The 2018 Australian Open ended with
a high profile bang: Roger Federer one of the most famous and beloved athletes
in the world, won his record 20th Major singles title. But the tournament had
other memorable champions as well. Caroline Wozniacki grabbed her first-ever
Grand Slam trophy -- after two previous appearances in major finals and years
of fans wondering whether she had what it takes to win a big one.
And
Caro wasn’t the only title-winner in Melbourne to finally overcome the ghost of
Grand Slam finals past. The women’s doubles champions, Timea Babos and Kristina
Mladenovic, won their first major as a team, nearly four years after coming up
one match-win short at Wimbledon.
Roger Federer won his 20th Grand
Slam on Sunday, defeating Marin Čilić, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. Federer
arrived at the tournament a heavy favorite to defend his 2017 title and
expectations only rose as he moved through each round with ease, making it to
the final without having dropped a set. With this trophy—his sixth at the
Australian Open—he joins Roy Emerson and Novak Djokovic in a three-way tie for
most wins in Melbourne.
One by one, former Grand Slam
champions welcomed Caroline Wozniacki to the club late Saturday night at
Melbourne Park after her 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4 victory over Simona Halep. Billie
Jean King was first. She handed the beaming Wozniacki the Daphne Akhurst
Memorial Cup, which is awarded to the women’s singles champion at the Australian
Open. Chris Evert and Mats Wilander were next.
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