Stan Wawrinka's maiden grand slam title would have brought a smile to many faces, none more than that of Roger Federer. As much as the 17 time slam champion would have celebrated a compatriot's achievement, the fact that Rafa Nadal was halted in his march towards the all time record would have made the semi final loss a little more bearable. Stan was the overwhelming underdog coming into the final but the way he blasted his more fancied opponent off the court in the first set signalled the possibility of a long fight. As the world number one has shown time and again, you don't say die till the last point is done and dusted. But this was not the everyday Nadal, this was a wounded champion fighting his spasmed back as much as a fired up Swiss on the other side of the net. A medical time out in the second set drew some jeers but it was soon clear that those were misplaced. With no serve and ability to go after the balls in the same way as he usually does, Rafa brought out a rear guard action to net the third set. However, it was too good to last and without his precious lunges, the number one seed was left a spectator to Wawrinka's high octane tennis. It was all over in just over two hours and if there is more heart ache left for the Spanish giant in Melbourne, it will take a strong cardioid to take it. I am sure that the matador will be back next year to have another go at a double career grand slam but with every passing year and the mileage that his body runs up, there won't be too many opportunities left.
The "Stanimal" won the Chennai open at the start of the year but not many thought it was a harbinger of bigger things to come. His one handed backhand has fired like a Stan gun and with a new found confidence under Magnus Norman, the now number 3 in the world has truly emerged from the shadow of his more celebrated country man. The soft spoken Wawrinka defeated the number one and number two seeds at Melbourne and now promises to bear the Swiss flag that Federer has flown high for so long. Will he be able to make this breakthrough count and be able to do bigger things in the season? As long as his back hand remains the redoubtable force it was in the last two weeks, he will be a contender come the second weekend in the slams to follow. So, now we go to the Roland Garros, the red dirt that is owned by the losing finalist to see if the king's rule continues.
Li Na had it third time lucky after getting better of the pint sized Slovakian Cibulkova. Having not had to play anybody from the top ten in the whole tournament, the draw did seem kind to the Chinese number one but then you make your own luck. Her ground strokes and the killer back hand down the line took her to a second grand slam title. Li is one of the more liked players on the WTA tour with her candid interviews and cheerful personality. She has mad the most of her abilities in the twilight of her career and there may still be a slam or two left in her before she hangs up her racket. As for the others in the draw, it was an opportunity missed with the heavy weights like Serena and Sharapova falling by the wayside early, particularly so for Agnieska Radwanska. It has been a thriller of a start to the tennis season and one can just look forward to more riveting action in the coming months.
The "Stanimal" won the Chennai open at the start of the year but not many thought it was a harbinger of bigger things to come. His one handed backhand has fired like a Stan gun and with a new found confidence under Magnus Norman, the now number 3 in the world has truly emerged from the shadow of his more celebrated country man. The soft spoken Wawrinka defeated the number one and number two seeds at Melbourne and now promises to bear the Swiss flag that Federer has flown high for so long. Will he be able to make this breakthrough count and be able to do bigger things in the season? As long as his back hand remains the redoubtable force it was in the last two weeks, he will be a contender come the second weekend in the slams to follow. So, now we go to the Roland Garros, the red dirt that is owned by the losing finalist to see if the king's rule continues.
Li Na had it third time lucky after getting better of the pint sized Slovakian Cibulkova. Having not had to play anybody from the top ten in the whole tournament, the draw did seem kind to the Chinese number one but then you make your own luck. Her ground strokes and the killer back hand down the line took her to a second grand slam title. Li is one of the more liked players on the WTA tour with her candid interviews and cheerful personality. She has mad the most of her abilities in the twilight of her career and there may still be a slam or two left in her before she hangs up her racket. As for the others in the draw, it was an opportunity missed with the heavy weights like Serena and Sharapova falling by the wayside early, particularly so for Agnieska Radwanska. It has been a thriller of a start to the tennis season and one can just look forward to more riveting action in the coming months.
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