If you saw the final weekend of the Australian Open, you could very well have been misled to think it was ten or so years ago and not 2017. The men's final featured Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal playing against each other for the 35th time. Their first meeting? 2004. Their first Grand Slam meeting? 2005 at the French Open. Their first Grand Slam final? 2006 also at the French Open. While Nadal leads their head-to-head, Federer won this match-up in a tough five-setter to win his 18th Grand Slam singles title, extending the record he already currently holds for most major singles titles among the men.
A Grand Slam singles record was also achieved on the women's side, with Serena Williams beating her sister Venus to win her 23rd major singles title, moving her past Steffi Graf to claim the record for most major singles titles won in the Open era. She is now just one trophy behind Margaret Court and the way things are going, she may end the year having tied or even beaten Court's all-time record. Also, if you thought that the men's final was a throwback, then the women just took it up a few notches. Venus and Serena's first match against each other? 1998 at the 4th round of the Australian Open. This was also their first Grand Slam match against each other. That was almost 20 years ago! Their first Grand Slam final? 2000 at Wimbledon. For perspective, Roger Federer started playing professional tennis in 1998. Rafael Nadal only started playing pro tennis in 2002.
It's just incredible that both winners - Roger and Serena - are 35 years old! This is also the first time I had ever seen a pro tennis event where all singles finalists were in their 30s (Venus 36, Serena 35, Roger 35, Rafa 30). Their combined age is a staggering 136 years old. Prior to the finals, their combines Grand Slam singles haul is 60. This goes even higher when you factor in the doubles and mixed doubles majors that the Williams sisters have.
As historic as this Australian Open finals weekend was, I actually hoped that it would be spoiled by a first-time Grand Slam finalist in the form of Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, who herself is 34 years old. I became a fan of Mirjana when she burst into the scene, achieving a handful of records: the youngest winner of a Grand Slam title (1998 Australian open mixed with Martina Hingis), winner of the first ever professional tournament she played (1997 Croatian Bol Ladies Open), and the youngest player to successfully defend a title when she won this event again as a 16-year-old in 1998. Unfortunately, she had a very difficult personal life brought on by an abusive father, preventing her from playing during what would have been her peak years. I was hoping for a Cinderella story and have her win a major title but Serena was just too good. Nevertheless, it was amazing to see her incredible semifinal run. Check out her post-match interview with Rennae Stubbs. It was very moving to see how grateful and joyful Mirjana was to get that far:
The great thing about this is that Mirjana is now ranked 29, her highest-ever ranking. Wow! Talk about turning back the clock. Serena also reclaims the #1 ranking from Angelique Kerber. Venus is knocking on the door of the top 10 again. And after a poor 2016 by their standards, Roger and Rafa have proven that they are still very much in the mix. With Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic still holding the #1 and #2 ranking, it will be extremely interesting to see how the rest of 2017 pans out. I can't wait to see what happens.
A Grand Slam singles record was also achieved on the women's side, with Serena Williams beating her sister Venus to win her 23rd major singles title, moving her past Steffi Graf to claim the record for most major singles titles won in the Open era. She is now just one trophy behind Margaret Court and the way things are going, she may end the year having tied or even beaten Court's all-time record. Also, if you thought that the men's final was a throwback, then the women just took it up a few notches. Venus and Serena's first match against each other? 1998 at the 4th round of the Australian Open. This was also their first Grand Slam match against each other. That was almost 20 years ago! Their first Grand Slam final? 2000 at Wimbledon. For perspective, Roger Federer started playing professional tennis in 1998. Rafael Nadal only started playing pro tennis in 2002.
It's just incredible that both winners - Roger and Serena - are 35 years old! This is also the first time I had ever seen a pro tennis event where all singles finalists were in their 30s (Venus 36, Serena 35, Roger 35, Rafa 30). Their combined age is a staggering 136 years old. Prior to the finals, their combines Grand Slam singles haul is 60. This goes even higher when you factor in the doubles and mixed doubles majors that the Williams sisters have.
As historic as this Australian Open finals weekend was, I actually hoped that it would be spoiled by a first-time Grand Slam finalist in the form of Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, who herself is 34 years old. I became a fan of Mirjana when she burst into the scene, achieving a handful of records: the youngest winner of a Grand Slam title (1998 Australian open mixed with Martina Hingis), winner of the first ever professional tournament she played (1997 Croatian Bol Ladies Open), and the youngest player to successfully defend a title when she won this event again as a 16-year-old in 1998. Unfortunately, she had a very difficult personal life brought on by an abusive father, preventing her from playing during what would have been her peak years. I was hoping for a Cinderella story and have her win a major title but Serena was just too good. Nevertheless, it was amazing to see her incredible semifinal run. Check out her post-match interview with Rennae Stubbs. It was very moving to see how grateful and joyful Mirjana was to get that far:
The great thing about this is that Mirjana is now ranked 29, her highest-ever ranking. Wow! Talk about turning back the clock. Serena also reclaims the #1 ranking from Angelique Kerber. Venus is knocking on the door of the top 10 again. And after a poor 2016 by their standards, Roger and Rafa have proven that they are still very much in the mix. With Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic still holding the #1 and #2 ranking, it will be extremely interesting to see how the rest of 2017 pans out. I can't wait to see what happens.
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