Australian Open 2009

"Fedex" still counts 13

Rafael Nadal - champion of Aus Open 2009"I'm sorry for today," said Nadal to Federer as he accepted his AUD$2 million winner's cheque. "I really know how you feel. But remember - you are one of the best players of the history and you are going to improve the 14 of Sampras. It is always a pleasure to play you and best of luck for the rest of the year."


By MARKO ANDREJIĆ
(with official australianopen.com and sonyericssonwtatour.com)
from Belgrade, SERBIA


Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open, becoming the first Spaniard to do so. He joined an elite group of just 12 men who have managed to win three Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces since the Open Era began.

He won his sixth major title and reached the eighth Grand Slam final - and all of that achieved in just 20 visits to the four major championships. In the Open Era, only Bjorn Borg has been more clinical in collecting the important trophies (he won six Grand Slam titles in only 18 attempts). But all this was as nothing compared to Rafael Nadal's most startling achievement of the evening. He made his friend cry. He did not mean to do it and he wasn't quite sure what to do when it happened, but the new Australian Open champion had broken Roger Federer's heart.

Roger Federer criesNadal's way to the title was amazing. Less than 48 hours before great final, he had to play a five hour 14 minutes epic match with Fernando Verdasco. And Federer had an extra day off. Yet here was Nadal again, winning the battle of the muscles, the tactics and, most crucially of all, the nerves to beat Federer again. This was his 13th victory in 19 meetings and his fifth victory over the Swiss in seven meetings in Grand Slam finals.

"I'm sorry for today," said Nadal to Federer as he accepted his AUD$2 million winner's cheque. "I really know how you feel. But remember - you are one of the best players of the history and you are going to improve the 14 of Sampras. It is always a pleasure to play you and best of luck for the rest of the year."

In women's singles competition, spectators saw American Serena Williams win her fourth Australian Open title, in one of the shortest final matches ever, against Dinara Safina. After this triumph, Serena has replaced. Jelena Jankovic as the new World No.1. This is her third time to be on the top.

Women's competition was very interesting and unpredictable during whole tournament. Serbians Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic did not reach their goals, Elena Dementieva was in a great shape before first Grand Slam (without a single loss), but was stopped by Serena Williams in semifinal. Dinara Safina made her second Grand Slam final (after last year's Roland Garros) but was disappointment in the final. Aussie Jelena Dokic enjoyed a remarkable return to form and run at this year's Australian Open. Dokic enjoyed wins over two top 20 players en route, before losing in three close sets to Safina, improving her world ranking from No.187 to a projected spot within the top 100.

Serena Williams with trophyFor the tenth consecutive year the Australian Open has attracted more than half a million patrons with an official tournament attendance of 603,160 in 2009. The highest ever day/night attendance in Grand Slam history was recorded three times during the first week of the Australian Open. The new record of 66,018 was set on Saturday 24 January. Weather was not the best for playing tennis - it was too hot that some players had to withdraw from the court and finally organizers decided to use their improvement - roof above Rod Laver's Arena. This brought much better quality of tennis but still Svetlana Kuznetsova was angry about the fact that roof was closed after first set of her semifinal against Serena Williams. According to rules, a match should be played in the same conditions from the first till the last point - no matter of weather - and this was a topic for numerous discussions.

This was a very promising start of a long tennis season 2009, followed by women's Fed Cup and ATP tournaments all around the world. Some of the players are still warming up, but some of them already set a very high standards, and it will be very hard for the rest of their colleagues to reach them.

Statements from Aus Open 2009:

Finalists- Serena Williams on her lapses in concentration.
"I have mental issues, too, so ... I think everyone has mental issues."

- Nadia Petrova explains that she doesn't know how Sara Errani plays.
"I've never felt her balls."

- Grand Slam celebration, Dinara Safina-style.
"I'll go and buy chocolate cake. This would be my present for myself, that, yes, I can eat that chocolate cake."

- Roger Federer declines a journalist's request for one of his towels.
"We don't have that many. They're for my friends. I don't know you. But good try."

- Elena Dementieva sympathises with Melbourne Park's resident moths.
"Oh, I mean, it was hot for everyone, you know. They were like ready to die; not to survive a day like that."

- Serena agrees with Dinara Safina's high opinion of her brother.
"I idolised Marat, too (smiling). I can totally understand."

- Fernando Verdasco's plan to beat the heat.
"If you tell me now, I will go to the fridge. I will put myself in for few days."

- Dinara Safina on the benefits of being world No. 3.
"Now when I practice there is more people standing watching me, that I get better court, that I'm not anymore Marat's sister. That's different"


(Published: 10.02.2009.)