With the first Grand Slam tournament of the year done and dusted, it is time to look back on some of the lessons we learned during a frenetic two weeks at the end of which Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys could take the almost obligatory jump into the Yarra River as winners of Australian Open.
Nobody can be surprised that Jannik Sinner won his third Major and second successive Australian Open title in Melbourne. He has established a lead of nearly 4000 points in the ATP rankings to Alexander Zverev and only a potential doping conviction seems to be able to diminish his stronghold on the position as world number one.
There wasn’t much to indicate that Madison Keys would be able to overcome Aryna Sabalenka in the women's final when Keys in the lead-up to the Australian Open lost to the unsung Dane Clara Tauson in the semi-finals of the tournament in Auckland but she recovered well from that disappointment to win the tournament in Adelaide just before Melbourne.
Three Americans in the top seven
Keys also finally lived up to the expectations that had been weighing on her for a decade but going into the tournament she seemed to have been passed by Coco Gauff, Emma Navarro, and Jessica Pegula with the Americans now having three women in the top seven of the WTA, while three also made it to at least the quarter-finals.
Spain's Paula Badosa, however, must be said to have been the true winner of the Australian Open on the women’s side as she battled back from injury and depression to reach her former high levels.
Badosa’s 2023 season was derailed by back injuries. A stress fracture forced her out of the French Open, and she was forced to retire at Wimbledon. The pain lingered, and it took her six months before she was even back on court and she was then told that back issues could end her career in March 2024.
With the knowledge that she struggled with depression and anxiety early in her career, every tennis lover undoubtedly applauded her immense run to the semi-finals of this year's Australian Open where she knocked out Coco Gauff along the way.
Broadcasters' embarrassing blunders
The Australian Open provides an amazing spectacle every year. There is a special excitement in the air leading up to the first Grand Slam tournament of the season but it wouldn´t be fair to say that the Australian media and fans contributed to the positive vibe around the tournament this year.
Novak Djokovic refused to do on-court interviews with Channel Nine, the official broadcaster of the tournament in Australia, after commentator Toby Jones made a name for himself by making disrespectful comments about Djokovic. At the same time, Ben Shelton criticised the on-court interviewers for being unprofessional.
The most controversial moment of the tournament was undoubtedly when Danielle Collins blew kisses towards supporters and thanked them in her on-court interview for providing her with a “big fat paycheck” after the raucous crowd had been vocal in their support for local favourite Destanee Aiava in the round of 16.
While previous Grand Slam finalists Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas were undoubtedly the big losers of the tournament with shock defeats in the first rounds, French veteran Gael Monfils proved that despite being 38 he is far from finished.
Monfils, who is married to Ukrainian star Elina Svitolina, won the ASB Classic before the tournament and went as far as the fourth round in Melbourne after defeating American tournament favourite Taylor Fritz in the third round before being forced to retire with an injury against Ben Shelton.
Rallies of the week:
Our rallies of the week of course both come from Melbourne where Jannik Sinner wore down Holger Rune in an emphatic battle of physique, technique and mental power while Botic van der Zandschulp produced an incredible tweener to deny Alex De Minaur
Tournaments this week:
The 250 ATP Tournament in Montpellier, France will be the appetiser before the 1st round of the Davis Cup is played from 31 January to 2 February
The WTA Tour has two events this week with the WTA 250 tournament in Singapore and the WTA 500 Tournament in Linz.
Check out our feature articles on Jannick Sinner and Madison Keys in the wake of their impressive wins at the Australian Open:
Only a doping ban can stop Jannik Sinner on his road to greatness
How Madison Keys went from teenage wonderkid to Grand Slam champion