Melbourne Highlights - Day 13
For the fifth Grand Slam in a row, there is a different female Grand Slam champion. Victoria Azarenka produced a flawless performance to outplay Maria Sharapova to claim her maiden Grand Slam singles title, 6-3, 6-0, over the 2004 Australian Open champion.
Despite nerves getting the better of her in the early stages, as the Belarusian went behind 0-2, she rallied herself spectacularly, taking 12 of the next 13 games to win the title in emphatic fashion.
Hitting the same number of winners as Sharapova - 14 apiece - it was Azarenka's lack of unforced errors that was particularly impressive, just 12, while Sharapova fired 30, admitting that she was not at her best.
With the title, Azarenka also becomes the new world No.1, the first No.1 with a Grand Slam title to her name since Serena Williams last held the top spot 67 weeks ago.
Falling to the ground in disbelief, the achievement yet to sink in, it promises big things for Azarenka, who could now cement herself as one of the leading lights in women's tennis.
Sharapova meanwhile delivered a magnanimous speech in defeat, crediting her opponent, and thanking the Australian crowd for their support. Having reached two Grand Slam finals since finally recovering from her debilitating shoulder injury, the Russian is certain to challenge for major silverware again.
Saturday, though, was Azarenka's day.
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Leander Paes completed a career Grand Slam of doubles titles after he and Radek Stepanek upset the Bryan brothers 7-6(1), 6-2 to win the men's doubles title. With the Bryans attempting to win a record number of Grand Slam doubles titles as a team, and the added wrinkle of the imminent arrival of Bob Bryan's first child, it was Paes and Stepanek who were the more focused, taking advantage of the twins' errors to take the first set tie-break, and the momentum, and race through the second set to claim the title.
There was British success meanwhile for Peter Norfolk, the 'Quadfather,' who won his fifth Australian Open title with a three-set win over world No.1 David Wagner in the quad wheelchair singles final. Norfolk, the reigning Olympic champion, is hoping to challenge for gold at the London 2012 Paralympics in September.
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Wimbledon boys' singles champion Luke Saville added the Australian Open boys' singles title to his trophy list after coming through against Canadian Filip Peliwo. Having lost the final at Melbourne Park last year, it was a particular boon for local hero Saville, the junior world No.1.
The girls' singles final meanwhile was won by 15-year-old American Taylor Townsend, who defeated the unpredictable Russian Yulia Putintseva to take the title. Townsend, who is the first American junior champion since Donald Young, whose father taught her to play tennis, also doubled up by winning the girls' doubles title.
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For all the reports and results from Melbourne Park, visit the Official Australian Open website
