A Grand Slam that will be remembered for long

An Australian Open like no other began in controversy with the deportation of Novak Djokovic but culminated in one of the greatest comebacks in tennis history by Rafael Nadal on Sunday.

Throw in Ashleigh Barty becoming the first home winner for 44 years, and local heroes Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis winning the men’s doubles, this was a Grand Slam that will live long in the memory for myriad reasons.

Early chaos

After the chaos that preceded the tournament, Tennis Australia couldn’t have dreamt of a happier ending — and it was one they desperately needed, after a competition riddled with unforced errors on the organisers’ parts. It began with the spectacle of the nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic being detained in a notorious immigration hotel, suffering multiple court cases and eventual deportation — shocking no matter which side you sit in the CŌVID-19 vaccination debate.

When the first serve at Melbourne Park was struck on January 17, the World No. 1 was in a Dubai airport transit lounge waiting for his connecting flight home to Belgrade.

It wasn’t just the Djokovic saga that cast a shadow over the first Grand Slam tournament of 2022.

Tennis Australia also had to make a hasty and embarrassing U-turn after instructing staff to prevent spectators wearing “Where is Peng Shuai?” T-shirts to highlight concern for the Chinese player.

Tennis Australia also had to justify a largely voluntary testing protocol that came in for criticism from some players, notably World No.3 Alexander Zverev.

They may count themselves extremely lucky that there were only a handful of virus cases.

It will no doubt bask in the glory of their two historic champions, Nadal and Barty.

Tournament director Craig Tiley was beaming through his mask during the presentation ceremonies.

But as a central figure in the pre-tournament chaos he, or his successor, must make sure the extraordinary scenes in the run-up to the tournament are never repeated.

Pro-Nadal

In the final, booing and screaming between serves to try to put off Daniil Medvedev made Rod Laver Arena seem more like Madrid during a Davis Cup tie — a feverishly pro-Nadal cauldron.

But in the end, the abiding memory will be of Nadal’s monumental achievement in winning that unprecedented 21st Grand Slam after an astonishing final lasting 5hr 24min.

When he touched down in Melbourne, the 35-year-old had played no competitive tennis since early August because of a chronic foot injury.

Eleven unbeaten matches later he has two more tournament wins and has moved ahead of Djokovic and Roger Federer as the all-time men’s Grand Slam leader.