Tennis: Australian Open Serves Up Two Epic Final Pairings

In the men’s corner we have the wounded warriors of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. In the women’s corner it’s a tale of redemption as Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova battle for the title and top spot in the world rankings. Al Dannity breaks down two colossal bouts between the best in the world.

Vika can climb the mountain top
There’s a fire burning in Victoria Azarenka’s heart. For all the criticism Caroline Wozniacki gets for failing to live up to her ranking, no player has suffered mental anguish at majors quite like Vika. In 2009 and 2011 at the French Open the draw was opening up for her, only for Azarenka to crumble in the quarter finals. Last year at Wimbledon she appeared to have put her failure in Paris behind her, only to get sent packing by Petra Kvitova following a limp display. While Wozniacki’s skills get questioned at slams, it’s Vika’s head which comes under the most scrutiny. Making a final, particularly after a three set battle with Kim Clijsters, is a huge mental boost. Getting a win requires overcoming the most unpredictable superstar in the modern game.

Maria Sharapova’s game is reasonably straightforward. Tennis betting fans are well aware of her greatest asset, her serve. Equally they are aware of Sharapova’s greatest liability, also her serve. Through six rounds MaSha has kept it under sufficient control, including a win over Wimbledon champion Kvitova in the semi final. Mentally she is at a significant disadvantage facing Azarenka. Sharapova benefitted from the Belarusian retiring in their last meeting, in Rome last year. The previous two battles however were decisive victories for Azarenka. If Vika can keep her physical game together, she has the brain to beat the Russian. I like Victoria Azarenka to claim her first grand slam title in Melbourne.

Last man standing
It doesn’t matter if Novak Djokovic was playing up his physical complaints against David Ferrer and Andy Murray. After Friday’s semi-final, even Nole will be a tad drained entering Sunday’s final. Fortunately for the World #1, he is facing a man who has been through some draining battles this week. Rafael Nadal’s war with Roger Federer lumped yet more strain on a body that is already creaking. Rafa may still roar vamos with the same fervour but he’s sorely in need of a rest. Thursday’s semi-final with Federer was just the opposite. Two men incapable of playing so much as a dull point against each other served up a classic over nearly four hours.

Djokovic’s win over Murray was more of a slugfest. After pounding on the Scot for the first set and a half, Djokovic looked ready to move in for the kill. Murray wasn’t following the script as he came right back at the Serb. A thundering charge gave him the second set and then he stood toe to toe with Djokovic before delivering an apparent knockout blow in the third set tie-break. Yet in the fourth it was Djokovic who came roaring back. It was like we were back at the beginning of the match. The #1 seed ripped through Murray to force a deciding set and soon was up 5-2. Murray once more responded to bring it back to 5-5. There was still one Djoker in Nole’s deck as the defending champion broke the Scot one last time to win.

Physically there can’t be much left in the tank for either finalist. Psychologically Djokovic has owned Rafa for the last year. In this sport, when the body stops working the mind is all you have left. I like Novak Djokovic to retain his title.

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