Aussie Open Gets a New Wawrinkle

Photo Credit: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/australianopen/10598074

The Swiss are no strangers to winning Grand Slam tennis events thanks to Roger Federer, but few could have predicted that Stanislas Wawrinka would walk away as your 2014 Australian Open Champion. The 28 year old Wawrinka had played in just one Grand Slam SEMI-final before this year, yet still pulled off a stunning upset defeating higher seeds Novak Djokovic, Tomáš Berdych and Rafael Nadal along the way. Here's a look back at the players who ended Wawrinka's previous Grand Slam bids:

Mariano Puerta - Argentina

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2005 French Open - Third Round

Fabrice Santoro - France

Photo Credit: http://tennisconnected.com/home/tag/fabrice-santoro/

2005 Wimbledon - First Round

Nicolás Massú - Chile

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/OUVNYHSH5ms/

2005 U.S. Open - Third Round

David Nalbandian - Argentina

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/9yIgkb1Ymo5/2011+Australian+Open+Day+2

2006 Australian Open - Second Round

2006 French Open - First Round

Mario Ančić - Croatia

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/qAx_s1aCx3K

2006 Wimbledon - Third Round

Tommy Robredo - Spain

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/nZXIodP6iqz/French+Open+Day+6

2006 U.S. Open - Third Round

Rafael Nadal - Spain

Photo Credit: http://www.optimumtennis.net/reverse-forehand-followthrough.htm

2007 Australian Open - Third Round

2013 French Open - Quarterfinals

Ivan Ljubičić - Croatia

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/TpGqa0f64Zs/2011+Australian+Open+Day+1

2007 French Open - Second Round

Michaël Llodra - France

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Michael+Llodra/2011+Australian+Open+Day+2

2007 Wimbledon - First Round

Juan Ignacio Chela - Argentina

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/zm2P136-bGe/2011+French+Open+Day+Seven

2007 U.S. Open - Fourth Round

Marc Gicquel - France

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/Ttiv1SjZu2q

2008 Australian Open - Second Round

Fernando González - Chile

Photo Credit: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-06-02

2008 French Open - Third Round

Marat Safin - Russia

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/1kVW1vDuqm1

2008 Wimbledon - Fourth Round

Andy Murray - Great Britain

Photo Credit: http://www.sportdw.com/2012/10/the-andy-murray-forehand.html

2008 U.S. Open - Fourth Round

2009 Wimbledon - Fourth Round

Tomáš Berdych - Czech Republic

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/zY82tCE156z/

2009 Australian Open - Third Round

Nikolay Davydenko - Russia

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/TpGqa0f64Zs/2011+Australian+Open+Day+1

2009 French Open - Third Round

Nicolás Lapentti - Ecuador

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/jzaps7xBeD1/2010+Australian+Open+Day+1

2009 U.S. Open - First Round

Marin Čilić - Croatia

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/mwa0L0VCrVo/Sydney+International+Day+4/

2010 Australian Open - Third Round

Roger Federer - Switzerland

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/UlnhvxTPQ1O/2009+Australian+Open+Day+14

2010 French Open - Fourth Round

2011 Australian Open - Quarterfinals

2011 French Open - Fourth Round

Denis Istomin - Uzbekistan

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/Gu5JaP0uFcs/2012+Brisbane+International+Day+6

2010 Wimbledon - First Round

Mikhail Youzhny - Russia

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/DTG9G1JL8QM/US+Open+Day+11

2010 U.S. Open - Quarterfinals

Simone Bolelli - Italy

Photo Credit: http://sport.sky.it/sport/tennis/2009/09/07

2011 Wimbledon - Second Round

Donald Young - USA

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/p4xrIeJsCde/2012+Australian+Open+Day+3/

2011 U.S. Open - Second Round

Nicolás Almagro - Spain

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/SLvv2rvqv0l

2012 Australian Open - Third Round

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - France

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/9yIgkb1Ymo5/2011+Australian+Open+Day+2

2012 French Open - Fourth Round

Jürgen Melzer - Austria

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/decUMbacTdh

2012 Wimbledon - First Round

Novak Djokovic - Serbia

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/BOAgMFibeFF/

2012 U.S. Open - Fourth Round

2013 Australian Open - Fourth Round

2013 U.S. Open - Semifinals

Lleyton Hewitt - Australia

Photo Credit: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/pxnWm0Q9Xix/Olympics+Previews+Day+2

2013 Wimbledon - First Round

Azarenka Wins Australian Open

Photo Credit: sfexaminer.com

There's a new number one in women's tennis. Victoria Azarenka, the Belle from Belarus, defeated Maria Sharapova in straight sets today 6-3, 6-0 to win her first Grand Slam title. Azarenka won 12 of the final 13 games after falling behind 2-0 in the first set and has now won 12 straight matches to start the year. Azarenka becomes the first Belarusian, male or female, to win a Grand Slam singles title. Here's a look at her run through the tournament:

1st - Heather Watson (Great Britain) - 6-1, 6-0
2nd - Casey Dellacqua (Australia) - 6-1, 6-0
3rd - Mona Barthel (Germany) - 6-2, 6-4
4th - Iveta Benesova (Czech Rep.) - 6-2, 6-2
QF - (8) Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) - 6-7, 6-0, 6-2
SF - (11) Kim Clijsters (Belgium) - 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
F - (4) Maria Sharapova (Russia) - 6-3, 6-0

With Azarenka's victory, the last 8 Grand Slam singles titles have been won by 7 different women with only Kim Clijsters winning more than once. Francesca Schiavone, Serena Williams, Li Na, Petra Kvitová and Sam Stosur have also won at least one Grand Slam over the past two years.

Australian Open Finals Match-Ups

WOMEN'S

(3) Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) vs (4) Maria Sharapova (Russia)

Photo Credit: chadanielle.wordpress.com

There's more at stake than just the Australian Open title in this matchup as the winner will also take over the WTA #1 ranking. While Sharapova has been there before, Azarenka has never been ranked higher than third. This will be the Belarusian's first Grand Slam singles final, although she has played in three Slam doubles finals. Sharapova, on the other hand, is playing in her 6th Grand Slam Final, but is looking for her first win since the 2008 Australian Open. The two women have faced each other 6 times in their careers with each one winning 3.

How they got here:

Azarenka

1st - Heather Watson (Great Britain) - 6-1, 6-0
2nd - Casey Dellacqua (Australia) - 6-1, 6-0
3rd - Mona Barthel (Germany) - 6-2, 6-4
4th - Iveta Benesova (Czech Rep.) - 6-2, 6-2
QF - (8) Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) - 6-7, 6-0, 6-2
SF - (11) Kim Clijsters (Belgium) - 6-4, 1-6, 6-3

Sharapova

1st - Gisela Dulko (Argentina) - 6-0, 6-1
2nd - Jamie Hampton (USA) - 6-0, 6-1
3rd - (30) Angelique Kerber (Germany) - 6-1, 6-2
4th - (14) Sabine Lisicki (Germany) - 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
QF - Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) - 6-2, 6-3
SF - (2) Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) - 6-2, 3-6, 6-4

MEN'S

(1) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs (2) Rafael Nadal (Spain)

Photo Credit: tennis.fm

The two top men's players in the world will face off for the 30th time in the Australian Open Final. While Nadal owns a 16-13 edge in the series, Djokovic was unbeaten in their 6 matches in 2011 including the Wimbledon and U.S. Open Finals. Nadal has won 10 Grand Slam singles titles in his career, but has only won the Australian Open once, back in 2009. An 11th title will tie Nadal with Björn Borg and Rod Laver for the 4th most all time trailing only Roger Federer (16), Pete Sampras (14) and Roy Emerson (12). Djokovic, meanwhile, will be looking to be the first male to successfully defend his Australian Open title since Roger Federer won in back to back years in 2006 and 2007. Djokovic won 3 of the 4 slams last year and is looking to start 2012 in a similar fashion.

How they got here:

Nadal

1st - Alex Kuznetsov (USA) - 6-4, 6-1, 6-1
2nd - Tommy Haas (Germany) - 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
3rd - Lukas Lacko (Slovakia) - 6-2, 6-4, 6-2
4th - (18) Feliciano Lopez (Spain) - 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
QF - (7) Tomas Berdych (Czech Rep.) - 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-3
SF - (3) Roger Federer (Switzerland) - 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4

Djokovic

1st - Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) - 6-2, 6-0, 6-0
2nd - Santiago Giraldo (Colombia) - 6-3, 6-2, 6-1
3rd - Nicolas Mahut (France) - 6-0, 6-1, 6-1
4th - Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) - 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
QF - (5) David Ferrer (Spain) - 6-4, 7-6, 6-1
SF - (4) Andy Murray (Great Britain) - 6-3, 3-6, 6-7, 6-1, 7-5

Aussie Open - Semifinal Match-Ups

MEN'S

(2) Rafael Nadal (Spain) vs (3) Roger Federer (Switzerland)

Photo Credit: news.sveyo.com

Nadal and Federer will face off for the 27th time when they meet in the Australian Open semifinals. Nadal owns a 17-9 edge in the series including a 5 set win in the 2009 Australian Open Final. 2009 was the only time that Nadal has reached the finals of the Australian Open. It is the only Grand Slam Final in which he hasn't appeared multiple times. Federer is a 4 time winner at the Australian Open (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010) and is in the semifinals of the tournament for the 9th straight year. Federer has not won a Grand Slam event since the 2010 Australian Open. The two players have combined to lose just one set through the first five rounds of the tournament.

How they got here:

Nadal

1st - Alex Kuznetsov (USA) - 6-4, 6-1, 6-1
2nd - Tommy Haas (Germany) - 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
3rd - Lukas Lacko (Slovakia) - 6-2, 6-4, 6-2
4th - (18) Feliciano Lopez (Spain) - 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
QF - (7) Tomas Berdych (Czech Rep.) - 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-3

Federer

1st - Alexander Kudryavtsev (Russia) - 7-5, 6-2, 6-2
2nd - Andreas Beck (Germany) - Walkover
3rd - Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) - 7-6, 7-5, 6-3
4th - Bernard Tomic (Australia) - 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
QF - (11) Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina) - 6-4, 6-3, 6-2

(1) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs (4) Andy Murray (Great Britain)

Photo Credit: tennisgrandstand.com

Djokovic and Murray will meet for the 11th time in a rematch of last year's Australian Open Final. Djokovic won 3 of the 4 Grand Slams last year including the Australian Open and owns a 6-4 advantage in the series although Murray did win the last time out when Djokovic was forced to retire in the second set during the ATP World Tour. Murray, despite being ranked 4th in the world has never won a Grand Slam. He has lost in the Finals 3 times including the last two Australian Opens.


How they got here:

Djokovic

1st - Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) - 6-2, 6-0, 6-0
2nd - Santiago Giraldo (Colombia) - 6-3, 6-2, 6-1
3rd - Nicolas Mahut (France) - 6-0, 6-1, 6-1
4th - Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) - 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
QF - (5) David Ferrer (Spain) - 6-4, 7-6, 6-1

Murray

1st - Ryan Harrison (USA) - 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
2nd - Edouard Roger-Vasselin (France) - 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
3rd - Michael Llodra (France) - 6-4, 6-2, 6-0
4th - Mikhail Kukushkin (Russia) - 6-1, 6-1, 1-0, Retired
QF - (24) Kei Nishikori (Japan) - 6-3, 6-3, 6-1

WOMEN'S

(11) Kim Clijsters (Belgium) vs (3) Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)

Photo Credit: blogs.bettor.com

Clijsters, last year's Australian Open winner, is back in the semifinals after suffering through an injury plagued 2011 that caused her to miss Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. She'll take on the younger Azarenka for the 6th time in her career. Clijsters owns a 4-2 advantage in the series, but Azarenka won in straight sets last time the two played at the WTA Sony Ericsson Open in Miami last March. Azarenka, ranked 3rd in the world, has never advanced to a Grand Slam Final before. This will be her second career Grand Slam semifinal appearance having also played in the 2011 Wimbledon semis. Clijsters is in pursuit of her 8th career Grand Slam title.


How they got here:

Clijsters

1st - Maria Joao Koehler (Portugal) - 7-5, 6-1
2nd - Stephanie Foretz Gacon (France) - 6-0, 6-1
3rd - (20) Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) - 6-3, 6-2
4th - (15) Li Na (China) - 4-6, 7-6, 6-4
QF - (1) Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) - 6-3, 7-6

Azarenka

1st - Heather Watson (Great Britain) - 6-1, 6-0
2nd - Casey Dellacqua (Australia) - 6-1, 6-0
3rd - Mona Barthel (Germany) - 6-2, 6-4
4th - Iveta Benesova (Czech Rep.) - 6-2, 6-2
QF - (8) Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) - 6-7, 6-0, 6-2

(2) Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) vs (4) Maria Sharapova (Russia)

Photo Credit: craighickmanontennis.blogspot.com

This is just the third time that these two players have met including last year's Wimbledon final that Kvitova won in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. Overall Kvitova has won 2 of the 3 meetings. Winner of the 2011 WTA Player of the Year Award, the Most Improved Player and the Czech Athlete of the Year Award, this is the farthest Kvitova has ever advanced at the Australian Open. Sharapova meanwhile won the Australian Open back in 2008, but the 2011 Wimbledon Final is the only Grand Slam Final she's been in since. Sharapova has 3 career Slam titles.



How they got here:

Kvitova

1st - Vera Dushevina (Russia) - 6-2, 6-0
2nd - Carla Suarez-Navarro (Spain) - 6-2, 2-6, 6-0
3rd - (27) Maria Kirilenko (Russia) - 6-0, 1-0, Retired
4th - (21) Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) - 6-2, 7-6
QF - Sara Errani (Italy) - 6-4, 6-4

Sharapova

1st - Gisela Dulko (Argentina) - 6-0, 6-1
2nd - Jamie Hampton (USA) - 6-0, 6-1
3rd - (30) Angelique Kerber (Germany) - 6-1, 6-2
4th - (14) Sabine Lisicki (Germany) - 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
QF - Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) - 6-2, 6-3

20 in 20 Words or Less

Here we go:

MLB

1) Yu Darvish Signs - It cost $111M, but Texas locked up Darvish for six years. Hopefully he's not the next Hideki Irabu.

Photo Credit: thesportsriot.blogspot.com

2) Joel Zumaya to Minnesota - Hard throwing when healthy, Zumaya hasn't pitched more than 31 games since 2006. If healthy, could help depleted Twins bullpen.

Photo Credit: lifestreamsdb.blogspot.com

3) 49 Years Young - Jamie Moyer is back for another season. The 24-year vet has a minor league deal with the Rockies.

Photo Credit: homeruncards.com

4) Oh Good, We Got Jack Cust - Interesting pickup for the Astros as they have a surplus of young outfielders. At least he draws lots of walks.

Photo Credit: bleacherreport.com

SOCCER

5) Barcelona Owns Real Madrid - Barca rallies for a 2-1 win on the road in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.

Photo Credit: zimbio.com

6) Beckham Re-ups with Galaxy - Becks to stay in L.A. for another two years. Galaxy will need him for their title defense.

Photo Credit: sportsreport360.com

7) USMNT and U-23s Draw in Scrimmage 1-1 - Graham Zusi (Sporting KC) scores for the senior squad, but Jack McInerney (Union) equalized in the second half.

Photo Credit: thedailywiz.com

NBA

8) Wizards beat the Thunder??? - Best record versus worst record and worst record wins. Just Washington's second win of the season.

Photo Credit: scores.espn.go.com

9) Love Does What he Does - 20 points and 17 rebounds versus Detroit last night. 14 games, 14 double doubles on the year.

Photo Credit: rantsports.com

10) 25 Boards for Dwight Howard - 5th time this season Howard has gone for at least 20 rebounds. 25 sets a new season high.

Photo Credit: baynews9.com

11) Melo Slumping - The Knicks have dropped 4 straight, and Anthony's shooting isn't helping. Anthony's hit just 14 of his last 49 shots.

Photo Credit: nbcsports.msnbc.com

NCAA

12) Murray State Wins Again - The Racers improve to 19-0 after rallying from 11 points down to beat Morehead State 66-60.

Photo Credit: thebiglead.com

13) Baylor Ladies 18-0 - Brittney Griner finished with 21 points and 8 blocks as the Lady Bears beat #20 Texas Tech 72-64.

Photo Credit: mysanantonio.com

NHL

14) NHL Selects All Star Captains - Ottawa Winger Daniel Alfredsson and Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara will be the captains for the 2012 NHL All Star Game.

Photo Credit: sportsnet.ca

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

15) Roddick/Fish Both Out - The two top ranked American men's singles players, Mardy Fish and Andy Roddick, failed to get out of Round 2.

Photo Credit: australianopen.com

16) Top Four Men's Seeds Advance - Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Murray all through to the third round.

Photo Credit: guardian.co.uk

17) Serena Through to the Third Round - 12th seed Serena Williams defeats Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova to advance to Round 3.

Photo Credit: telegraph.co.uk

NFL

18) Eli Out Sick - The Giants QB was limited in practice yesterday because of what coach Tom Coughlin called "a stomach bug."

Photo Credit: askmen.com

19) Peyton Retirement Rumors from Rob Lowe? - Lowe tweeted yesterday he'd heard from "my people" that the Indianapolis Colts quarterback would retire. Who are Lowe's "people"?

Photo Credit: richeisen.nfl.com

20) Brady Misses Practice - Tom Brady did not practice Wednesday because of a left shoulder injury. If you think he'll sit Sunday you're nuts.

Photo Credit: bleacherreport.com