On the eve of the year’s first major, we break down some key narratives from the week before it as players completed their preparations for Melbourne. Most of the action happened at the joint tournament in Sydney.
Don't miss any stories → Follow Tennis View
FollowEvent Recap
The first week of the ATP and WTA seasons is officially in the books, and already there are indications of what fans could possibly see over the course of 2013, based on the results at various warm-up tournaments leading to the Australian Open. Here’s a look ahead, based on backward glances:
Mission Complete. After losing his first four major finals, Andy Murray ended Great Britain’s 76-year dry spell for a men’s Grand Slam champion when he triumphed over Novak Djokovic at the US Open.
Watching Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal react negatively to the new blue clay at Madrid, and subsequently losing to underdogs, triggered a flashback to one of my recent matches, reinforcing the impact of attitude.
After 7 years of losing to fellow countryman Rafael Nadal, Fernando Verdasco finally broke the cycle when he triumphed 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 at the Madrid Open.
Pages
