Top 5 matches of the 2014 Australian Open

Among the surprise winners, major upsets, scorching heat and inspirational stories, the Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific has given us a lot of memorable matches to reminisce about. Not many expected the dominating Serena Williams to crash out so early in the tournament, or defending champion Novak Djokovic to lose in the quarter-finals. However, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year has thrown various surprises in our way, and many players who emerged victorious now seek to enter the fray. We look back at the top 5 encounters of this year’s Australian Open:

Maria Sharapova of Russia against Karin Knapp

5. Maria Sharapova’s 2nd round win over Karin Knapp

Third seed Maria Sharapova battled the heat and a stern challenge from Italy’s Karin Knapp to win 6-3 4-6 10-8 in a gripping second round encounter that lasted over three hours. Sharapova was made to sweat in conditions that were later deemed unplayable, and she made a flurry or errors to lose the second set to Knapp, sending the second-round match into a decider.

In the third set, the Russian failed to convert match points at 5-4, and finally broke in the 17th game of the set to take the lead and serve for the match. “There is no way of getting around the fact that the conditions were extremely difficult, and have been for the last few days,” said Maria, after surviving the scare.

Not many expected the Russian to be stretched so far at such an early stage, but this match turned out to become one of the most exciting matches of the first week.

Juan Martin del Potro

4. Roberto Bautista Agut’s upset win over Juan Martin del Potro in the 2nd round

Another second-round encounter that was packed with action was Roberto Bautista Agut’s victory over Juan Martin del Potro. Much was being made of a potential Nadal-del Potro quarterfinal match-up, but the Argentine fell 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 to the big-serving Spaniard who registered one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

Del Potro had entered the tournament on the back of a win over Bernard Tomic in the final at Sydney. The former USO champion was also the only player to have beaten each member of the Big Four – Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray – in 2013. But Bautista-Agut proved to be too tough a competitor on the day, as he broke through del Potro’s defences and powered thumping returns en route to his win over the Tower of Tandil. The World No. 62 displayed outstanding tennis, grit and determination to send del Potro packing.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 16: Benoit Paire of France hugs Nick Kyrgios of Australia after winning their second round match

3. Nick Kyrgios vs Benoit Paire in the 2nd round

In one of the most gruelling encounters of this year’s Open, Frenchman Benoit Paire beat Nick Kyrgios in five tough sets to advance to Round 3. The Frenchman squandered set points in the first set and soon found himself two sets to love down. However, amidst long rallies and powerful winners, Paire displayed glimpses of breathtaking tennis to win the third set.

The 18-year-old Kyrgios found himself cramping in the fourth, and fatigue got the better of him as he produced a string of errors to force the match into the deciding set. The match proved to be an exciting contest between the local teenager and France’s upcoming talent, both of whom showed great promise for the futue.

Paire ultimately staged a dramatic fightback to beat Australia’s last man standing in front of a vociferous crowd at the Margaret Court Arena, in a match that went past midnight.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 21: Eugenie Bouchard of Canada serves in her quarterfinal match against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia

2. Eugenie Bouchard beats Ana Ivanovic in the quarterfinals

Canada’s rising star Eugenie Bouchard outclassed Serena Williams’s conqueror, the Serbian Ana Ivanovic, in three sets, to become the first Canadian woman to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam event.

The WTA Newcomer of the Year 2013 continued her dream run and won the battle between the two beauties, in a repeat of their Wimbledon 2012 meeting. Ivanovic ran out of steam and lost 7-5, 5-7, 2-6 in the match.

“She’s definitely brave. She’s young and has nothing to lose. I think she’s a very great player with a bright future,” Ivanovic said of her opponent.

Eugenie, meanwhile, a huge hit among local fans and her “Genie-Army”, continues to impress on the court, and also off it.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 21: Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland is hugged by Novak Djokovic of Serbia after winning their quarterfinal match during the 2014 Australian Open

1. Stanislas Wawrinka’s triumph over Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinal

Stanislas Wawrinka dethroned the defending champion in what was, undoubtedly, the best match of the tournament, to advance to the semi-finals.

The Swiss had faced an upsetting loss to Novak in five tough sets in the fourth-round last year, and came close to beating him once again at the USO. Wawrinka has Samuel Beckett’s inspiring words engraved upon his forearm, which read, “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” Only this time, the Swiss was not destined to fail. He rose to the occasion, and brushed quelled the challenge from the Serbian, producing the most beautiful backhand winners that kept Djokovic at bay.

Wawrinka came up with strong first serves and powerful aces, and Djokovic failed to find his footing in the match which ended his hopes of a fourth consecutive title. The match marked the emergence of the “Stanimal”, and Melbourne witnessed a new champion in the making.