The top ranked players in both men's and women's tennis took home the trophies at the 2010 Australian Open. Roger Federer won the men's singles competition after losing there last year to Rafael Nadal, the number 2 ranked player who dropped out of the Aussie open this year because of an injury, ironically in a match against Murray, Federer's opponent in the finals. Serena Williams took the women's singles title for the second year in a row, defeating Justine Henin.
Federer, who wept in 2009 after fighting hard in the final match but losing to Nadal, beat Andy Murray for the title this year. Murray choked up in his remarks after the match as well, and quipped that he could cry like Roger, but it was a shame he couldn't play like him. Roger urged him not to worry about it, and said that he was too good a player not to win a Grand Slam at some point.
Murray was trying to be the first Brit to win a Grand Slam since 1936. He did set a record by being the first British man to make it to the finals in two Grand Slam tournaments in the Open era, which began in 1968. The other Grand Slam final he reached was the US Open in 2008, where he was also defeated by Federer.
Federer won the open against Murray with 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (11) in a match that didn't cause any real excitement until the struggle in the final set, a far cry from the final match here last year when Federer went a full 5 sets against Nadal. This was Federer's 22nd Grand Slam final. And by winning at the Open, Federer now has won 16 Grand Slam titles. This is his 4th win in Melbourne and a special Grand Slam win for him because it's his first win as a father. He found out that his wife was expecting not long before his loss in Australia last year. Now he's the father of twin girls.
In women's singles, Serena Williams defeated Justine Henin 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 for her 5th Aussie Open title and her second in a row. This was her 12th Grand Slam singles win, tying Billie Jean King's record. Williams has now won more Aussie titles than any woman since 1968, when the Open era in tennis began.
For Henin, formerly ranked #1, it was to be the comeback win. Kim Clijsters who had a comeback last year after 2 years off went on to win her Grand Slam comeback tournament, the US Open. Henin made it as far as the final but couldn't defeat Williams, who dropped onto the ground on her back after the match point.
Top ranked twin brothers Mike and Bob Bryan won the men's doubles, making it their 4th doubles win at the Open. Serena Williams and her 6th ranked sister Venus took home the trophy for women's doubles, also their 4th doubles win at the Australian Open.
Photo Credits: Bas Van Uyen
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