The first big major event of the New Year, the Australian Open had everything for every tennis enthusiast. Top quality tennis for sure and enough drama and perhaps a touch of melodrama as well. For those who had pinned on a new generation player to come to the fore, then Jannik Sinner provided that in plenty with his master class display in defending the title the Italian had won last year for his third Grand Slam overall. For those who wondered what ambition, grit and talent put together can do, then Madison Keys provided that in style to the delight of the sport’s lovers. Soon to turn 30, Keys, playing in only her second major final and that too after more than a seven-year gap, grabbed a Grand Slam title for the first time. There was Serena Williams once and now we have another American again, to proudly take the legacy forward.

That is not all. Perhaps the Australian Open this time also brought into focus the state of perhaps the last representative of the old era, none other than Novak Djokovic. The 37-year old Serb certainly set the Melbourne event buzzing with his court display and off it too if one can say that! Even as the Australian Open was to start he had the media in a frenzy with his supposed remark in an interview given some time back to a magazine that he had been given poisoned food while in detention during the 2022 Australian Open. At that year’s event, with Australia’s strict Covid-19 rules and his unvaccinated status meant........

© Mathrubhumi English