- Excitement and disappointment took over Rod Laver Arena in equal measure
- Some players made a name for themselves
- Others let down their fans
Adrenaline shot high, so did expectations and disappointments all setting the Australian Open 2024 highlights.
Excitement and disappointment took over Rod Laver Arena in equal measure. It was the most interesting opening grand slam of the year. Some players made a name for themselves and they are now more popular than they were before the event. But what really went down in Melbourne?
Australian Open 2024 Highlights
Here are the main highlights of the Australian Open.
Unseeded Linda Nosková Surprises Iga Swiatek
Linda Noskova. Photo/Sky Sports
Linda Nosková pulled a big surprise that no one ever saw coming and it is by far the greatest moment of her thriving career. Her debut performance at the Rod Laver Arena made her name stirs some curiosity. She defeated world No. 1 Iga Świątek 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the third round while she progressed to the fourth round.
Never has she ever thought that she would one day thrash the world No. 1 player and cut short her journey for a fifth Grand Slam.
“I knew it’s going to be an amazing match. I don’t really think it would end up like this but I’m just glad to make it through another round,” Noskova stated after the match.
Nosková, who is 19 years old, is among the greatest teens in the world and the top-ranked player among the new generation of Czech tennis players. Nosková overwhelmed Swiatek with her powerful and weighty serves beyond the baseline.
Her ball-striking skills and a strong backhand weakened Swiatek and she eventually flew back home crestfallen. Nevertheless, her loss topped Australian Open 2024 highlights.
She dominated 35 games and served exceptionally well, especially in the decisive game. The Czech clinched the match with an unreturnable serve, gritting her teeth and thundering back. Then, overcome with her accomplishment, she collapsed into her seat and covered her face with a towel and took a minute to enjoy the feat.
Jannik Sinner Defeats Novak Djokovic
Jannik Sinner with the Australian Open trophy. Photo/Fox Sports
The Italian tennis player is the man of the moment for beating two seasoned tennis players. Sinner, 22 is currently ranked at world No. 4 but he took out tennis G.O.A.T Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
A lot of bets were on the Serbian given his winning streak since the tournament began and his zeal to win another grand slam title. He has 10 Australian Open wins and 24 grand slams in total but it is Sinner who wiped off his dream for an 11th tile in Melbourne.
Sinner didn’t stop at Djokovic’s doorstep; he extended it to Daniil Medvedev in a five-set final match played on Sunday. While Russian soaked in the glory of winning the first two sets, Sinner was all along strategizing. And when they returned for the third set, he nailed Medvedev down in three sets.
His fatigue cost him victory in his third grand slam final.
Zheng Qinwen
Zheng Qinwen at the Australian Open. Photo/Indian Today
Zheng Qinwen impressed with her performance in Melbourne. It was her first grand slam final in years. The Chinese had never made it past the last eight of any major tournament.
However, she sailed to the top and had her day with fate at Rod Laver Arena where she played against Aryna Sabalenka. Despite not being lucky, she moved from world No. 12 to world No. 7 following her success in Melbourne. She is rightfully on the Australian Open 2024 highlights list.
Lesia Tsurenko – Aryna Sabalenka Handshake Saga
The drama surrounding Aryna Sabalenka and Lesia Tsurenko’s unwillingness to shake hands isn’t going to finish with one more scene at the Australian Open in 2024.
In her third-round encounter on Friday in Melbourne, Sabalenka faced Tsurenko once more and created a commotion. Not only is she defending her Australian Open title, but there is also a growing “animosity” stoked by Tsurenko.
Sabalenka remained unbothered by everything and thrashed her in straight sets 6-0 6-0 in just 52 minutes. It was one of the most intriguing matches at Rod Laver Arena.
Naomi Osaka Early Exit
Naomi Osaka. Photo/Firstpost
Martina Navratilova, a former Grand Slam champion criticized Naomi Osaka for leaving the Australian Open earlier than she had arrived. Navratilova gave Osaka a “C” for performance, noting that her overconfidence let her fans down.
She claimed that by going back to the court before getting in decent shape, the Japanese celebrity failed in her attempt to regain her dwindling fame.
Osaka fell to Caroline Garcia 6-4, 7-6(2) in the opening round of the Australian Open in 2024. She left the competition in the first round, just as her followers were beginning to have hope in her.
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