Weeks 3/4 - Australian Open - Melbourne, Australia - Hard

JonH · All-time great

Weeks 3/4 - Australian Open - Melbourne, Australia - Hard

Vandenburg · Futures level

What this final has highlighted for me, is the massive love base for Fedal, and this is something that I think upset Novak, no matter how many slams Novak won, he could never get the same fan base as Fedal or admiration.

Jan · Hall of fame

The time warp is complete.

indiana · Tennis legend

Many people do say that Australia lives in the past

tharris · Intermediate Club Player

I'm gutted for Grigor. A couple years ago I didn't get the hype attached to him, but he is immensely talented. It's just a shame he's so ugly.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

tharris wrote:
I'm gutted for Grigor. A couple years ago I didn't get the hype attached to him, but he is immensely talented. It's just a shame he's so ugly.

I'm not, but he's certainly not ugly. That title goes to Radek Stepanek, whom a friend & I have nicknamed "Ugly Mug". Now he takes some beating.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

It's all relative, big fan of Stepanek being fairly ugly myself, I would consider him a looker.

We need more ugly players in tennis it helps build my self confidence. Far too much grooming and bandana wearing going on.

Never the less absolutes thrilled to get a Fed v Rafa final, love Feds tennis hated his white and gold track suit. what's that all about? Did he believe he had ascended to a higher plane.

I have managed to put all that pretensions twaddle in the past and now accept the man as a tennis god and the king of bling.

Spectator · All-time great

Yes, it's striking, isn't it - even opening up Margaret Court Arena so that more fans can come in to watch. It's certainly been earned, though.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

As much as I respect their talent and dedication, I'd had enough of Roger and Rafa a long time ago. Same is true of the Williams sisters. What a nightmare this Aus Open has turned out to be !

tharris · Intermediate Club Player

kundalini wrote:
As much as I respect their talent and dedication, I'd had enough of Roger and Rafa a long time ago. Same is true of the Williams sisters. What a nightmare this Aus Open has turned out to be !

I couldn't agree more.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

And Roger the Lodger is crowned king of the Oz Open for the fifth time (& the first since 2010) after beating Rafa by 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 in three hours & 37 minutes.

brendan · Strong Club Player

kundalini wrote:
As much as I respect their talent and dedication, I'd had enough of Roger and Rafa a long time ago. Same is true of the Williams sisters. What a nightmare this Aus Open has turned out to be !

at least Rafa and Roger can guarantee great entertainment - you know you'll never see that in a Williams match

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

tharris wrote:
kundalini wrote:
As much as I respect their talent and dedication, I'd had enough of Roger and Rafa a long time ago. Same is true of the Williams sisters. What a nightmare this Aus Open has turned out to be !
I couldn't agree more.

I've really enjoyed the rolling back of the clock. I won't like it if it happens again though, as I want our man to win as many slams at possible. I was nice to have stress free GS for a change, especially as Nole went out early Like it or not Roger and Rafa were/are huge ambassadors of the game, so I don't begrudge them their swan song.

The Williams sisters changed the whole of the women's game. (Arguably not for the better). So again, for me, it's OK, and lovely that it happened in the same year.