Serena Williams has only spent an hour and 59 minutes on center court during the Australian Open’s first two rounds. During the first round against Tatjana Maria, she spent a total of 49 minutes on center court, and during the second round against Eugenie Bouchard, she spent a total of 70 minutes on center court. The seven-time Australian Open champion has only faced three break points and has yet to drop a set, winning 81% of her first serves.

While Simona Halep, the current world number 1, is spending her news conferences after the match discussing how difficult it is to recover from two hour long matches, Williams is spending very little time discussing tennis at all which is primarily due to the fact that she hasn’t played a lot of tennis in this tournament, to begin with.

Serena Williams at the Australian Open

Williams commented that during the day, she has chosen to reply to emails in relation to her next collection adding, “I was playing a match this evening which meant I wouldn’t spend a lot of time with my daughter as I won’t be able to see her this evening,” Williams stated, following her second match victory. During the news conference, Williams also stated on the type of boss she is, including involved, hands-on, and opinionated but very open to suggestions. She truly believes that she can do it all and believes motherhood has managed to teach her how to delegate.

When reporters asked her about her next opponent, Williams simply replied stating: “This is a job for Patrick to inform me all about her. I will take my next opponent very seriously as she is here to win. It’s the only reason she got this far in the tournament.”

Yastremska was the highest seed that Williams had to face in the Australian Open so far, and the fact that she is speeding through her matches is far less headline worthy. Instead, she is giving the media what they want, a tennis player that is here to win. However, watching her dominancy during the second round over a player that most believed would be able to beat Williams was a reminder of something completely different: how remarkable Williams has been over her two decade reign, even against others that are as brilliant as Eugenie Bouchard.

Eugenie Bouchard

Five years ago, Eugenie Bouchard was considered the best in tennis. During her 2014 season, Bouchard made the semifinal in both the French Open and Australian Open as well as the Wimbledon final. She managed to land sponsorship deals and magazine covers and was regarded as the next big superstar in tennis. However, due to struggling from injuries, as well as a lack of motivation, she hasn’t been able to see a semi-final in the Slam since. However, she’s not alone either.

The list of next-big-things, former number 1’s, and Grand Slam champions have all been forgotten while Williams continues to dominate the sport.

Andy Murray struggled, but eventually suffered an unexpected first-round exit on what might be his final appearance at the world-renowned Australian Open after his defeat at the hands of Roberto Bautista Agut on Monday in Melbourne.

Andy Murray, the three-time Grand Slam winner, who recently announced his plans to retire from tennis this season due to an 18-month battle with his hip, was struggling during his match against Bautista Agut but managed to rally and save the match by claiming tiebreaks in both the third and fourth sets.

When the match approached the 4-hour mark, Bautista Agut managed to secure consecutive breaks in the decider to claim a dominant 5-1 lead. Andy Murray enjoyed a standing ovation when he came out to serve which was possibly the last time in his career. He then managed to save a match point before holding an ace. However, there was no way back for the three-time Grand Slam winner this time, as Agut claimed the next 4 points to enjoy a phenomenal victory.

Chatting after the match on court, Murray didn’t state that he would be retiring which indicated that he might have another hip surgery to further prolong his tennis career.

“I’ve certainly loved playing in the Australian Open over the years,” Murray stated. “If this is indeed my last match, it’s an incredible way to end. I gave it my all but unfortunately, it wasn’t good enough this evening, so congratulations to Bautista Agut.

“Perhaps I’ll see him again. I’ll definitely do everything I can to try. If I want to continue playing, I will need to have a huge operation which doesn’t offer any guarantees that will allow me to come back. However, I’ll do my best.”

Andy Murray’s Final Match

Andy Murray, a finalist in the Australian Open for a total of five times, came under pressure during the fifth game. However, it took Bautista Agut nine games during the first set to finally break him. Murray couldn’t convert 2 breakpoint possibilities during the second set and looked like he was struggling. Even though he maintained competitiveness, Murray started hobbling between points as Agut managed to break again during the fifth game.

Murray managed to continue serving well, finishing the game with a total of 19 aces. However, he suffered even more pressure at 4-4 during the third. During the fourth set, Murray had to fight hard to hold his position, producing his best gameplay of the match. However, during the fifth set, you could see it was Murray’s final stand while the crowd stood up to honour his effort as he said goodbye to the world of tennis at the Australian Open.

Even though this is the first exit from Murray during the first round of a tennis major since the Australian Open in 2008, it was the very first time he managed to play for more than 4 hours since the French Open semi-finals in 2017.

Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray, and Rafael Nadal are preparing to challenge Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in 2019. However, even through their ambitions aren’t being compromised, there bodies definitely are.

All three tennis stars dealt with major injuries that reduced their effectiveness and playing time in 2018. Rafael Nadal, who was ranked number 1 for most of 2018, managed to hit phenomenal high notes. However, his year was severely compromised when he retired in both the US Open and the Australian Open.

The return of a replenished Wawrinka and half the Big Four should be a cause for celebration. However, so far, tennis enthusiasts have had to settle for cautiously articulated hopes and sober injury updates.

Rafael Nadal in 2019

“I started again 2 weeks ago and will be taking small steps in 2019.” Nadal informed reporters at the World Tennis Championship in Mubadala, a prestigious exhibition situated in Abu Dhabi, a couple of days ago. “I’m ensuring that I move forward as oppose to taking a few steps back this year. I am well aware that I have enough time to be on 100% in Melbourne.”

Nadal was defeated by Kevin Anderson during his debut in Abu Dhabi and then retired from the third-place match.

“I wish to do everything step by step,” Nadal stated. “I managed to spend more time on the court that I realized.”

The defeat means very little on the surface. However, the match lasted less than two hours which is nothing compared to the battle he will face in Melbourne. Rafael Nadal is a prudent man, but might be stumbling on the side of caution. On the other hand, his punishing style and age (32) as a pro for the last decade is finally catching up.

Melbourne has never been a pleasure for Nadal which is a pattern that began long before Roger Federer defeated him in the final at the beginning of 2017. The least productive major for Nadal is undoubtably the Australian Open even though he managed to play some of the best matches there.

Andy Murray in 2019

Murray might have more to be concerned about in 2019 due to the nature of his injury. Any hopes that the tennis star had for a quick and full recovery after undergoing a hip surgery was quickly lost last summer and he hasn’t made a lot of progress since either.

“There’s still loads of pain in my hip. However, I need to play a few matches to see how it feels. Once I can play around 5 matches in a row, we will see what the future holds,” Murray told several reporters as he started preparing for his debit in 2019 at Brisbane. “I merely want to get through my tournaments and compete without being restricted by my hip.”

Murray started his comeback in mid-2018 but ended his run in September where he finished 7-5 for the year. He is currently ranked 256 in the world.

The decision from Tennis Australia to go with a tie-breaker of 10 points at the start of the Australian Open in 2019 is very innovative. However, it impairs an already amazing lack of consistency among the tournaments in the Grand Slam. It also makes the scoring system more confusing to tennis fans that don’t watch on a constant basis.

The 10-point system, also referred to as the ‘Super-Tiebreaker’, is nearly identical to the 7-point system which is currently used to determine a set when matches reach 6-all. It’s also used during a third-set in doubles when it comes to matches in the ATP World Tour. The only difference is that the overall winner is required to reach 10 points as opposed to 7 points by a margin of 2.

Tennis Australia’s Decision

Tennis Australia, in a statement, splendidly declared that their decision was made following one of the most extensive consultations in the history of the tournament with officials, analysts, agents, and players. Is the confusion created behind this decision worth the difference it will have on the court or are the Aussies simply trying to reclaim the high ground they so cherish?

In the statement, Craig Tiley, the tournament director of the Australian Open, stated: “We decided on the 10-point tiebreak system at 6 games all during the final set, ensuring fans will still be able to get a phenomenal finale to these frequent epic events, with the longer tiebreaker still providing that one final change or twist of momentum at the end of the tournament. The extended tiebreaker will also assist in lessening the serving dominance that prevails during the shorter tiebreak.”

Well, if the target is to provide a final twist in the tournament, why not increase it to a 12 or 14-point tiebreaker? There’s actually no end to this. The tiebreaker itself is the last twist to end the match. However, the larger problem is there is no consistency when you look at the Grand Slams.

The French Open and US Open

The only major where the final set is still played until one player wins by 2 games is the French Open. The US Open has managed to use the 7-point tiebreaker for decades when the final set produces 6-all. In October earlier this year, Wimbledon stated that they will start using the 7-point tiebreaker during the final sets in 2019. However, this will only occur when the score manages to reach 12-all in matches.

Although the French Open clay courts are conducive to long matches and rallies, the soft surface doesn’t punish a player’s joints when compared to the hard courts and it also doesn’t need as much bending and lunging as grass. Paris weather is also quite cool which is another plus. There hasn’t been any outcry in Paris for a longer final-set tiebreaker either. The players seem quite content with the US Open tiebreaker but that’s only because they had time to get used to it over the years.

The 2018 season of tennis concluded a couple of days ago when Novak Djokovic was defeated by Alexander Zverev in London to claim a win at the ATP World Tour Finals. The 2018 season had everything, with loads of entertaining matches. The Big 3 managed to assert their dominance during the Grand Slams, a couple of unexpected tennis players climbed the ranks, and a couple of big players managed to fall further than we expected.

While the Australian Open was won by Roger Federer at the start of 2018, the French Open was won by Rafael Nadal, at the US Open and Wimbledon titles was claimed by Novak Djokovic. This allowed Djokovic to finish in the number 1 position for 2018 even though he was ranked as 22nd overall in June. Let’s take a look at the best tennis players for 2018.

Novak Djokovic

After an awful first half of the 2018 season, no one anticipated that Djokovic would be able to qualify for the World Tour Finals. He lost against Chung in the fourth round of the Australian Open and during the quarters by Cechinato in the French Open along with many other shocks by lower ranked players. However, he managed to turn things around during the second half of the year, claiming his third Wimbledon title and the Cincinnati Open. He also won the Shanghai Masters and the Paris Masters.

Rafael Nadal

Even though he missed all the tournaments following the US Open, Nadal is still ranked the second best player in the world. This is due to winning his eleventh French Open, the Barcelona title, and two Masters titles in Rome and Monte-Carlo. He managed to hold onto the number one title for most of the year until Djokovic defeated him during the Wimbledon Championships.

Roger Federer

Although he hasn’t been on top form for most of the year, Federer still managed to claim 4 titles which included one Grand Slam. He started the year by claiming the Australian Open and winning at Rotterdam, providing the number 1 spot once again. However, he soon lost this title during the Indian Wells as well as Miami. He was also shocked during the Wimbledon quarters and again in the US Open fourth round against John Millman.

Juan Martin del Potro

It’s quite unfortunate that del Porto had to sit out during the World Tour Finals as he recovered from an injury. We believe the tournament would have been quite different if he participated. He still had a phenomenal year as he reached the French Open semi-finals and the Wimbledon quarterfinals. He also managed to reach the final during the US Open only to be defeated by Djokovic.

Alexander Zverev

This exceptional German managed to continue his incredible run from 2017. However, he wanted to perform much better during the Grand Slams in 2018. His best result was during the French Open when he reached the quarterfinals. He also performed quite well during the 500s and Masters.

Play a game of tennis, and you will quickly understand that it involves more than just simply hitting a ball. Tennis is an extremely physical game that requires loads of movement and speed where your feet takes a significant amount of abuse while running around on the court. When playing in regular trainers, you will quickly realise the wear and tear after a few sessions.

It’s for this very reason that we highly recommend getting tennis shoes if you are serious about the game. However, which tennis shoes should you buy? Fortunately, we tested a wide range of tennis shoes to help you make a more informed decision and listed the top rated tennis shoes below for your convenience.

Diadora Speed Blushield Fly AG – $140

These remarkable tennis shoes are the complete package. They feature a small angle bootie, supporting and protecting both your ankle and heel. They are also extremely comfortable once you lace them up. The show cushion is perfect, providing a soft plush insole and comes equipped with a padded tongue for superb comfort. The shoe sole is developed specifically for hard or clay court surfaces, offering sensational grip when you change direction. They are extremely comfortable and lightweight as well.

New Balance 996 V3 Tournament – $134

New Balance is renowned for creating beautiful footwear. The 996 V2 received a phenomenal makeover in 2018 and looks better than ever, to be honest. The upper knit completely wraps around your foot, creating a comfortable, flexible feeling, while the padded heel provides remarkable ankle support. The sole is low profile, offering fantastic traction when changing direction.

Yonex Power Cushion Eclipsion 2 – $138

This tennis shoe is well-built and sturdy, supporting your feet perfectly in all the right places. The shock absorption on the court, created by the Power Cushion, is definitely noticeable and the company claims that there will be at least a 25% increase on the original model. The lace pattern and the elasticated tongue will offer sensational stability and keep your foot firmly in the show at all times. You will also experience incredible traction when making directional changes on the court.

Adidas Barricade Boost – $165

These tennis shoes are widely known for their stability and durability on the court for several decades when it comes to tennis. It’s worth mentioning that these shoes provided the most durability from all the tennis shoes listed in this section. We tested them on several surfaces over multiple weeks, and the wear was very minimal. The 2018 edition is more comfortable and lighter than previous models and comes equipped with an added boost for better overall performance.

Asics Gel Solution Speed 3 – $153

These tennis shoes weigh a mere 331grams, making them super lightweight when compared to other tennis shoes in this section. The shoes come equipped with gel cushioning, making them extremely soft on the heel for added comfort. The only downside is that your feet might get a little sweaty due to the gel solution incorporated into the shoe.