Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Australian Open 2017 was interesting' that was published in Newsband

Australian Open 2017 was interesting

The year 2017 will be remembered by tennis fans for it featured the legendary battle between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open. Rogerer Federer won his 18th Grand Slam crown and his first since Wimbledon in 2012. Serena Williams, playing sister Venus, continued her dominance, capturing a professional-era record 23rd title. She defeated Venus. Serena’s presence in the final was unsurprising. All four finalists were over the age of 30.

 With their triumphs in Melbourne, Federer and Serena, both 35, managed what only a few of the greats have.

Australian grand slam has been a ' grand' success for tennis lovers. The most deserved players and the most respected players of recent times won their titles. They pushed the art of tennis to dizzy heights by playing a superb role in its promotion

Great achievement of Roger. It is really awesome. He was never going to lose that game. Yes he had a short block for awhile but soon got back on track. It would be nice to see Nadal with not such an aggressive look continually on his face all through his games but that's his makeup and it is a real turnoff. Anyway the best player in the world won and that's all that matters. Such a gentleman is always through every game he plays.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Serena Williams is the length of time she has been winning Grand Slam titles. The first came on 11 September 1999 in New York; the 23rd on 28 January 2017 here in Melbourne.

The match itself will quickly be forgotten; but never the achievement. Richard Williams used to beg tennis clubs to part with their old balls when he started to put his daughters through their paces in the Los Angeles district of Compton, and now Serena has more Grand Slam singles titles than anyone who has ever played the game, with the exception of Margaret Court.

Williams is now just one behind the Australian - who was watching on the Rod Laver Arena - and in the view of the 18-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, it is a record she could "shatter" before her playing days are done.