The opening Grand Slam of 2014 gets underway in the scorching heat of Melbourne from Monday, where all the top players will be looking establish early dominance in the New Year.
All players are bracing themselves for extreme heat in the first week with temperatures set to soar above 40 degrees Celsius from Tuesday onwards.
In the men’s singles, it is tennis’s most intense rivalry between the top two seeds, but recent momentum has given Novak Djokovic the edge over Rafael Nadal as he seeks a record fourth straight Australian Open title.
While Serena Williams is the unbackable favourite for the women’s trophy, Djokovic and Nadal are nearly inseparable at the top of the men’s game.
When they last met in Melbourne in 2012, it took five hours and 53 minutes, the longest ever Grand Slam final, before Djokovic finally prevailed in five exhausting sets.
Nadal missed last year’s Australian Open with injury, but on his return, he denied Djokovic in the French Open semis and US Open final.
However, Djokovic beat Nadal convincingly in two deciders in the latter part of last season, including at the year-ending World Tour Finals, and has somewhat seized back the psychological advantage.
Meanwhile, after three runner-up finishes at Melbourne Park, fourth seed Andy Murray would be looking to lay claim to the elusive Australian Open crown and add to his Wimbledon and US Open titles.
Local favoutire Lleyton Hewitt will be feeling confident ahead of his record-equalling 18th Australian Open after shocking Roger Federer to stay unbeaten this year.
Hewitt comes to Melbourne on the back of a stunning win over Federer in the final of Brisbane International for his 29th title on the ATP tour.
Azarenka coy about Serena rivalry
Victoria Azarenka is relishing her return to Melbourne Park as double defending champion and while Serena Williams is a hot favourite to deny her a hat-trick of titles, the Belarusian says she will not focus solely on the challenge from the world number one.
Azarenka’s two grand slam titles have both been achieved without facing the American, who was eliminated in both those tournaments after being hobbled by foot injuries.
As second seed on the lower half of the draw, Azarenka would not meet Serena until the final but she was reluctant to talk up their grand slam rivalry, which has her on the wrong side of an 8-0 head-to-head record.
“I don’t really care about it, honestly. I never cared about it,” she said, when asked if it bothered her that Serena was considered as the main title contender.
“For us, it’s a matter of playing tennis and giving your best on the court. But I think everybody is the one to beat here. We have such a high competition right now.”
World number one Serena has been in sparkling form, losing just five matches last year and beating Azarenka in the final of the Brisbane International tournament this month.
It has seen her installed as firm favourite to dethrone Azarenka and claim a sixth Australian Open title.
Meanwhile, after spending over four months nursing a shoulder injury, Maria Sharapova is happy to be playing at a major event again.
Sharapova says she is pleased to be returning to the venue where she triumphed at back in 2008.
“I’m happy to be back playing a grand slam,” she said. “I’m happy to get myself back in form and really start well here.”
RECENT CHAMPIONS – Men
2013
Winner: Novak Djokovic
Runner Up: Andy Murray
Score: 6–7, 7–6, 6–3, 6–2
2012
Winner: Novak Djokovic
Runner Up: Rafael Nadal
Score: 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7, 7–5
2011
Winner: Novak Djokovic
Runner Up:Andy Murray
Score: 6–4, 6–2, 6–3
2010
Winner: Roger Federer
Runner Up: Andy Murray
Score: 6–3, 6–4, 7–6
2009
Winner: Rafael Nadal
Runner Up: Roger Federer
Score: 7–5, 3–6, 7–6, 3–6, 6–2
2008
Winner: Novak Djokovic
Runner Up: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Score: 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 7–6
2007
Winner: Roger Federer
Runner Up: Fernando González
Score: 7–6, 6–4, 6–4
2006
Winner: Roger Federer
Runner Up: Marcos Baghdatis
Score: 5–7, 7–5, 6–0, 6–2
2005
Winner: Marat Safin
Runner Up: Lleyton Hewitt
Score: 1–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4
2004
Winner: Roger Federer
Runner Up: Marat Safin
Score: 7–6, 6–4, 6–2
2003
Winner: Andre Agassi
Runner Up: Rainer Schuttler
Score: 6–2, 6–2, 6–1
RECENT CHAMPIONS – Women
2013
Winner: Victoria Azarenka
Runner Up: Li Na
Score: 4–6, 6–4, 6–3
2012
Winner: Victoria Azarenka
Runner Up: Maria Sharapova
Score: 6–3, 6–0
2011
Winner: Kim Clijsters
Runner Up: Li Na
Score: 3–6, 6–3, 6–3
2010
Winner: Serena Williams
Runner Up: Justine Henin
Score: 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
2009
Winner: Serena Williams
Runner Up: Dinara Safina
Score: 6–0, 6–3
2008
Winner: Maria Sharapova
Runner Up: Ana Ivanovic
Score: 7–5, 6–3
2007
Winner: Serena Williams
Runner Up: Maria Sharapova
Score: 6–1, 6–2
2006
Winner: Amelie Mauresmo
Runner Up: Justine Henin
Score: 6–1, 2–0 (retired)
2005
Winner: Serena Williams
Runner Up: Lindsay Davenport
Score: 2–6, 6–3, 6–0
2004
Winner: Justine Henin
Runner Up: Kim Clijsters
Score: 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
2003
Winner: Serena Williams
Runner Up: Venus Williams
Score: 7–6, 3–6, 6–4
Published in The Express Tribune, January 13th, 2014.
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