Novak Djokovic of Serbia & Kim Clijsters of Belgium are the singles champion of Tennis' first major of the year, the 2011 Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic increased his men's singles grand slam title, wnning his second Australian Open Singles title after masterfully denying Andy Murray's hope of his own very first grand slam, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.
Caught the replay over cable with Djokovic leading with a set and a 5 - 0 lead in the second. Murray held serve and broke Djokovic to move to 5 - 2 before Novak held serve to close the set. The third set was competitive and I felt thta Murray is still in it until he failed to held serve in a much contested game that gave Djokovic a 5 - 3 3rd set lead.
Murray, I think, is quite unlucky with a net. Him shanking so many shots while Djokovic was gifted with one. I think it helped Djokovic held serve at 4 - 3 when obviously, Murray was in great position to hit a great return.
With the loss, Murray probably felt much more, albeit unfairly, the weight of Britain, angling for its first men's single grand slam champion since Fred Perry who won in 1936.
Djokovic & Murray both still young can surely vie for more future grand slam titles if they continue to improve. I think Nadal will be injury prone and Federer is not that dominating anymore.
In the women's side, Kim Clijsters never disappointed in her favorite role, ending an amazing and inspiring campaign of Li Na, the first chinese to reach a grand slam singles final in a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 finals win.
Clijster came back from a set down to win his 4th grand slam singles title and first Australian Open singles title and her first outside of the US Open.
Unlike Britain, China is probably on a high, after their very own made history and made them proud.
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I still believe that Federer will win another Australian Open singles title before he retires. :)
