourth set led Cilic to enforce a deciding fifth but it was clear that Rafa would not be the same.He retired 0-2 down.Cilic advanced rather easily to the final ending Kyle Edmund’s dream run in the semi.
Chung was determined to reach his first semi and beat Sandgren in straight sets.Was he really the new Novak? Roger was resolute in his focus and after he steamed through with a 6-1,5-2 lead,Chung could not manage any more. A foot blister caused him to withdraw and Roger was through to his seventh Aussie open final.It would be a repeat of the 2017 Wimbledon Final.
A smooth first serve,effective and timely winners and cashing up on the break points had been his forte throughout the fortnight.This didn’t change in the final.He rolled again the first set just like last year in just 26 minutes,6-2.Marin came back in the second set and played a surreal tie break to level the match.Roger unscathed by this broke in the sixth game of the third set to reinforce the advantage.
Marin had to dig deep again.He was broken early in the fourth but fought valiantly twice breaking Roger to force the decider.Another 5 setter.Unreal.Oh,don’t they love that at the Rod Laver Arena? However as much as it was an epic last year,Marin just didn’t have much left in his tank. Roger broke in the second game and led 4-1. His next break of serve in game six set him clear and effectively killed the final.He won his last six points on serve that included 24 aces on the night.Roger nailed his sixth Australian Open with a service winner which equalled Novak’s record.
For what its worth,Roger Federer defined the meaning G.O.A.T. in tennis last season.If there were any remnants left for those meticulous statisticians,one could go find no better place than Melbourne.He has 20 grand slam singles now and on pace for more,with Steffi and Serena’s 22 in sight.Jimmy Connors record of 109 singles titles is 13 away.At 36,he is looking fresher than ever.
In the season of Grammy’s, BAFTA’s and Oscars,tennis has probably resigned all of these accolades and more to the eternal great from Basel who has conquered the Plexicushion Prestige “down under” yet again.He is still the biggest draw of Melbourne Park and for that matter all the tourneys he takes part in for another year.Take a bow and wipe the tears,Roger… for the Swiss storm is here and is in full force.
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