One can underÂstand why we MinÂneÂsoÂtans, in the froÂzen grip of JanÂuÂarÂy, bravÂing subÂzero windchills and icy roads, watchÂing snow blow across lake and field, feel a bit disÂconÂnectÂed when we turn on the telÂeÂviÂsion to see tanned, sweaty athÂletes scamÂperÂing around outÂdoor tenÂnis courts durÂing sun-soaked days of sumÂmer in MelÂbourne, AusÂtralÂia.
The year's first maÂjor may be an out-of-body exÂperiÂence for us, but not for the playÂers who deÂscendÂed upon the land of Kangas and Koalas shortÂly afÂter ChristÂmas. Many fled their own winÂters to acclimate to not just the highÂer temps but the highÂer bounce of the ball on Plexicushion, the not-so-hard court surÂface of the AusÂtralian Open. UnÂlike the parkÂing lot feel of the U.S. Open courts, Plexicushion proÂvides a bit of, well, you can figÂure out what it's supÂposed to ofÂfer the knees and back.
NoÂvak Djokovic and Serena WilÂliams are cerÂtainÂly fond of the surÂface, each havÂing won the eÂvent six times. Both came into the tourÂnaÂment last year in a class by themÂselves, No. 1s by a mile, elÂicitÂing progÂnosÂtiÂcaÂtions of calÂenÂdar-year Grand Slams and such.
Serena's dream was dashed early, losÂing in the fiÂnal to GerÂman lefty AnÂgeÂlique KerÂber, who would go on to win her seÂcond maÂjor of the year at the U.S. Open, and by mid-OcÂtoÂber, wrest the top rankÂing away from WilÂliams. All was not lost in 2016 for Serena, howÂever: She avenged her loss to KerÂber in the WimÂbleÂdon fiÂnal, and then days beÂfore New Year's, anÂnounced her enÂgageÂment to Reddit co-foundÂer Alexis OhaÂniÂan.
Djokovic's domÂiÂnance lastÂed longÂer. He won in MelÂbourne and then in Paris, achievÂing a non-calÂenÂdar year Grand Slam as he hoistÂed the French Open troÂphy for the first time. But then someÂthing strange hapÂpened in the third round at WimÂbleÂdon when AÂmerÂiÂcan jourÂneyÂman Sam Querrey shocked the tenÂnis world by takÂing down a lackÂlusÂter Djokovic in four sets. Djokovic would win just one tourÂnaÂment the rest of the year, eÂvenÂtuÂalÂly reÂlinÂquishÂing the top spot he had held since mid-2014.
While the Serb was strugÂgling, the Scot, Andy Murray, was surgÂing. MurÂray won WimÂbleÂdon, then the OlymÂpics (aÂgain), then the World Tour Finals in November, running up a 26-match win streak to close the year and earnÂing the No. 1 ranking for the first time.
The year that began with a sense of inevitability for WilÂliams and Djokovic closed with signs of vulnerability. Even superstars with 22 and 12 major victories, respecÂtively, suffer setbacks.
But superstars also tend to rebound. Williams and Djokovick may enter the Australian Open as No. 2 seeds but their combined dozen titles Down Under make them nothing less than co-favorites with their top-ranked counterparts, espeÂcially considering Kerber and Murray have a total of one title between them.
It will be interesting to watch how two other greats on the men's side — Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal — fare after returning from injuries. The 35-year-old Federer, whose ranking now matches his record 17 Grand Slam titles, reached the semiÂfinals of Wimbledon and then took the rest of the year off to heal his aching back. Fourteen-time major winner Nadal, who is now 30 years old and ranked ninth, strugÂgled with knee and wrist probÂlems most of last year, fiÂnalÂly dropÂping off tour in the fall to rest. Both proÂfess health, but do they posÂsess the goods to go all the way in a maÂjor anyÂmore?
It's inÂcreasÂingÂly difÂfiÂcult to see that path, esÂpeÂcialÂly with youngÂer conÂtendÂers such as CaÂnaÂdiÂan MiÂlos Raonic, JapÂaÂnese Kei Nishikori and AusÂtriÂan DomÂiÂnic Thiem all ranked highÂer and hungry for a first Slam. And Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka — ownÂer of three maÂjors, most recently the 2016 U.S. Open — has the shot-making and beÂlief to make a title run any givÂen week.
The year's first maÂjor typÂiÂcalÂly holds plenÂty of surÂprisÂes. Some playÂers arÂrive Down Under fit and fresh, preÂpared for long matchÂes in the heat. OthÂers stumÂble in, still faÂtigued from a short offseason. New faces eÂmerge deÂterÂmined to make their mark. All comÂbine and colÂlide at MelÂbourne Park, making the AusÂtralÂiÂan Open a favorite for playÂer and fan.
So put on those slipÂpers, cozy up with that blanÂket, and soak in some sumÂmer tenÂnis. We may have months to go beÂfore we'll exÂperiÂence anyÂthing reÂsemÂbling shirtsleeves and suntans, but hey, we love our four seasÂons, right?
Right?
Minnesota's David Wheaton reached the quarterfinals of singles and the final of doubles at the Australian Open in 1990. He is now a radio host and the author of two books. Find out more at DavidWheaton.com.