Czechoslovakia’s sixth seeded 17-year old Karolina Pliskova bore down on young British star and Davis Cup success Laura Robson to earn the Junior Women’s title with a straight set 6-1, 7-6 (5) win. Pliskova proved to be the more powerful groundstroker as she spoiled the 16-year old Robson’s return to the finals. Also a runner-up at Melbourne in 2009, the Brit looked overmatched in the first set but rallied gamely in the second.

For Karolina, the win was impressive and clearly points her toward the pro tour. The Czech is a strong baseliner that already out-hits many of the tour players. In a twist of fate, Robson had overcome Karolina’s twin sister, Kristyna, in the semis. Apparently the family did not take it well as Karolina.

The pretty Czech roared through the first few games, clearly taking charge of the set’s pace. Robson was reeling. With Pliskova targeting the deep corners Robson desperately tried to retrieve the blows. Unnerved, the Brit sought some extra muscle and began to spray harmless shots all over the Rod Laver Arena.

The Czech had everything working. Her big serve was too much for her younger opponent. Karolina recorded three aces in the quick seventh game on the way to a 22 minute first set.

In the second set, Robson lost her first service game before getting on the board in the third game. Meanwhile, Karolina’s serve dominated the frustrated Brit. When Pliskova held in the sixth game to go up 4-2, all seemed lost.

But, in game style, Andy Murray’s triumphant Davis Cup partner, made a spectacular volley to hold her serve and then held again to get to 4-5. With Karolina serving for the match, a slight chink in the armor gave Laura hope. She played an error-free game to capture her only break of the match and knot the set at 5-5.

Robson continued her steady play to jump ahead 4-1 in the tiebreaker. Pliskova mounted a forceful rally and again began to hit the corners with deep volleys. Robson could not keep pace and fell 7-5.

The win was Pliskova’s first junior event since 2007 and set her up as a potential superstar and media magnet. For Robson, her second runner-up finish at Melbourne marked a very successful tournament as she won a match in the women’s senior qualifier, reached the quarters in women’s doubles and lost just one set in the juniors before reaching the finals.

Fernandes Downs Berman

Brazilian 17-year old Tiago Fernandes handed the home fans an emotional surprise in downing Australian super junior Sean Berman in a 7-5, 6-3 one hour 50 minute battle finals. For the Brazilian, it was his first Grand Slam junior title and followed a strong quarter final appearance at last year’s U.S. Open.

The South African-born and New Zealand-raised Berman started quickly, jumping out to 2-0 lead in the first set. Fernandes leveled at 2-2 after a long break game. Each game was evenly contested until Fernandes withstood a ferocious challenge before holding in the 11th game. The Brazilian used the momentum from that hold to break Berman and seal the set at 7-5.

Fernandes followed the break by running off the first three games of the second set. At 5-2, the 14th seeded Fernandes threatened to break again but Berman saved his game. The Aussie had three break point chances in the ninth game before Fernandes closed the match with an ace.

The two players who both turned 17 in January will be seeing a lot of each other in other junior events this yea. The Rod Laver Arena experience was a positive one. Berman was disappointed but in his post match interview said he had played well.

Australian Open – The Old Guard Stands Firm

Familiar names and top seeds withstood challenges from would-be pretenders to the throne to claim just about every Grand Slam title in Melbourne. It wasn’t always easy, and sometimes it was downright ugly but if you ever doubted that the cream rises to the top, you are forgiven.

Seeing all those young bucks and even a few rested, aka retired, players come back to the game makes the 2010 pro tour look more and more like the days of yore, where real rivalries marked play and filled the stadiums with passionate alliances. Here’s a thumbnail view of how each event played out down under.

Men’s Singles – a few of us doubted the Great One. Always a mistake. Once again, a seemingly ageless Roger Federer proved he is the best player to tie on his tennis pumps and walk onto a court. And, this year the top ranked player had a more difficult time reaching his 23rd consecutive Grand Slam semi finals.

In his quarterfinal pairing with Nikolay Davydenko, the Swiss seemed down and on the way out when down a set and down a break in the second and serving at 0-30, all seemed lost. Davydenko looked headed to his third straight win over the ageless one. But, as Federer did to Jo Wilfried Tsonga in the semis and Andy Murray in the finals, he mounted a surge that unnerved even the unflappable Davydenko, carried forward through Tsonga and ended with the Murray dismantling. A truly great Grand Slam Championship performance by a truly wonderful tennis player.

As Roger earned his well deserved 16th Grand Slam trophy, the second seeded Rafa Nadal was nursing a wounded knee, 3rd seeded Novak Djokovic was battling a stomach disorder, 4th seeded Juan Martin Del Potro had wrist and rib cage injuries and 5th seeded Andy Murray was struggling with his ego. At least the champ left them standing!

Women’s Singles – The tournament looked to be ending for the top seeded Serena Williams when upstart Victoria Azarenka refused to buckle in the first set and then jumped out to a 4-0 lead in set two. Once again, Williams rose to the top with a hobbling come-from-behind three set victory over the crest-fallen Azarenka.

On paper, the semis looked like a mismatch with the consummate slugger pitted against the lightweight retriever Na Li, a surprising quarterfinal victor over Venus Williams. But, Li hung tough and refused to crumble eventually losing in a second set tiebreaker in a match that that only featured two service breaks.

Meanwhile runner-up retiree, unseeded and unranked Justine Henin was doggedly chasing down balls and even coming to the net in order to overcome her wayward service game. Breezing through the semis in one hour and losing just one game in the match, Henin looked rested and ready for the fierce but ailing Williams.

But, like Federer, Williams does not retreat or buckle under on the big stage. After losing the momentum and the second set, Williams powered her way back and got to the finish line ahead of the Belgian challenger. These two will meet again.

For Williams, it was her 12th Grand Slam and perhaps her most physically challenging. Only time will tell the toll this trophy took on the 28-year old.

Men’s Doubles – Top seeded American doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan kept their string going. With four Australian Open titles in the last five years, you could say the brothers are on a roll down under. The finals was a three set thriller against second seeds Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic, who have had a measure of success against the winners. The runner-ups sport a career 8-3 won-lost record again the champs.

In the first set, the Bryans pressured every Nestor-Zimonjic service game, getting the crucial break in the sixth game and then serving out in 31 minutes. The Nestor team captured a break in game four of the second. The Bryans broke back immediately and at 5-2 in the tiebreaker looked to be on cruise control to the finish line. Team Nestor then ran off five straight points to send the match to the critical set.

The defending champions pounced on Zimonjic’s serve in the fourth game and parlayed a Nestor errant volley into a break. Once again they held set throughout to complete the fast paced 6-3, 6-7 (5) 6-3 triumph at Rod Laver Arena.

Women Doubles – Once again America’s Williams sisters proved that they are the best Grand Slam doubles team of the era and perhaps of all time. The second seeds methodically marched through the field defeating top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber in the finals to defend their doubles title.

In the fourth game of the first set, Serena Williams was forced to serve for 15 minutes as the runner-ups jumped on Serena’s usually unstoppable serve. At the final break point, Black whistled a return to Serena’s feet and executed a follow-up drop shot that caught the stunned Williams flat-footed. The break put Team Black up 3-1.

Venus Williams began to assert herself, firing deep forehands that neither opponent could handle. Eventually, the sisters realized the Black was very much on her game and applied the majority of pressure to Huber, who seemed to be struggling with the pace. The champions broke twice to close out the 6-4 first set.

Venus Williams’s strong net play and power strokes dominated the final set. The Americans captured a game four break and held serve throughout to seal the championship 6-4, 6-3. The champions have now won four of the last five Grand Slam doubles events in which they have participated.

Mixed Doubles – Top seeds Leander Paes of India and Zimbabwean Cara Black withstood a stern challenge from unseeded Russian Ekaterina and Czechoslovakian Jaroslav Levinsky. Using timely serving and some terrific net play, the winners emerged with a 7-5, 6-3 straight set win in 68 minutes on the center court.

It was a welcome victory for Black who was still smarting from the doubles loss to the Williams sisters. For doubles specialist Paes, the triumph was his 11th Grand Slam title.

The runner-ups broke twice in the opening set but unfortunately suffered three of their five breaks in the opener. The final break came against Makarova in the 11th game.

Paes and Black broke in the first game of the second set to jump ahead 2-0. Marakova was pressured but held the third game to prevent a landslide. Paes’ strong net play backed Black’s serve and at 5-3, the winners broke again to close out the match.

For Black and Paes, the win marked their 19th men’s, women’s or mixed doubles title.

Roger Federer is the best tennis player to ever step on a court. Some of us know that, yet we still believe there are younger, usurpers of the throne. And, every time we try to rally an uprising, the Swiss star reminds us just how good he truly is and how good the rest of the tour players know he is. We should remember to listen to them.

It was hard to tell if it was the Federer mystique or the weight of an empire desperate for a Grand Slam Championship that bore obvious pressure on the most talented of the young pretenders in the finals of the 2010 Australian Open. But, whatever it was, it was heavy and very much in the air from point one to the conclusion.

The pressure of knowing victory was within the grasp of young Scot Andy Murray meant he had to execute flawlessly, dictate pace and serve consistently as he had for six straight matches. Unlike his previous six opponents, the man across the net leaves no margin for error. Murray played like a man who knew he had to play just a bit better than he had.

The result was a tentative, nervous performance that only served to further elevate Roger Federer’s game. Today Roger Federer can sit back, relax and figure where on the shelf he will place his 16th Grand Slam trophy. His 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (11) victory was thoroughly convincing and dominating.

The 28-year old veteran out-strategized and out-executed his 22-year old challenger in what boiled down to a clinic on how to win a Grand Slam title, something no Brit has accomplished in 74 years. Both players arrived at the finals about as rested as could be after two weeks of competition but it was the younger Murray who was limping and gasping for air while the ageless Federer kept delivering the goods and carrying the play.

What has become clear during the Federer reign and what sometimes gets overlooked is how well the champion serves under pressure. Remember last year’s performance against Roddick at Wimbledon. When Federer needs a point, he knows where to go. The crisp efficiency pressures the receiver. Murray, acknowledged as one of the game’s best returners, could only convert on 2 of 8 break points and failed to capitalize on five set points in the final frame. With each hold, Murray became more and more unsure of himself, more desperate. When the Scot floated a harmless volley set point wide in the third set, it was more than handwriting on the wall. It was evidence of the mental strain that Federer brings to his challengers.

A packed Rod Laver Arena saw a near flawless performance by Federer as he claimed his fourth Australian title. For Murray, the wait for the Grand Slam breakthrough continues.

From the outset, Murray seemed content to work the Federer backhand. However, his ground game lacked the authority he had demonstrated in earlier matches. Meanwhile his serve could only be described as jittery. Although he gained velocity and improved his serving efficiency in the third, this much-needed weapon deserted him in the first two sets.

After leveling the match at 2-2, Murray pressured in the fifth game only to be turned back by the unflappable champion. Federer converted the break point he needed with a dazzling backhand winner in the eighth game before serving out the set.

Murray’s defensive style was allowing Federer to control the tempo and as his backhand came together, the champion began to attack more often. For the match, Roger struck 46 outright winners compared to 29 for Murray. Federer did commit more unforced errors, 42-26, but Murray’s errors outweighed his winners.

Federer only converted one of seven break points in the second set, but that was all he needed. He served through to claim a more competitive 46 minute set, but Murray’s serve still lacked its usual pace.

Murray used his speed to surprise Federer and steal an apparent drop shot winner early in the third to gain momentum. When he followed with a powerful forehand winner, he finally seemed to relax. After breaking in the sixth game to go up 4-2, the crowd rallied behind the Scot. When he held to go up 5-2, it seemed Federer might wait for the fourth set.

That is not Roger Federer. He held the eighth game and was relentless in the ninth game to knot the set. In the tiebreaker, Murray gained the early edge but could not deliver a knockout blow. The Swiss overcame the five set points and finally converted on his third match point to sweep the match.

Murray will get there. He has had success against Federer in tour events, winning four times. But the Roger Federer that comes to the Grand Slam tournaments, the game’s biggest stages, is not the Federer in lesser events. His focus, his serve and his overall demeanor is that every title belongs to him. He is not about to give anything away. If challengers want one of Roger’s titles, they will have to take it away. This guy does not beat himself, point proven… again!

Serena Williams successively defended her 2009 Australian Open title and can now count the 2010 trophy as her 12th Grand Slam Championship. The win ties her with Billie Jean King for total singles titles.

Williams used her powerful serve to regain her confidence in the third set after a very game Justine Henin made a strong second set rally. Williams recorded her fifth Australian Open Championship in a seesaw 2 hour 7 minute 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 match that she closed with a flourish. Williams charged through the last four games with a combination of big serves and powerful forehands against the fleet Henin.

The tight first set began with Henin collecting six break point opportunities in Serena’s first three service games. Serena came back in both games to hold. Those holds may have spelled Henin’s fate, as Williams is 40-0 in title matches where she has won the first set. Williams now holds an 8-6 won-lost advantage against Henin, who was playing just her 11th match since returning to the professional circuit.

Like so many final matches, this one was also a tale of the serving tape. Henin committed six double faults and landed just 50% of her first serves compared to Williams’ 64%. Williams threw in 12 aces to turn away Henin’s bid for an eighth Grand Slam.

Unlike last year, when Williams had an embarrassingly easy time of disposing of Dinara Safina in the finals, Henin held up well under the Williams assault. She surrendered a break in the fourth game to trail 3-1, but pulled even with a tense break in game seven to get the match back on serve.

Williams then held to go ahead 5-4. The Champion pressured Henin to secure an easy break and take the first set in 51 minutes.

Henin earned the first break in the second set but Williams answered right back to take the lead at 3-2. When the Belgian held to square the set at 3-3, she mustered a run of he own, winning the final 10 points of the set. Henin used her pinpoint backhand accuracy to hit tape after tape while Serena had difficulty staying in longer points.

Williams, who won the doubles with her sister Venus, was playing her 12th match in Melbourne and with heavily bandaged legs, it seemed she was losing steam. She took a locker room break after the second set, yet returned only to lose the first five points of the set.

But, things changed quickly. Henin has no answer for Serena’s wide serves to the deuce court and middle serves o the add court. Williams found her way with her serve but iced the win with her overpowering forehand. Henin had five break point opportunities in the final set, but every time Williams had an answer.

Henin committed 32 unforced errors while Williams had 37. Williams converted 6 break points as Henin converted 5. There was a high level of intensity throughout the match as two proven winners renewed their rivalry. Once again The American has borne the role of tournament favorite to perfection. For the unranked, unseeded Henin, she has now reached the finals in her two tournaments since returning to play. Her downfall was clearly her inability to apply pressure with her serve, something Williams has mastered.

Today, the tournament’s two best players compete in the finals. Roger Federer (4/7) will be seeking his remarkable 16th Grand Slam title while young Scotsman Andy Murray (11/8) seeks his first and the first Grand Slam in 74 years for Great Britain. As proven as Federer is, we think Murray is up to the task today. It feels like a day for the Scot and if he wins his first Slam, watch out!