Byzantine Blog

Serbia's Novak, the Youngest Player to Win Title in Melbourne Since 1985

Novak Djokovic, third seed, claimed first Grand Slam of his career with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) triumph over the unseeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Melbourne. According to the reports, 20-year-old Serb created a piece of history with this victory on the Rod Laver Arena as he became the youngest player since 1985 to win the title in Melbourne.

“Considering all the bad times we had when I was growing up and practicing, it was basically impossible,” Djokovic told reporters at Rod Laver Arena. “But I always believed.”

Novak's Australian Open victory sparked big celebrations in his native Serbia on Sunday, Reuters reports. The celebrations in Serbian capital began as soon as Novak clinched his first Grand Slam title and the fans are promising to welcome their young tennis stars in style.

Nenad Zimonjic Wins Mixed Doubles Title with China's Sun Tiantian

Serbia's top doubles player, Nenad Zimonjic has won another Grand Slam trophy in the Australian Open for his country, after beating Indian duo alongside China's Sun Tiantian 3—0 in one hour and 21 minutes.

This is Zimonjic's third grand slam title, after winning the 2004 Australian Open and 2006 French Open, and the first major victory for Sun.

The U2, Guns 'n Roses and Aerosmith fan, Zimonjic who turned professional in 1995, remained relatively unknown outside Serbia, until a surprise victory in the Mixed Doubles at the 2004 Australian Open. Partnered with Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia, he won the 2006 French Open crown with a straight-sets victory over Daniel Nestor and Elena Likhovtseva, 6-3, 6-4. At the 2006 Wimbledon Championships, Zimonjić reached the final of the Men's Doubles (alongside France's Fabrice Santoro) and the quarter-finals of the Mixed Doubles.

While known as a doubles specialist, Zimonjic has recorded two big wins in his singles career. In 2004 he defeated Andre Agassi 6-2 7-6 in St Pölten, and in 2005 on the grass of Halle he defeated Nicolas Kiefer 6-7(1) 6-3 6-4. Both of these were first round victories.

Ana Moves Up to 2nd Place After Reaching Australian Open Finals

Although visibly disappointed with the way she played against the Russian number one Maria Sharapova in the final match, 20-year-old Ana Ivanovic realizes she has achieved considerable success thus far and will have many more chances to prove herself as a top player.

“Only nine months ago I was ranked 16, and now I'm number two. I am proud of this achievement, but I'm still getting used to it,” she said on her blog on the WTA website.

According to all reports, Ivanovic “won an army of fans in Australia with her bubbly personality and scintillating tennis and she confessed she shed tears Saturday evening after her loss to Sharapova.”

“It's disappointing that I wasn't able to play my best tennis. I served well but I had a shocker with my forehand,” she said.

“It's been an emotional two weeks. After the match I shed a few tears. I'm quite a sensitive, emotional person and the past two weeks just hit me.”

Somehow, I'm pretty sure Ana's runner-up plate and a toy panda koala will be greeted with a joyous uproar on the streets of Belgrade, just as if she won it all. She might've been an “Aussie Ana” for a week or so, but she'll remain Serbian Ana for all times, winning or losing, being the best at every championship or just staying the sweetest, nicest, most charming girl with a tennis racket and a deadly forehand.

Congratulations also to Jelena and especially Janko, for he showed us how to fight till the end and never let go, like a true Serb.

Well done all!