Monday, January 30, 2012

Novak Djokovic's photo shoot with Australian Open trophy...

Australian Open 2012 men's singles champion Novak Djokovic celebrates at the Carlton Gardens, Melbourne following his epic five-set victory over Rafael Nadal of Spain.

Here are the pictures of the Australian Open champion Djokovic during his photo shoot session at the Carlton Gardens in Melbourne.

Novak Djokovic Australian Open 2012 champion 


Serbian Novak Djokovic kisses his Australian Open 2012 trophy


Novak Djokovic poses at the Carlton Gardens in Melbourne with his 2012 Australian Open trophy


World No. 1 Novak Djokovic poses with his Australian Open trophy during a photo shoot event at the Carlton Gardens in Melbourne


Serbian tennis star Djokovic in the locker room with his Australian Open trophy

All above pics courtesy: Ben Solomon and Australian Open site


Novak Djokovic posted this picture with the Australian Open trophy in his facebook fanpage... .


"Still cannot believe i am awake :) unbelievable match, i love tennis!!!! Ne mogu da verujem da sam jos uvek budan :) kakav mec! Obozavam tenis!!!! :)"  - Novak Djokovic posted in Facebook.

Pic courtesy: Novak Djokovic's facebook fanpage

This has been a perfect start for Novak Djokovic. He would be very much looking forward to achieve the career grand slam this year with French Open coming next.

Novak Djokovic's Australian Open 2012 victory pictures...

Defending champion and world number one Novak Djokovic beat second seed Rafael Nadal  5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 in an epic final to win his third Australian Open title on Sunday. The win gave top seed Djokovic his fifth Grand Slam title

The longest finals played in the open era lasted five hours and 53 minutes. 


Novak Djokovic - Australian Open 2012 Men's Champion

"It was obvious on the court for everybody who has watched the match that both of us, physically, we took the last drop of energy that we had from our bodies," Djokovic said. "We made history tonight and unfortunately there couldn't be two winners."

Djokovic poses with the Australian Open title near the official clock showing the total time of 5:53 which is the longest finals in the tennis grand slams played during the Open era


Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic posing before the start of what was an epic 5 hour 53 minutes battle for the title which Djoker came out as the victor


Djoker celebrates an amazing victory over Nadal during the longest final of Australian Open in Melbourne


Novak Djokovic shirtless celebration after winning the Australian Open 2012 men's title beating Rafael Nadal in a near six hour five set epic match
Novak Djokovic ripped off his shirt and let out a winning scream....


Rafael Nadal congratulates Novak Djokovic after their epic finals in the Australian Open 2012 tournament at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne


The official Rolex clock showing the longest finals timing of 5 hours 53 minutes played between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Rafael Nadal of Spain


Djoker and Rafa posing with the Australian Open trophies


Djokovic kissing the Australian Open trophy

A perfect start for Djoker and his team... will we see a career slam soon??  the chances are pretty high after seeing the level of tennis that Djokovic plays now... and he seems to be deserving too.. with his will to win and the calmness he shows in the court... quite contrast to the person he was when he started playing professional tennis.

Victoria Azarenka's Australian Open title photo shoot...

Victoria Azarenka, the newly crowned tennis women's World No. 1 and Australian Open women's grand slam champion had a nice photo shoot in Melbourne on Sunday.  Azarenka thumped former champion Maria Sharapova of Russia in an one-sided match to win her first grand slam title.

Here are some stunning pictures of Azarenka in a pretty blue top and green skirts during the Australian Open title photo shoot...

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus poses for a photo shoot with her Australian Open trophy in Melbourne


Vika Azarenka's photo shoot after her Australian Open women's title victory


Azarenka proudly displays her Australian Open trophy during the title photo shoot in Melbourne


Azarenka signals that she is the World Number 1 after winning the Australian Open grand slam beating Russian Maria Sharapova in the finals


Azarenka poses with her Australian Open trophy in the locker room

All above pics courtesy: Ben Solomon/Tennis Australia and Australian Open site...

Vika Azarenka smiles and poses with her Australian Open women's trophy

"It's a dream come true," Azarenka said. "I have been dreaming and working so hard to win the Grand Slam, and being No. 1 is pretty good bonus. Just the perfect ending and the perfect position to be in."
And she paid special credit to her grandmother, "the person who inspires me the most in my life."

Congrats to the Women's World Number 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus on her first grand slam and hoping for many more slams from her in future...

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Novak Djokovic wins longest Australian Open finals against Nadal

Just witnessed an amazing and gruelling 5 hour 53 minutes marathon finals between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open Grand Slam finals held at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

Serbian Novak Djokovic thus won the longest Grand Slam final in history and defended his men's singles crown by beating Spaniard Rafael Nadal in a thrilling five setter - 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5.

Here are some pictures of this amazing epic finals between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

Novak Djokovic wins Australian Open Grand Slam men's title 2012


Serbian Djokovic celebrates shirtless after his Australian Open victory after beating Rafael Nadal in a 5 hour 53 minutes epic finals


The Legend Rod Laver presenting the Australian Open trophy to Novak Djokovic


Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal - The winner and runner-up of Australian Open 2012 Grand Slam


The epic match finalists - Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal after playing the longest finals in the Tennis open era. You can see that both of them are visibly tired and couldn't even stand during the presentation ceremony


Thank god for the chairs :) Rafael Nadal and Djokovic were thankful after getting to sit in these chairs during the presentation ceremony after their epic Australian Open finals


Novak Djokovic wins his 3rd Australian Open title and his 5th Grand slam title


Rafael Nadal becomes the unlucky runner-up after being beaten by Djokovic in an epic 5 set match. 
Nadal unable to beat Djokovic in 7 of their previous final encounters

Thank You Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal for giving us such an amazing finals!!! You both are winners...
What a final it has been.. even am tired after watching it for so long.. gotta get some break now.. :)

Leander Paes completes career grand slam in doubles

Leander Paes of India completed his career grand slam after winning the Australian Open doubles title partnering with Radek Stepanek of  Czech Republic. This is Paes' sixth doubles grand slam title.

Indian Leander Paes and Czech partner Radek Stepanek win men's doubles Australian Open grand slam title.


Leander Paes and Czech partner Radek Stepanek pulled off a stunning upset 7-6 (7-1) 6-2 win against top seeded American brothers Bob and Mike Bryan in the Australian Open men's doubles final at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

It denied the Bryan brothers a sixth Australian doubles title and leaves them still tied on 11 grand slam titles  with Australian legendary pair of Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde.

Radek Stepanek and Leander Paes beat the No.3, No.2 and No.1 seeds in the doubles to win their first grand slam together 


Radek Stepanek celebrates with Leander Paes after winning the Australian Open doubles title beating the top seeded Bryan brothers


The Bryan brothers congratulating Leander and Stepanek after they won the Australian Open doubles title


Leander Paes emotional and consoled by Czech partner Stepanek after they won the Australian Open doubles title and thus completing Leander's career grand slam in doubles. 


Leander Paes, Radek Stepanek and the Bryan brothers pose with their Australian Open trophies

Pics courtesy: Australian Open site and Getty Images

A second title eluded Leander Paes at the Australian Open as he and his Russian partner Elena Vesnina ended runners-up in the mixed doubles event after being beaten by Horia Tecau and Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the finals.   The fifth-seeded Indo-Russian pair lost 3-6, 7-5, 3-10 to the eighth-seeded Romanian-American combination.

 The doubles due of Leander and Stepanek looks good to win a few more slams this year.. lets hope they do that.. :)

Victoria Azarenka is the new Australian Open Women's Champion

Victoria Azarenka of Belaurs beat three time grand slam champion Maria Sharapova in a one-sided finals of the Australian Open Women's title to win the Australian Open Grand slam and also take over the Women's World No. 1 ranking.... all these in her very first Grand slam final appearance... what a start!!

Victoria Azarenka - The new Australian Open women's champion and also the new Women's World No. 1

Vika Azarenka routed the Russian favourite Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-0 in 1 hour, 22 minutes winning 12 of the last 13 games after dropping her first service game and falling behind 2-0 in the first set.

Azarenka started celebrating and stopped suddenly to ask her coach and camp "What happened?"
We all know the answer.. she just produced some awesome tennis this fortnight to become the World No. 1 and the Australian Open grand slam winner!!


Vika Azarenka and Maria Sharapova before the start of their Australian Open finals


Victoria Azarenka of Belarus serving during the Australian Open finals against Sharapova in the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne


Vika Azarenka reacts falling onto her knees after winning the 2012 Australian Open women's singles title


Maria Sharapova congratulates Victoria Azarenka after she won the Australian Open finals to become World Number 1


World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka kisses the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning the Australian Open women's title


Victoria Azarenka posing with her Australian Open trophy at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne
 
 Pictures courtesy:  Ben Solomon/Tennis Australia and Australian Open site...
 Also thanks to the live telecast provided by ESPN throughout the tournament.


The last five grand slam women's title has produced five different winners and four of them being first time grand slam winners

Lets hope the new world number 1 Victoria Azarenka plays more awesome tennis to retain her no.1 position. Its gonna be an interesting year for the Women's tennis.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Giant killer Ekaterina Makarova stuns Serena Williams

Russia's Ekaterina Makarova is the giant killer at the Australian Open 2012 Grand Slam tournament . After knocking out Kaia Kanepi and Vera Zvonareva in the previous rounds, the unseeded Russian has upset five-time champion Serena Williams in straight sets to reach her first quarterfinals at the Australian Open.

Russian Ekaterina Makarova sutns Serena Williams in Australian Open 2012 Grand slam tournament
Pic courtesy: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Makarova didn't give Serena Williams of US any chance to recover as she completed an easy 6-2, 6-3 victory over Serena.

I think she played really well,” Serena Williams said in the post match press conference. “She went for broke on a lot of her shots. I made 37 errors. That kind of tells the story of the match.

Makarova will play compatriot Maria Sharapova in the last 8 round. The No. 4-ranked Sharapova came from a set behind to beat No. 14 Sabine Lisicki 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 at the Rod Laver Arena on Monday night.

Pictures of Ekaterina Makarova beating Serena Williams in the fourth round of Australian Open in Melbourne.

Russian Makarova smiles after she beats former champion Serena Williams
Pic courtesy: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images


Ekaterina Makarova or Steffi Graf??? Is it me or does any one think that Makarova resembles Steffi Graf, one of the greatest women's tennis player?
 Pic courtesy: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images


Lefthanded Russian Makarova plays a forehand shot against Serena Williams whom she beat in straight sets
Pic courtesy: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images


Ekaterina Makarova serving during her match with American Serena Williams which she won easily
Pic courtesy: Clive Brunskill/Getty


Giant killer Ekaterina Makarova of Russia in joy after beating Serena Williams to reach her first quarterfinals of the Australian Open Grand slam
Pic courtesy: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images


Giant Killer Makarova enjoys her victory over Serena Williams at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne
 Pic courtesy: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images


Ekaterina Makarova of Russia - The Giant Killer at the Australian Open 2012 Grand Slams
Pic courtesy: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Lets see how far Makarova goes in the Australian Open and if the giant killer could beats Sharapova in the quarterfinals of Australian Open. Will see soon...