21 February 2011 | Tennis West

The Australian Open 2011 has concluded for the year with comeback queen Kim Clijsters (Belgium) and Joker Novak Djokovic (Serbia)  taking out the crowns of the first Slam of the year!  In what was an explosive display of tennis throughout the 2 weeks of play it all came down the final weekend between Clijsters and Na Li (China) and Djokovic and Andy Murray (Great Britain).

The Women’s final featured two hard hitters and characters of the game.  Li won over the entire world, not only for her superb baseline play, but for her outstanding personality on and off of the court.  Let’s not put aside the constant battle she has with her opponents, but also with her coach/husband who she complains snores too much!  She is the new star in town, and has already inspired many young Chinese girls to start playing tennis. 

Clijsters career has had everything – the ups, the downs and retirement. However, after coming back after 2 years off the court (and having daughter, Jada!) Clijsters appears to have found a new love for the game and is sporting a fitter and stronger body as a result of it!

After a lapse of concentration in the opening set to Clijsters, Li took advantage and rocketed out to take the first set 3-6. Clijsters re-grouped and settled into her swinging pattern taking the second with ease 6-3. Clijsters then took the first break in the 3^rd, eventually galloping away from the deflated Li, closing the match out in 3 sets, (3-6), (6-3), (6-3). 

No one could forget Murray’s speech at last year’s Australian Open after falling short in a 3 set battle with Roger Federer, “I can cry like Roger, it’s just a shame I can’t play like him”. This year he didn’t have to worry about Federer, however history proved to repeat itself after Murray suffered the same feat, losing to friend and hitting partner Djokovic in straight sets.

Great Britain’s great hope, possessing a bag of tricks as big as anyone on the tour came into the final the underdog and is yet to lose the status. Andy was simply outclassed at the end of the day by the other 23 year old on the opposite side of the net.  Novak came out firing from the first point and displayed his precision and agility throughout the match. His movement and discipline were awesome and he has earned his place as the number 3 player in the world and will be a real contender for the top spot over the next 12 months. Djokovic defeated Murray in straight sets (6-4), (6-2), (6-3).

Western Australians at the Australian Open 2011:

• Matt Ebden (Wembley Downs) competed in the main draw of the Australian Open. Ebden fell to American Michael Russell in the opening round.
• Storm Sanders (Secret Harbour) competed in the Junior Girls Australian Open 2011. Sanders lost to Japan’s Ayaka Okuno in the opening round.
• Teiwa Casey (Kalamunda) competed in the Junior Girls Australian Open 2011. Casey lost to the No 10 seed, China’s Hao Chen Tang in the opening round.

Well down to all of WA’s players competing in the Open.