As we leave the Australian Open behind for another 12 months, it’s time for reflection on the tournament from a first-person point of view. From the best match of the men’s and the women’s draw, to the most humorous incident of the press conferences to the highlight and the lowlight of the tournament, our Tennis View Magazine journalist on site conveys his first-hand experience of the 2014 Australian Open.

Players looking for a last-minute wildcard in the first grand slam of the year would have to beat more than just their opponent as the Melbourne summer arrived just in time for the first match of the qualifiers. Accompanied by a stunning cloudless sky, the temperature rose to 86 degrees by 10 AM as eager fans were keen to make use of the free entry at Melbourne Park. They also attempted to make use of the free facilities to cool down as the weather showed no sign of relenting. By midday, show court 3 resembled a desert with many fans using their hats to create any type of shade. With similar temperature predicted for the first week of the main draw, it was apparent that the Australian Open would live up to its title as the hottest slam of the year, both literally and figuratively.

Despite all the talk being about the weather, there was some great tennis over the five days of qualifying as experienced veterans like Paul-Henri Mathieu and exciting upstarts like Rhyne Williams made a play for the main draw. From show court 3 to show court 20, players from around the world played for a chance to show their stuff on the big stage.

Nothing was quite like the real thing, however, as the excitement early Monday morning was clearly palpable. Crowds were lining up two and a half hours before the gates opened, while the media work room inside Melbourne Park was alive with a plethora of exotic languages as journalists from around the world converged on the tournament grounds.

The vibe around Melbourne Park was electric. Some fans rushed to outside practice courts to get close to their favorite players, while others sought shade in grassy areas and a place in front of the misting fans. The Heineken beer garden was a popular choice with multiple big screens and world-class music acts appearing nightly on the Heineken stage.

The feeling of the first week more represented a festival atmosphere as the voices of line umpires rang throughout the grounds, while epic five-setters ran their course for four hours on small courts in front of huge crowds. All this unfolded under a blazing sun and blue sky as the Melbourne skyline lingered in the background. After attending the Australian Open, it is accurate to say that Melbourne is undoubtedly the sporting capital of the Southern Hemisphere. There is a reason why the Australian Open is the favorite major for so many players and fans. For anyone wishing to go, it is every bit as special as it is made out to be.

Best match of the men’s draw

The match on the men’s half of the draw that caught most people’s attention was the quarterfinal between Stanislas Wawrinka and three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic. At the announcement of the draw, Djokovic was proclaimed by many in tennis world to have the easiest section of the draw. This was despite having Wawrinka in his quarter, whom most didn’t believe to have the mettle to beat either of the top two. Wawrinka, who had pushed Djokovic in their last two grand slam meetings, often had the right game style but was let down by his execution.

In the match, this was definitely not the case. Wawrinka implemented his game plan with near-perfect precision, outhitting and outlasting the world No. 2 9-7 in the fifth set. It was a just reward for Wawrinka, the eventual champion, who is among the hardest-working players on the circuit.

Best match of the women’s draw

The match on the women’s half of the draw that was the most thrilling was the second-round meeting between Karin Knapp and Maria Sharapova. The players not only fought each other but also battled with the elements as temperatures soared to 111 degrees during the match. Interestingly, the extreme heat policy was implemented during the second game of the third set, but policy regulations required the match to continue with the roof open during a third set that lasted almost two hours.

The epic eventually finished 10-8 to Sharapova in the third set and by far was the women’s match of the tournament. Knapp bemoaned a number of opportunities that she missed to bury Sharapova, but the four-time Grand Slam champion prevailed in the end.

Humorous quote of the tournament

Journalist: What was the toughest part of missing last year’s Australian Open?

Rafael Nadal: “It was tough because in Spain, the Australian Open is only on Eurosport. I don’t have Eurosport at my home.”

Highlight

The highlight of the tournament was Li Na winning the women’s title after two unsuccessful trips to the final. Journalists were treated to champagne as they entered the press conference, and a beaming Li was a pleasure to interview.

Lowlight

The lowlight of the tournament was Nadal’s press conference after losing the final to Wawrinka. Nadal, who appeared to have been crying before the journalists entered the room, shed tears as he declared how emotional the tournament had been for him. Nadal also admitted that he realized he had no chance of winning the match after injuring himself during the pre-match warm-ups—a crushing feeling for so fierce a competitor.

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The Australian Open is without doubt one of the most un-missable events of the tennis calendar. Its festival atmosphere, combined with the proximity between fans and superstars, gives the tournament an intimate feel while maintaining its grand scale. And it is only assisted by being located in one of the most diverse cities in the world, enabling players to feel as if they’re playing in front of their home crowds. Perhaps next year it will be time for you to jump on a plane, conquer the massive time change, and visit Melbourne for yourself.