Take a look back at all the news and developments from the Open, here.
The 2014 Australian Open has wrapped up, with Stanislas Wawrinka beating Rafael Nadal in a thrilling final overnight.
Monday 27 Jan 2014 |
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4:53 PM 27 January 2014 A life changing fortnight for Stanislas Wawrinka very nearly ended with one of the summer’s biggest sporting anti-climaxes. Leading a set and a break the Australian Open final was almost cut short, as Rafael Nadal battled a back injury which restricted his movement. It looked for all the money in the world he was about to retire after going two-sets-to-love down. But the Spaniard is a fighter. We knew that already. We got a four set final, at least, but the damage was done early. This morning Wawrinka said in the minutes leading up to the final he was ‘very nervous’ – but it didn’t show. He blitzed the first set 6-3 and burst out to an early lead in the second, Wawrinka admitted after the match the opening set and a half was the best tennis of his life. It had to be to make Nadal look second rate. Craig Tiley, the Australian Open tournament director, agreed. “Really, that first set of tennis Stan played, that's the best I've ever seen him play," he said. When Nadal left the court for six minutes for treatment on his back, it looked like it was all over. “The last thing I wanted to do was retirement,” an emotional Nadal said after the match. “I hate to do that, especially in a final. But at the same time it’s hard when you work for a whole year for a moment like this and when it arrives, you feel you’re unable to play at your best.” Nadal answered two questions about his injury, before graciously asking the media to take a different tack. “This is not the moment to talk about that, the thing to talk about today is Stan, he played unbelievable and he deserved to win that title. I am happy for him.” For Wawrinka the drought-breaker after a decade on tour still hasn’t sunk in. “I still don’t really realise what’s happening, but I am so happy,” he said. “It means a lot. I’ve been on the tour for more than ten years and always dreamed of winning a Grand Slam. For me I was not good enough compared to the big guys, and now it’s my turn, so it’s huge.” The new Swiss number one – taking over Roger Federer, no less – and world number three revealing it had been a late night of celebrations. “I enjoyed it with my team and friends and family. It was great. Winning a Grand Slam was something amazing for me, so I had a good night,” he smiled. And why not. Wawrinka has broken the strangle-hold the ‘big four’ had over the Grand Slams for the best part of a decade. In the last 35 Grand Slam events, only Juan Martin del Potro has previously broken up that quartet. Wawrinka would seem far better placed though to repeat his wonderful efforts in Melbourne this summer. |
Saturday 25 Jan 2014 |
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2:56 PM 
(Getty)
By Glenn Osborne It seems only a miracle can stop Rafael Nadal winning a 14th Grand Slam title tomorrow evening, which will further cement his status as one of the greatest players of all time. Standing in his way is Stanislas Wawrinka, who has had a wonderful tournament and is certainly no slouch – but Nadal has a way of making great players look thoroughly foolish. The manner with which he dispatched arguably the greatest player in history last night – Roger Federer – had fans and media alike shaking their heads in disbelief. Nadal has a great record against Federer, of course. He’s one of the very few who do, having won 23 of their 33 meetings. Federer still hasn’t beaten Nadal in a Grand Slam since Wimbledon way back in 2007. But to completely dismantle a player with 17 major titles of his own, in straight sets, is something else. If Nadal wins, he’ll join Pete Sampras with 14 majors and become the first man in the open era, and just the third ever – after the legendary Rod Laver and Roy Emerson – to win each Grand Slam title twice. But what spells even more trouble for Wawrinka is the way Nadal is playing. He has horrible blisters on his hands which require extensive taping before each match, but instead he puts his opponents through agonising pain. Nadal wears you down, he drives you into the corners of the court, and once he’s in front, he makes you feel as if there’s no way back. If Wawrinka is to have any chance, he has to be the front-runner. A fast start is crucial, and he must win the first set. Easier said than done. |
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9:38 AM 
(AAP)
Roger Federer says he still believes he can beat Rafael Nadal again and relishes their clashes despite the increasingly lopsided record in the Spaniard's favour. The world No.1 stretched his head-to-head record against Federer to 23-10, including the past five in succession, with Friday night's 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 6-3 Australian Open semi-final victory. It's been almost seven years since the Swiss has downed Nadal in a grand slam match. But 32-year-old Federer said he hadn't lost faith he could find a way to win against Nadal and the hype around their rivalry still motivated him. "I enjoy playing against him because it's always going to be on centre court, it's always going to be a big story, you know, going into the match," Federer said. "That's kind of what you train hard for, that's where you want to be. "It's not where I don't want to be, so I'm always happy when I come out against him because the atmosphere is different and I enjoy the matches normally. "I mean, it's not as cool when you lose in straight sets. "Nevertheless, there's good moments out there as well." Federer entered Friday night's clash boosted by impressive wins over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Murray but said facing Nadal was something else entirely. "It's totally different playing Rafa over anybody else. Playing Murray or Rafa is day and night," he said. "It's not because of the level necessarily, but it's just every point is played in a completely different fashion and I have to totally change my game. "No excuse. It's just a fact." But Federer said he would still leave Australia reassured his game is back on an upward curve after making the Brisbane International final then the Australian Open semis. "I still feel my best tennis is only ahead of me right now," the 17-time grand slam champion said. "So I'm looking forward to the next couple of months." |
Friday 24 Jan 2014 |
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5:39 PM 
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning a point in his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open. (Getty)
The experts and the bookies seem to think the winner of tonight’s epic Australian Open semi-final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will go on to win the tournament. That’s not dismissing the challenge of Stanislas Wawrinka, who has already booked his place in Sunday’s showdown, but merely highlighting the task ahead of him. The ‘Stanimal’, as his countryman Roger Federer calls him, has admitted an all-Swiss final would be enticing, but either way Wawrinka will be the longest of long shots come Sunday night. He certainly upset the odds in overcoming Novak Djokovic, who for the best part of three years was unbeatable in Melbourne. And he simply wore down Tomas Berdych last night in a gruelling four-set semi-final. Stay up-to-date with the latest news at the Australian Open with our Story Stream His defensive skills, perhaps only surpassed by Andy Murray on the men’s tour, will have to come to the fore for Wawrinka to have any chance. Because waiting on the other side of the Rod Laver Arena net will be either Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam winner, or Nadal, who has 13. Tonight’s clash may well be the most eagerly anticipated of the entire tournament. Both men are legends of the sport and both are in the midst of resurgences after losses of form and fitness. They look like the true champions they’ve always been and it’s easy to argue the contest will go five sets and last long into the night. It’ll be worth staying up for. |
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