Closing Time: Federer tops Murray for 16th Major title

Closing Time: Federer tops Murray for 16th Major title

The 2010 Australian Open, much like the 2009 edition of the event, will be remembered in a very simple way: It witnessed the continued dominance of tennis’s greatest modern-day champions.


Tested But Triumphant: Serena Fights Off Henin for 5th Aussie Title

Tested But Triumphant: Serena Fights Off Henin for 5th Aussie Title

Justine Henin stood on Mount Olympus, playing tennis from the gods. Serena Williams realized, though, that even tennis legends are mortal. That’s why one great champion turned back another in a deliciously dramatic Australian Open women’s singles final. Serena Jameka Williams and Justine Henin entered their ultimate Saturday showdown in Melbourne with 18 Major singles [...]


At Your Service: Men’s Final Preview

At Your Service: Men’s Final Preview

The men’s singles final of the 2010 Australian Open doesn’t figure to be boring, but an analysis of the titanic tilt involving top-seeded Roger Federer and fifth-seeded Andy Murray isn’t going to win many points for originality. No, it’s hard to be overly creative in assessing the second Major final to pair the world No. [...]


In With Fear, Out With Fire

In With Fear, Out With Fire

Andy Murray began his first-ever Australian Open men’s singles semifinal with the trepidation of a middle-tier performer. He left Rod Laver Arena with not just a victory, but a newfound sense of swagger that could lift him to the very top of his sport. The fifth-seeded Murray - ranked fourth in the world and poised [...]


Chinese Tennis Torture

Chinese Tennis Torture

The eyes of China were fixed upon the women’s singles semifinals at the 2010 Australian Open. After two homeland heroes were dismissed on Thursday afternoon, the world’s most populous nation might not remain riveted to the rectangle inside Rod Laver Arena. When one considers the quality of the matchup that’s been established for Saturday’s women’s [...]


Great Champions, Great Escapes

Great Champions, Great Escapes

On a memorable Wednesday afternoon at the 2010 Australian Open, a lot of tennis fans had very good reason to think that Serena Williams and Roger Federer were both going to be knocked out in their respective quarterfinal matches. Yet, those same people should have realized that when champions are getting outplayed, they can and [...]


Chinese Challengers

Chinese Challengers

The 2010 Australian Open is the Major tournament of the South Pacific, and so it’s entirely fitting that in one of the world’s most ethnically diverse nations, just west of the international dateline, the women’s singles tournament has witnessed the rise of China. Before tonight’s women’s semifinals get underway at Rod Laver Arena, it’s worth [...]


Lifting the Level and Loving Life

Lifting the Level and Loving Life

Marin Cilic and Andy Murray are putting their demons behind them. Two young guns in the world of men’s tennis finally showed a readiness to seize one of the biggest prizes in their sport. Tuesday at the Melbourne Park tennis complex, Cilic and Murray punched tickets in a semifinal showdown. The 14th-seeded Croatian and the [...]


A Fateful Friday: The Russian Perspective

A Fateful Friday: The Russian Perspective

If the bottom half of the women’s draw at the 2010 Australian Open could be viewed as a battle of two nations, the one country that has created as much newsworthy activity as Belgium is clearly Russia. While Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin and Yanina Wickmayer caused much ink to be spilled after their Friday exploits, [...]


Staying Power In The Witching Hour

Staying Power In The Witching Hour

In the second week of a major tennis tournament, the world’s best tennis players fight for championships and compete at an elevated level. In the first week of a Big Four event, the main goal is merely survival. On day two of the 2010 Australian Open, sports junkies were once again reminded why Roger Federer [...]

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