All sports fans enjoy seeing champions play, but a burst of adrenaline rush is inevitable whenever fresh talent arrives to challenge established stars. Novak Djokovic, playing at a level well above all challengers, could dispose of Andy Murray’s threat quite comfortably to grab his 11th Grand Slam title with his sixth Australian Open victory. Serena Williams was unluckier: brought down by little-known Angelique Kerber, who reached a Grand Slam final after 33 majors.
This is the second successive time Serena faltered: when she lost the chance to complete a calendar Grand Slam at the 2015 US Open, the world’s sympathies lay with an extraordinary athlete who has done so much for racial equality. In Melbourne, she lost the chance to equal Steffi Graf’s 22 Grand Slams, coincidentally stopped by her compatriot. Angelique is the first German to win a Slam since Graf won her last major in 1999. It might well seem to Serena that she was playing a German doubles pair of Kerber-Graf in a tight final. But in the end, it was Serena’s sportsmanship that may have taken the vocal Australian crowd’s breath away as the vanquished champion crossed over to Kerber’s side and embraced her warmly.
The indications that there is a life beyond the court for champions was also evident as Andy Murray broke down after the final, while recalling a particularly tough two weeks due to family circumstances. The presence of former champions Rosewall and Laver sealed an emotional presentation ceremony of a game just recovering from fixing allegations.
