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Australian OpenNominated by Claudia Celestial GirlZzzzztahhhhhhthddd. That’s the sound of a moth expiring on the 140 degree Plexicushion surface that constitutes the “field” for this tournament.This year, it was all about Andy Murray He thumped Rafael Nadal in Abu Dhabi. He trounced Roger Federer in Doha (where Nadal was slammed by Gael Monfils) It was his time.He had the game. He had the tricky, feinting strategy that left his opponents perplexed and confused He was the odds-on favorite. He couldn’t lose.Zzzzztahhhhhhthddd.Was it to be Dinara or Ana or Jelena They all rotated into the No.

1 position at one time or another during the previous four months.Wait, what’s that sound again Who knew moths made so much noiseVictoria Azarenka threw up and had to retire. (OK, it was 140 degrees out there).Fitness! You gotta have it, or you are not going to survive the Australian Open.Novak Djokovic disparaged against Roddick at the previous U.S Open. Now, against Andy, Novak called the trainer twice, and finally shook Andy’s hand after two sets, while Roddickleaped out of his chair, jogged in place, and wore a nonchalant expression that said “what’s the problem here”Likewise Monfils, with a hand injury.Zzzzztahhhhhhthddd.It’s not the sound of moths expiring, it’s the sound of a juggernaut approaching in the distance.Fernando Verdasco had a lot of talent, so the saying went Showed a lot of promise Had a lot of potential Won the Davis Cup the month before. Bookmakers didn’t give him much of a chance against Murray.Andy won the first set handily but then, like a tanker in the ocean changing its bearing, Verdasco began to roll with pinpointingly accurate first serves, blistering forehands, and suddenly Andy’s strategic acumen seemed to evaporate like drops of sweat from his forehead.By the fourth set it was clear the juggernaut was gaining, and (from his facial expression) Andy couldn’t believe he was losing. 2–6, 6–1, 1–6, 6–3, 6–4.Zzzzztahhhhhhthddd.Serena Williams hardly seemed like a juggernaut. She could be dangerous in the Slams, but she was inconsistent. With a lucky moment against Azarenka, who didn’t have the fitness to survive the arena, Serena’s competitive wheels went into high gear as if the Australian Open was a Plexicushion furnace.Quarterfinals, and it looked like Verdasco was going to meet his match in 2008 A.O.

1 Nadal, against whom Verdasco had never won a match: against whom Verdasco had lost 1-0-2 in the 2008 French Open.It’s hard to get beyond 1-0-2. Unless you are a juggernaut with Gilley, and Andre, Darren and Vincente behind you Belief. Those guys from Las Vegas help the good ones find the center: 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-7(2), 7-6(1), 4-6, the longest match in Australian Open history, lasting 5 hours, 14 minutes.Characterized by strong serving while cramping (that fitness thing again), and forehands that took the opponent by surprise.Roger that. Roger dismantled Roddick in straight sets, racking up yet another of his embarrassing 18-2 wins in his head-to-head with the American: wrong footing Andy and making him look like an amateur. Serena collected major title number 10.Then it was time for a classic Yet another instalment of Roger against Rafa What nobody expected at the outset.

Rafa in the finals of a hard-court major What was the likelihood that he could actually win Especially after that scintillating, sizzling semifinal, a once-in-a-20-year match against Verdasco.“The history books are before me,” said Roger. “It should be interesting.”Fitness, said the Plexicushion to the flesh and blood A Roger and Rafa classic will involve fitness It will involve concentration It will involve focus. It will involve outrageous gets from outrageous positions.Forehands around the net-post. Points that should have been won with the first winner, but that come back. A Roger and Rafa classic will involves somebody trying to break the other, and not succeeding. French OpenNominated by Marianne BevisThere is a certain je ne sais quoi about Roland Garros. Venus Williams reached the finals in 2002 where she fell to sister Serena and had reached the quarterfinals four times since.Then there was top seed Dinara Safina with something to prove Could she truly be a world No.