Let the Tennis Season Begin!

The tennis season started out with a bang this weekend with some matches that will be talked about throughout the upcoming year.

We didn't get Federer-Nadal at Doha, but what we still got was one blockbuster of a final. After dispatching world no. 1 Roger Federer in straight sets in the semifinals, Nikolay Davydenko delivered a more impressive performance in the finals beating defending Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal 0-6, 7-6(8), 6-4 overcoming getting bageled in the first set and two match points against him in the second. What does this say about Federer and Nadal? Maybe little. Maybe a lot. But Davydenko also defeated these two a few months en route to claiming the World Tour Championship trophy. He's on fire.

Two of the "must watch" players of the WTA met each other in the final in Brisbane. Former world no. 1 Justine Henin, playing in her first competitive tournament since retirement, faced off against her Belgian compatriot and US Open champion Kim Clijsters who is playing in her first final since winning the US Open last year. This match had everything: awesome rallies, memorable winners, high drama, unbelievable comebacks, and most importantly, two champions pummeling one another. In the end Clijsters edged out Henin 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(6). I want more!

Andy Roddick claimed the men's title in Brisbane defeating Radek Stepanek 7-6(2), 7-6(7) while Marin Cilic took the Chennai Open by taking down the Swiss number two Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6(2), 7-6(3). Finally, Yanina Wickmayer took the Auckland title winning against the top seed Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 6-2.

The first Grand Slam tournament of the season begins January 18th over in Melbourne, Australia. Game on.