Federer, Wozniacki Crowned Australian Open Champions

January 29, 2018 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Federer (2)

 

The 2018 Australian Open came to a close this weekend with two edge-of-your-seat men’s and women’s singles finals as each went the distance, with one player claiming his 20th Grand Slam title, and another winning her first.

On Saturday, Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki captured the first major title of her fantastic career with a thrilling 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4 victory over top-seed Simona Halep of Romania.

“I think last year, already for a year and a half, I’ve proved that I can beat anyone out there on court,” said Wozniacki. “When you’re in the finals, I’m not going to lie, I was really nervous before going out there on court, but once I kind of settled in and we had the warm up, I thought: “I have everything to win.’”

Wozniacki and Halep were both competing in their third Grand Slam final but their first in Melbourne.

After the two traded sets, the final would head into a deciding third set to crown a champion. Halep held a 4-3 lead on her own serve in that final set, but it was Wozniacki who held her nerve. She broke to bring the set to 4-4, and after holding her serve, broke once more to close out the match and win the title.

“It was such a tough grind,” said Wozniacki. “It was very hot out there. I think both of us were very tired in the end. At the same time we fought our hardest, and I’m very proud to be here with the trophy.”

Wozniacki will take over the No. 1 ranking in the world.

While Wozniacki won her first major title, Roger Federer held off Marin Cilic to win his 20th. In a rematch of last year’s Wimbledon final, Federer outlasted the former U.S. Open champ 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in Melbourne on Sunday.

“I’m so happy, it’s unbelievable,” said Federer, who was holding back tears during the trophy celebration. “It’s been a long time waiting for this final. It’s easier in the afternoon, but when it’s at night, you think about it all day. I’m happy it’s over now. It’s a dream come true and the fairy-tale continues. After the year I had last year, it’s incredible.”

After Cilic won the fourth set to force the decider, it seemed that the momentum was on his side. But Federer saved two break points in the opening game of the deciding set, and then after breaking Cilic, held once more to open up a 3-0 lead and squash any momentum Cilic may have had.

A few games later and Federer saw his lead balloon to 5-1, before he closed things out in the seventh game.

“[I was] just really trying to get back to winning a game again,” Federer said of starting the fifth set. “So for me it was really just trying to break his momentum. [I] tried to serve well. [I] tried to get lucky a little bit. I think I was able to get that first game, at least get on the board. From then on, maybe momentum shifts a little bit, and it’s exactly what happened. I think experience helped me there a little bit, and also a little bit of luck. I felt like I needed a little bit tonight.”

 

 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
USTA NTC

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