Australian Open: The Dark Knight vs the D’joker - Who will have the first laugh?

The most promising metaphor of hope is a bright beginning; none more justified, as with the artistic realms of life like sport. Every fresh season is a time for new dawn. It’s the start of a fresh adventure; a new battle for supremacy against old rivals, a new chapter of glory for the gifted. It might be virgin silverware or simply more success to existing dungeons of stashed away glory. For some, it might be that final attempt at scaling that elusive peak. For some, it might be just about retrieving the throne. For some, it could even be an unrelenting obsession with their crown. Either ways, in optimism or pain, to all alike, it’s a new chapter that has to be written, bidding adieu to the bygone past.

Indeed, the nights of a glittering ‘Melbourne park’ are the befitting settings to welcome this new dawn!

An archaic monumental museum with priceless humane memories upon its synthetic turf, it’s an annual exhibition of myth where the legends come alive. Going into its 108^th year, though christened Australian Open only in 1969, there have been humongous numbers of stirring memories upon this elegant court.

It’s Roy Emerson’s favourite home, with 6 titles turning insignificant before a mystic Margaret Count’s 11. A revitalized Agassi’s second home. The very same historic turf where Roger forced us to believe his mortality in tears, failing yet again against his nemesis and yet, confirming his legend the next year by picking his 16^th title! A little known Baghdatis wonder that surprised us all the way to the finals with a set of audacious slices. A lean youngster earning his 1^st slam in 2008, which was treated as an aberration until the surcharged night of ‘11 that announced the return of an awakened tireless machine – Novak Djokovic, picking his 2^nd slam. And finally, the marathon classic last year, voted as the best match of 2012, that saw the D’joker court victory in the longest final in grand slam history.

It’s indeed the perfect battleground where everybody arrives fresh off a break, with charged bodies and relaxed minds, treating us to some of the most unforgettable marathon classics.

There are quite a few like Ferrer or Tsonga, who will have to strive a little harder and go that extra distance to prove they are up and ready to be counted among the winners at slams and not just competitors completing the draws. Yet another exclusive league involves the likes of Murray and Del potro who have to rid themselves of a burden called ‘one-slam wonders!’

Though many might would like to believe that Murray has come of age, I’d still not put him in the same bracket as the top two in the absence of Nadal. I’d rather evaluate his material at the end of a year’s winning habit than his first brush with success.

Thus, for now, it’s all about the game between the two unique and celebrated legends of the circuit.

ROGER FEDERER

For a legend like Roger, it shall perhaps be all about returning to his second favourite hunting ground to prove, if anything, that there is only time to be mastered. Having reached that stage of life where every victory is history, critics seem more interested about his retirement than the performance. He will still be striving for his deserved throne which essentially means that he will need to go that extra yard to remind these mortals that he still remains an enigma.

At 30, he will probably need to strive harder in practice to appear on court with his sizzling forehands that retain their accuracy amidst their charm. But in our fanaticism, ‘demanding’ a slam would be pure greed after seeing his tally at 17. Although, seeing his passion and commitment, a couple could be due before he hangs his boots. Maybe it’s a time when we should be celebrating his game, keeping aside his records. Although the absence of his nemesis Nadal might just be a welcome booster for this ageing knight going into the Australian Open, starting next Monday.

Calling it his greed to hang in there would be a folly, because even today, a grand slam win by beating Federer is the ultimate test of deserved glory. Probably, if anything, a grand slam in his era would mean that you break into a league that is respected for earning a win!

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

At 25, with age, ability and the tide on his side, here is finally a player who could attempt to replicate the minor aura of the great Roy Emerson’s feat of 5 consecutive Australian Open titles. Novak is perhaps the first player post-1968, who is capable of capturing a hat-trick at Melbourne, if his form is an indication. Although, we are yet to applaud a hat-trick in his 8 attempts here, which excludes Novak from some of the game’s all-time greats.

Arguably, he is the favourite to pick the crown, coming in from a fantastic late 2012 season. Though the break might have been a welcome respite for most due to the fear of the red-hot zone he was moving into. With a much deserved break, fresh strategies and fitter bodies, Djokovic will have to battle more than just the player’s game. But he’s no stranger to that either!

He too will be encouraged by Nadal’s absence that promises to bring him at least 2 hours closer his 6^th slam, although he would still be wary of Murray and Federer, in that order.

The hope is of course a final between the aforementioned duo which should be another cracker of a contest. In a world of emotional films, the ending demanded from a script would be the dark knight’s victory over the d’joker. But, as for this real world’s equivalent, we will have to wait a watch.

All in all, it promises to be yet another exciting two weeks of tennis ahead. For the Nadal fans, it’ll be yet another uneventful grand slam. But on a positive note, they’d be more open to support Federer now.

It’s time to sit back, pull together the sofas and welcome old friends to home for a midnight special over a gulp of lays and coffee. A time for fanatic support and loyal debates till the last point is won.

Irrespective of who take the slam in two weeks’ time, we would have added another slice of memories to our new chapter. And hopefully, found another shining star on these dark nights at Melbourne.