Top Ten Tennis Matches of 2010 – Part IV
Australian Open, WTA title match: Serena Williams defeats Justine Henin
This title match was perhaps the most anticipated final in women’s tennis, at par with the rivalry of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova or Monica Seles and Steffi Graf.
In recent tennis history, Serena Williams has maintained a vice-like grip over the Grand Slam tournament trophies, with the exception of Roland Garros. However, Justine Henin was just as talented in her own right. She was ranked World Number 1 before she
chose to retire abruptly in 2008, just before the French Open. In 2010, 19 months after her withdrawal, Henin returned to the game unseeded and unranked. She made it through despite tough competition, and eventually set up a final with the reigning champion,
Serena Williams.
However, on the day of the match, Henin’s considerable tennis skills proved inadequate when confronted by Williams and her killer serve, as well as her determination to regain her footing after Henin won the second set, levelling the score to one set all.
While Henin was able to earn several break points against Serena in the second game of their third set, she was left to stare at the hard-hitting shots which Serena volleyed her way. No doubt discouraged, she began to give up and Williams won the match 6-2,
3-6, 6-2.
With this win, Serena Williams tied her Grand Slam wins with those of Billie Jean King, making herself even more of a legend. She was awarded her twelfth Grand Slam trophy by tennis legend Margaret Court, who leads Grand Slam champions on both the ATP and
WTP with 24 Grand Slam singles wins.
Australian Open, ATP title match: Roger Federer defeats Andy Murray
British Number 1 started the year with determination, renewed skill and several improvements to his game. He swept into the Australian Open tournament and crushed his opposition with ease, storming into the title match. His performance was so superb that
critics and pundits were convinced that this would be Murray’s big day; he was expected to win his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2010 Australian Open.
However, they had not counted on Roger Federer, a player who seems to be standing in the path of Andy Murray’s Grand Slam success at every possible occasion.
In 2008, Roger Federer dismissed Andy Murray in straight sets at the US Open, shattering his chance for a title. This event was similar to the US Open; Federer turned Murray down in straight sets yet again. However, the final set was a challenging one; it
went into a tiebreak and there were many opportunities for Andy Murray to take the advantage and make his move on Federer.
However, due to a combination of Federer’s determination and Murray’s nerves, he was unable to overcome the then-World Number 1. Roger Federer ousted Andy Murray to win his 16th Grand Slam, which is two more than the record held by tennis legend
Pete Sampras.
While the tennis world was sure that 2010 would be yet another year dominated by Federer, it did not turn out so; he seemed to lose his nerve and make mistakes at crucial moments throughout the year. However, this was still a highly significant victory because
it set Federer further apart from the rest. Whether he will win another title and add to his record is a question which can only be answered in 2011.
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