Australian Open Gets Big Story

The Australian Open often the least watched, least appreciated and least understood of the Grand Slams may have the 2007 tennis season's first big story. I don't mean to put the Australian down, but how many times have even the most avid tennis fans found themselves arguing who the greatest Australian Open champion was? How many can tell you the surface (rebound ace) the Australian is currently played on? How many know Rod laver for which stadium court is named? This year the Australian had (as it often does) not only great tennis, but a great story. This year a former champion, Serena Williams captured her 3^rd Australian Title. Yes, that is Serena Williams.

Williams entered the tournament ranked 81^st in the world. She was unseeded having won the title here in 2004. She played only four tournaments last year. She has been sideline by both injury and tragedy. Yetunde Price, her sister, whom she dedicated this title to, was brutally murdered in 2003. Yet on Saturday, January 27, 2007 under the closed dome over Rod Laver court Serena played what Marie Carrillo called her best match ever. She dispatched the world's number one female and top seed Maria Sharapova, in straight sets (6-1, 6-2). It took just an hour and three minutes.

Serena is the first unseeded female to win the Australian open since in 1978. She did it with a steeling focus, powerful ground strokes and a service game that was near perfect. Serena began the match easily holding serve 40-15. She ended it with a sizzling winner to complete a comeback for the ages. Williams threw her racquet into the air before crumpling to the ground in celebration.