Serena Williams and Roger Federer: Now - three Australian titles

Female tennis, as a rule, is considered more predictable than male. Surprises here happen less often, and in the decisive stages of tournaments, tennis players sown under high numbers are usually expected to participate. But the current tournament developed according to this scenario in only one half of the grid. There, the first and fourth rackets entered the semifinals - the Russian woman Maria Sharapova and Belgika Kim Klesters - and, in accordance with the table of the rank of Sharappova, won and went to the final. Actually, this is expected from the first racket.

In the other half of the grid, surprise occurred constantly. Neither the sowed second Frenchwoman Amelie Mororemo, nor the third place, Russian woman Svetlana Kuznetsova did not break into the four of the strongest. And the finalist was generally a tennis player, who was located in the world-famous sheet at a more than modest 81st position. Sensation? Yes, if you look at the number, but not in the name.

In fact, the sensation was that the 81st line was occupied by none other than Serena Williams, in the past the strongest tennis player of the planet, the winner of seven large helmet tournaments. Her sharp fall in the classification was explained by the fact that in 2006, Serena participated only in four tournaments. In general, it was a year that she herself probably wanted to forget as soon as possible. Well, some, probably, managed to forget about herself.

But, apparently, such a fate has been prepared by Williams sisters - to constantly surprise everyone. Recall what surprise Vinus Vinus was on Wimbledon 2005. Now the turn of Serena has come. In the final, she did not give Sharapova a single chance and won the eighth in her career tournament "Big Slam". Serenda devoted this victory to her sister Yetunde Price, killed in 2003. Here's what the three -time Australian champion said after the final:

“This victory means a lot to me. I am glad that I won the Australian championship again - my beloved. It is interesting that every time I say so, I win, and this only enhances joy. It’s good that I was able to devote this victory to my sister's memory. She meant so much for me - both in her career and in life. I will never forget her.

I played well today - as I should always play. I had a plan for the game, and I completed it. I succeeded both the presentation and the reception. If this is where it is - then hold on all ..

My goal is to continue in the same spirit. Incredible: now I will again fall into the 15 strongest in the world. I could not imagine that I would take so high after this tournament. It's just amazing. And I have to move forward.

Yes, I doubted myself - yes, anyone in my place doubted! You get here, you see a grid and understand that you have a very heavy lot. Well, you think, I will win a couple of matches, and there we'll see. It is immediately impossible to comprehend and imagine everything. I think this my approach - step by step, the match for the match - works best. ”

In the final match, Serena Williams was a cut above her rival, from which she was separated by 80 lines of the rating list. And Maria Sharapova was the first to admit this when she tried to analyze the reason for the failure:

“I think the second game was the key when I led 40:15 and in the end lost. After that, Serena served very well and stably, so it was simply impossible to take her feed. The match was a little strange: we had practically no long draws. This means that the percentage of accurate feeding decided a lot - in Serena it was high, but I did not. And at the reception she played more successfully.

Maria Sharapova could win in Melbourne the third tournament "Big Slame"

From the very beginning, she began to put pressure on me, every blow was aggressive, attacking. I think she did not want to get involved in long draws and therefore walked forward and bent her line. Today she played simply flawlessly. Of course, this was partly due to the fact that I myself did not act in the best way, made mistakes, gave her a chance. But still she needed to use this chance, she had to go out and play great. And she did it. "

If the first racket of the women's tournament Maria Sharapova stopped a step away from the title, then the first number of men's sowing Swiss Roger Federer once again performed in accordance with the ranking of ranks. Now he, like Serena Williams, is a three -time Australian champion, and in total there are 10 large helmet tournaments on his account.

The next victory of Federer is least like a sensation, but perhaps she became the only element of predictability at the current tournament. The appearance in the finale of the Chilean Fernando Gonzalez for the vast majority of observers was a surprise. Including for Federer, who before the final match spoke of his opponent as follows:

“I think, on the eve of the quarterfinals, I would never have suggested that Fernando will go to the final. I would rather put on Nadal or Davydenko, who, in my opinion, showed a very good game. So this is a surprise for me. But at the same time, I know that Gonzalez played very well last year. After all, he almost made his way to Masters Kap at the very last moment. At the end of the year, he went to the finals three times in a row, but lost twice and once - love. These were very difficult finals for him.

But in general, his current exit to the final is absolutely deserved. Fernando knows how to play and impose his game to rivals, dominate the court. This finale for him is the result of a long and hard work. He changed his game. Many believe that this change happened here in Australia, but this is not so. He constantly progressed throughout the year and even more.

Of course, it will be a difficult finale for me. Fernando is perhaps easier: he is not a favorite, he has nothing to lose, so he can wait for his chance. But I play well, so he will need to hold another outstanding match if he wants to win.

I think this is very similar to last year's final. Then my rival was Marcos Baghdatis, whom not many were waiting for to see in a decisive duel. He even had to lose even less than Gonzalez, because he was not one at all among the seeded players. But we then saw Baghdatis in the game - he spent several five -season matches. And Gonzalez plays so swiftly that I probably saw only three game of his three last matches. Each time I go to dinner, I return, everything is already over.

I think it will be an interesting match. Fernando and I have known each other since 14 or 15 years old. They played together in juniors and went a long way. In general, it is exciting to play with a person whom you have known for a very long time. ”

Well, Roger Federer, probably after the match, considered him fascinating. Now the account of his personal meetings with Gonzalez is 10: 0. Gonzalez, I think, got less pleasure from all these fights. But all the same, the first finale of the “large helmet” of the Chilean will probably remember for life. And he will strive for new achievements, which, as many people believe, he has a lot of herself. Moreover, he is trained by a specialist who has indicated the road to many.

Larry Stefanki is known for the work with John Makinro and Tim Henman, Marcelo Rios and Evgeny Kafelnikov. Moreover, it was during the cooperation with him that Rios and tiles became the first rackets of the world. It is possible that someday there will be a queue of Gonzalez.

This is what Stefanki himself says about his ward:

“Before Christmas, we went eight days on Santiago and worked there extremely intensely: we spent 5-6 hours a day on the court. And we also traveled three times to San Diego-at different times, for a week or two. And they also worked a lot there. Fernando was configured to start the New Year well. A year earlier, he did not have such a motivation, but I convinced him that a successful trip to Australia could have a good affect his game throughout the year. It is as if to get up in the morning from the desired leg. Knowing how he works in training, how he is configured, I am not at all surprised at his access to the final.

But even in the summer, July 23, we talked with his father, and I told him: "Your son will play perfectly in Australia, I feel it." “Oh, no,” he answered, “Fernando never plays well there.” But we did everything according to my plan. In Santiago, the same heat as here, so we have prepared well. And, I repeat, I am not at all surprised.

What is especially pleasant to me is that he every day, in every match, in every draw, shows willpower. In the past, he has been more negative. For example, in such cases, like here in a match with Hughitt: he made a mistake when hitting from above, two double on the present ... Previously, he could tremble in such a situation. But not now. That is, he retains a positive attitude in a negative situation. And this is a sign of an adult, mature player, athlete and man. To be able to resist the difficulties and blows of fate. He did not always know how to, but now! .. Three matches - against Nadal, Blake and Hughitt - he spent perfectly. And the fight with Hughitt was generally the best in his life. Two mistakes and 33 draws won for two sets - I have never seen him play better. "