The 2012 Australian Open has ended. While singles matches were highly visible with high profile ATP and WTA players, there were many other hard-fought matches and deserving champions.

Australian Open 2012 Men’s Championship Winner

Novak Djokovic (SRB) defeated Rafael Nadal (ESP) in a marathon match by 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 75

Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal to win Australian Open 2012 Men's Championship

The big four, Djokovic (1), Nadal (2), Federer (3) and Murray (4) swept through the quarterfinals and set the stage for two great semifinals.  Djokovic needed almost five hours to end Murray’s bid.  Nadal downed Federer in straight sets. In the quarters, Federer had convincingly ripped through Del Potro like a knife through butter.  In the finals, Djokovic defeated Nadal in a spectacular five-hour 55-minute set whose outcome was in doubt until the last ball was struck.  A spectacular win against a dynamic opponent.  Djokovic claimed his third Australian Open title.

Australian Open 2012 Women’s Championship Winner

Victoria Azarenka’s first Grand Slam Title

Victoria Azarenka (BLR)  defeated Maria Sharapova (RUS) by 6-2, 6-0

Victoria Azarenka Wins Australian Open 2012 Women's Title

Victoria Azarenka (3) downed Kim Clijsters (11) in a stirring semifinal win while Maria Sharapova (4) upset Petra Kvitova (2) to become the betting favorite is an excellent draw. The winner of the finals would not only win the 2012 Australian Open, but would also assume the WTA’s top ranking.  In her first Grand Slam final, Azarenka was not to be denied.  The native of Belarus overpowered Sharapova in every aspect o the game and disposed of the former number one 6-3, 6-0.  The field was the strongest in may years and points to a most interesting season dominated by the 24 and under power tennis players.

Australian Open 2012 Men’s Doubles Championship Winners

Leander Paes (IND) and Radek Stepanek (CZE)  defeated Bryan Brothers - Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan (USA) by 7-6, 6-2

Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek (right) defeated Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan (left) to win Australian Open 2012 Men's Doubles Championship

Unseeded veterans Leander Paes of India and Czech Radek Stepanek played through the draw leaving a wake of favorites in their path.  In the semifinals, Paes – Stepanek downed second seeds Max Mirnyl and Daniel Nestor 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. In the second semifinal, the world’s best men’s doubles tem Bob and Mike Bryan came back against the 7 seeds Robert Lindtsedt and Horia Terau 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5).  Continuing their upset run, Paes and Stepanek outplayed the Bryan brothers, 7-6, 6-2, to claim their first Grand Slam doubles title.

Australian Open 2012 Women’s Doubles Winners

Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva defeated Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci to win Australian Open 2012 Womens Doubles Championship

In two three set semifinals, 11^th seeds Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci of Italy overcame Czech 7^th seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 5-7, 7-5, 6-1.  In the lower bracket semi, former number one Svetlana Kuznetsova and former number two, Vera Zvonareva downed stubborn Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina, the 6 seeds, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-4.  The Russian legends needed all of three sets to outgun the Italians 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.  The women’s doubles ended a great fortnight for Mirza and Errani who surpassed all expectations in the singles

Australian Open 2012 Mixed Doubles Winners

Bethanie Mattek Sands (USA) and Horia Tecau (ROU) defeated Elena Vesnina (RUS) and Leander Paes (IND) by 6-3, 7-5 (10-3)

Bethanie Mattek Sands and Horia Tecau (right) defeated Elena Vesnina and Leander Paes(left) to Win Australian Open 2012 Mixed Doubles Championship

Unseeded Italians Roberta Vinci and Daniele Bracciali fell short against 5th seeded Elena Vesnina and Leander Paes 7-5, 6-2, 10-7 in one semifinal while 6^th seeds Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhipathi, former champions, were upset by 8 seeds Bathanie Mattek-Sands and Horia Tecau 6-3, 6-3.  In the finals, Mattek-Sands and Tecau championed Vesnina and Paes 3-6, 7-5, 10-3.  For Vesnina Mirza and Tecau, the Australian Open was especially rewarding as the world’s finest mixed doubles players prepared for the Olympics.

Australian Open 2012 Junior Boys’ Singles Winner

Luke Saville (AUS) defeated Filip Peliwo (CAN) by 6-3, 5-7, 6-4

Luke Saville defeated Filip Peliwo to Win Australian Open 2012 Junior Boys' Singles Championship

Four nations were represented in the Junior Boys semifinals.  Top seed, Australian Luke Saville, ousted Czech 10 seed Adam Paylasek in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.  Unseeded Filip Peliwo of Canada set up a match with the top seed by downing unseeded American MacKenzie 6-4, 6-4.  To the delight of Tennis Australia, Saville joins Bernard Tomic as the future heirs to the country’s long tennis history by staking a three set win over the Canadian 6-3,5-7, 6-4.

Australian Open 2012 Junior Girls’ Singles Winner

Taylor Townsend (USA) defeated Yulia Putintseva (RUS) by 6-1, 3-6, 6-3

Taylor Townsend defeated Yulia Putintseva to Win Australian Open 2012 Junior Girls' Singles Championship

14^th seeded American Taylor Townsend downed unseeded American Krista Hardebeck in a tight semifinal match 7-6 (3), 6-4.  Russia’s 4^th seed, Yulia Putintseva, upset Canada’s 2^nd seed Eugenie Bouchard 7-5, 6-1.  Townsend sealed her unlikely run with a tense 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win in the finals.

Australian Open 2012 Junior Boys’ Doubles Winners

Liam Broady (GBR) and Joshua Ward-Hibbert (GBR) defeated Adam Pavlasek (CZE) and Filip Veger (CRO) by 6-3, 6-2

Liam Broady and Joshua Ward Hibbert defeated Adam Pavlasek and Filip Veger to Win Australian Open 2012 Boys Doubles Title

In the Boys Doubles semis, Czech Filip Veger and Croatian Adam Pavlasek defeated France’s Alexandr Favrot and Quentin Halys 6-4, 6-2 and Australia’s 4^th seeds Andrew Harris and Nick Kyrgios were upset by Great Britain’s sixth seeded entry of Liam Broady and Joshua Ward-Hibbert 6-4, 4-6, 10-6.  The Brits emerged victorious with a decisive 6-3, 6-2 triumph.

Australian Open 2012 Junior Girls’ Doubles Winners

Gabrielle Andrews (USA) and Taylor Townsend (USA) defeated Irina Khromacheva (RUS) and Danka Kovinic (MNE) by 5-7, 7-5, [10]-[6]

Gabrielle Andrews and Taylor Townsend defeated Irina Khromacheva and Danka Kovinic to Win Australian Open 2012 Girls Doubles Title

In one semifinal, top seeded Irina Khromacheva and Danka Kovinic methodically dismissed 3rd seeds Ilka Csoregi and Elizaveta Kuichkoya 6-3, 6-4. Unseeded Gabrielle Andrews and Taylor Townsend from the USA downed another unseeded team of Rutuja and Aldila Sutjialdi 6-3, 6-1. In a brilliant final match, the Americans won the Junior Girls title 5-7, 7-5, 10–6. For Townsend, who won the singles, the 2012 Australian Open will be an unforgettable event that well could signal to revival of American women’s tennis.

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