Australian Open 2017

Roger Federer, considered the greatest player ever to a grace a tennis court, won the Australian Open with five set win over arch rival Rafael Nadal in a memorable finale to annexe his 18^th Grand Slam trophy. Federer won 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 to lift his fifth at Melbourne and the first Major after the 2012 Wimbledon.

In Women’s Singles, Serena Williams beat sister Venus Williams in straight sets to win her Seventh Australian Open and an Open Era record 23^rd Grand Slam Singles Titles. Serena won 6-4 6-4 to pass Steffi Graf in an all-time list of major winners since the Grand Slams accepted professional players in 1968. The American regains the number one ranking from German Angelique Kerber.

Australia’s Margaret Court, with 24, is the only single player still ahead of Serena in terms of Grand Slam Singles titles. J. Peers and H. Kontinen won the Men’s Doubles title defeating B. Bryan and M. Bryan 7-5 7-5. Mattek – Sands and L. Safarova won the Women’s Doubles title defeating A. Hlavackova and S. Peng 6-7 6-3 6-3. In Mixed Doubles, A. Spears and J. Cabal defeated Sania Mirza and I. Dodig by 6-2 6-4.

Big Bash League 2017

The Perth Scorchers bid the WACA ground farewell with their third Big Bash League title in four years and a vintage performance straight from their tried and tested copybook. Their nine-wicket win came with 25 balls to spare, comfortably the most emphatic winning margin in a BBL final.

Adam Voges won the toss and bowled, as they prefer to and 28 of 35 captains this BBL season have done. They took wickets in the Powerplay and strangled the Sixers, keeping them to 141. In the chase, their top order did the work in a belligerent Powerplay, then they sauntered home as if they had an early dinner reservation. Which they may well have done - the game was over in the blink of an eye.

Their triumph lifted one of the BBL's peculiar hoodoos, as they become the first table-toppers to take home the title. The Sydney Sixers, whose women's team won the WBBL earlier in the day, were the latest - and likely the last - victims of BBL cricket, the WACA way. The plan is for the Scorchers to play next season at the new 60,000-seater Perth Stadium, across the river from the WACA but hulking, seeming bigger at each glance. Just another homogeneous state-of-the-art bowl, there will be no Fremantle Doctor, history or iconic floodlights.

Sean Abbott who took 20 wickets in the tournament is the Under 25 cricketer of the tournament. Jhye Richardson was the Man of the Match in the final. Chris Lynn of Brisbane Heat was the Player of the tournament. 

Sporting Moments of 2016

Unpredictability has perhaps been 2016 most consistent element and it has not been any different in the world of sports and athletics. Underdogs Leicester City won the English Premier League Football Championship in an astounding season. Serena Williams clinched 22 career Grand Slam singles to tie up for second on the all-time list with Steffi Graf. Nico Rosberg shocked the sporting world by announcing his retirement from Formula One racing after his maiden Championship Triumph.

Serena Williams celebrates winning her women’s singles final match against Germany Angelique Kerber at Wimbledon. Her total of 22 Grand Slam singles titles marks the joint record for the most Major wins by a tennis player in the Open Era. Portugal won the Euro 2016 Championship, their first major trophy.

Leicester City Premier League title dream became reality earlier this year as they completed one of the greatest ever sporting achievements. The Foxes Premier League campaign has captivated fans in the provincial English city as well as sports fans worldwide. Serbia Novak Djokovic won his first ever French Open title in 2016 after defeating Britain Andy Murray. Usain Bolt won Gold Medals in 100m, 200m and relay in his third consecutive Olympic appearance.

British Formula One driver Nico Rosberg who represented Mercedes stunned the sporting world when he announced his retirement on 2^nd December just five days after the 31 year old became the sport’s world Champion for the first time in his entire career.