Top players brace for heat as Australian Open kicks off today

Djokovic chasing fourth consecutive title in Melbourne; Azarenka aiming to shrug off Serena-favourite tag.

MELBOURNE:

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 13^th, 2014.

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