An Australian Open where dreams came true

Dominika Cibulkova

“I’m playing my first final, so that’s something beautiful – it’s like a dream – so I will just go out there and play my best.” – Dominika Cibulkova before the ladies singles final.

This has been an Australian Open to remember, a Slam where sheer perseverance was rewarded, self-belief was reinstated and dreams came true for many. From the first day, when Petra Kvitova was unbelievably knocked out, till the last, when Stanislas Wawrinka reigned supreme, the Australian Open kept up its flavor for upsets, surprises and seismic shocks.

And through everything, the year’s first Slam has been an incredibly inspiring story for the underdogs. For years they have been battered and bruised by the established brigade, but now it’s their moment to rise and shine and validate that they are here to fight equally and have their fair share of glory.

Wawrinka’s maiden Grand Slam victory is a powerful testament of the virtue of never giving up. Tattooed with the golden words, “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better”, the Swiss produced an incredible fortnight at Melbourne Park that is truly an amazing reward for his self-confidence.

For him to come out of his illustrious compatriot Roger Federer’s shadow and win a Slam after being at the wrong end of two heart-wrenching defeats to Novak Djokovic last year, is as morale-boosting and feel-good as anything could get. And to pierce through the impervious barrier of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal en route to a Slam triumph is perhaps a path-breaking signal to many out there who can still dream of winning a Slam in this era.

This has been a Slam of proving others wrong. Ask Dominika Cibulkova. “Since I was a little kid, you know, I was told I was too small,” the 5’3″ Cibulkova said. By reaching the final, she proved to many that it’s not the height that matters but the size of the fight. For two weeks the Slovakian thrived on oodles of energy and vigour, and her shouts of ‘Pome’ reverberated throughout Melbourne Park as she thundered through the draw.

She may have stumbled at the final hurdle, but not before creating history as the first player from her country to reach a major singles final. If you desire something with all your heart and work selflessly towards it you are bound to get it, and Dominika knew that very well – “It’s more that you have to really want something and believe in it. There’s nothing more important than that commitment.”

And with the right commitment, you will reach your goal one day no matter how many times you have failed before. Li Na, who had been agonizingly close to capturing the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup twice before, had vowed to keep on trying until she got it. Last year, tennis aficionados had to painfully watch Li Na hitting her head on the court but that didn’t deter the former French Open champion. She kept expressing her desire of adding one more Slam to her kitty and to get to the top 3 in the rankings, and today she has done both!

For so many this has been a surreal fortnight, for so many this Australian Open has been a journey to never forget. Very much a pastiche of 2013 Wimbledon, the 2014 Australian Open breathed new life and variety into the tennis world.

It taught Agnieszka Radwanska to believe in herself once again. She is a sorceress who ensnares her opponents into a magical labyrinth, but time and again she would fail to do that against the powerful Victoria Azarenka. After seven straight losses, the Pole produced something extraordinary to finally get the better of the Belarusian. It was a performance that captivated every tennis fan and left them spellbound.

For Ana Ivanovic, this was an opportunity to make a statement and silence her critics and cynics forever. Not many had given her a realistic chance against the imperious Serena Williams. A set from Serena would be a generous gift, but winning a whole match against her was surely a distant dream, especially for a player whose mental fortitude was always questioned.

But Ana looked astonishingly tranquil and calm, and embraced the moment positively. And her attitude instilled hope in her supporters who, for years, had to bear with the Serb’s inability to deliver.

Good things happen to those who wait patiently. Look at the glittering example of doubles expert Robert Lindstedt and his heartfelt emotional display after finally making the Grand Slam breakthrough.

The Swede had to bear the excruciating pain of losing three consecutive Wimbledon men’s doubles finals, with the last loss forcing him to smash his racquets. But he still kept pushing for that elusive Slam, and today he can smile as his dream has eventually come true – “So it’s a childhood dream come true, and I’m probably not going to believe it until I finish my career.”

Youngsters Eugenie Bouchard and Grigor Dimitrov had arrived in Melbourne with dreams in their eyes and enviable talent at their disposal. For the Bulgarian it was a challenge to come out of the shadow of the Swiss legend he is constantly compared with, and establish his own image. Reaching the quarter-finals instilled him with the conviction that he fight out there with the big guys and still have this place.

For the bubbly Bouchard who made it as far as the semi-finals, it was her remarkable poise and attitude on the court that made her a standout. Canada can definitely dream of having a top-10 WTA player sometime in the near future.

For every Petra Kvitova that fell, a Luksika Kumkhum or a Belinda Bencic rose with a dazzling promise for the future. For every Lleyton Hewitt heartbreak, there arose a Nick Kyrgios and a Thanasi Kokkinakis who can lead the way forward.

The 2014 Australian Open was the dreamer’s paradise; it made winners out of losers.

Stephane Robert couldn’t even grab a place in the qualifying but destiny provided him with a second chance and he left Melbourne Park with a purse of $135,000.

The French lucky loser, whose only notable achievement so far had been an upset victory over Tomas Berdych at 2011 Roland Garros, charmed us with his run to the fourth round. That was a stark contrast to last year when the journeyman had gone backpacking in Australia after losing in the qualifying, and opted to stay in youth hostels as he played in Challenger events.

These memorable two weeks made heroes out of virtual nobodies and rewarded the brave. We witnessed the triumph of grit and determination from many. How can we forget the courageous man called Ross Hutchins? A year ago, he was lying in hospital bed after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. But the man defeated it and is now back playing in a Grand Slam, and he even won a round with Colin Fleming. That itself tells us how much of a winner he is.

This is what we wait for in sport – to get astounded by acts of courage, to get amazed by the indomitable spirit and unwavering willpower of these heroes and to be one with them when their dreams come true. The 2014 Australian Open provided countless such moments and brought to the fore numerous such winners. We, as sports fans, can only be proud to have witnessed them.