AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2013
Australian Open Diary: Sweet Finish For Novak
Melbourne, Australia
Novak Djokovic handed out chocolates to the press after his Australian Open victory.
ATPWorldTour.com takes a look at the news and talking points at the Australian Open on the second Sunday.
Sweet Finish For Novak
Novak Djokovic celebrated his fourth Australian Open triumph by personally handing out chocolates to the journalists in the press room following his press conference.
The Serb said, “There is a little tradition that we try to initiate at the [Barclays ATP] World Tour Finals in London, the end of the year, the last press conference, giving chocolate to all the people who were in the press. I want to start the year with the same thing, if you allow me. Let's keep it sweet.”
Woodbridge’s Son Steals Limelight
Twelve years after his father’s Australian Open doubles triumph, 10-year-old Beau Woodbridge charmed fans on Rod Laver Arena as he sang the Australian national anthem before the men’s singles final.
Woodbridge Junior, son of Todd Woodbridge, has performed in stage shows before and is set to be one of the principle singers in the stage production of Mary Poppins, opening in Melbourne in a few days.
Ebden Looking To Build On Success
Australia’s Matthew Ebden is hopeful he can build on the experience of winning the Australian Open mixed doubles title and use it to improve on the ATP World Tour. The 25 year old, currently World No. 108 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, won his first major title when he and Jarmila Gajdosova defeated Frantisek Cermak and Lucie Hradecka in Sunday’s final.
"Got to start somewhere," said Ebden. "I think we're still very young in our careers and we're still building and learning a lot. So I think this will give us a lot confidence and a lot of experience to win a few matches on the on Rod Laver Arena.
"There have been a lot big points. We've had five matches and a lot of break points, a lot of match points, and we've actually clutched really well on a lot of those big points. Tennis at the top level is about those big points and finding that in yourself to tough it out and fight and stay aggressive and take the big points. We got through a lot of those big ones, so I think we can both take a lot from that."
Stat Attack
• Djokovic finished the Australian Open having not lost serve since the second set of his quarter-final win over Tomas Berdych. The Serb did not face a break point in his 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 victory over David Ferrer in the semi-finals and saved all four of the opportunities Andy Murray created in the four-set final.
• Victoria Azarenka’s victory in the women’s singles means it is the first time that the men’s and women’s defending champions have retained their titles at a Grand Slam since Rafael Nadal and Justin Henin successfully defended their Roland Garros trophies in 2007. It is the first occasion in Melbourne since Jim Courier and Monica Seles succeeded in 1993.
• The top seeds lifted the trophies in the men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles (Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan) and women’s doubles (Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci).