Weekly Net Post: Major Excellence for Federer, Serena

Roger Federer and Serena Williams validated their No. 1 seeds and rankings to claim Australian Open singles titles during the weekend in Melbourne.

For Federer, it was Australian Open title No. 4, and sweet 16 -- to extend his record -- in overall Grand Slams. Sweet because a year earlier Federer was in tears after a tough five-set loss to Rafael Nadal. Though this final, except for the tiebreaker, lacked the drama of a year ago, on Sunday it was Andy Murray whose voice was cracking after Federer's 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11) victory.

Federer saved five set points and wasted two match points in the tiebreaker with some uncharacteristic shot selection before clinching it when Murray netted a backhand after 2 hours, 41 minutes.

"I'm over the moon winning this again. I think I played some of my best tennis in my life these last two weeks," Federer said.

Indeed: Federer played in his 22nd Grand Slam final, his 18th in the last 19. And his streak of consecutive Grand Slam semifinals stands at 23. And he's the first father since Andre Agassi in 2003 to claim a Slam title.

Federer seemed relaxed throughout the tournament and was in control for most of the final. But his opponent must have been feeling some weight. Federer, in fact, joked after his semifinal win against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga about what Murray was trying to accomplish.

"I know Andy would like to win this first title in British tennis in, what is it, 150,000 years?" Federer said.

Not exactly 150,000, of course, but it might have seemed that way to Murray.

Murray, who still leads his head-to-head with Federer 6-5, couldn't break the British drought in Grand Slams: nearly 74 years and counting (Fred Perry won Wimbledon and U.S. championships in 1936).

"I got great support back home," Murray told the crowd. "I'm sorry I couldn't do it for you tonight, but ..." He paused to gather himself, then joked: "I can cry like Roger; it's just a shame I can't play like him."

Federer said Sunday he was just joking with his comments about the British wait.

"It's not easy ... to win your first Grand Slam. ... It's just a tough thing," Federer said. "(Murray's) game is so good, I'm convinced he'll win one."

On Saturday, Williams raised her total of Grand Slam singles titles to 12 -- equaling Billie Jean King-- and her Australian Open total to five (2003, '05, '07, '09-10). And it helps put the uproar from last year's U.S. Open deeper in the rearview mirror.

"I've totally moved on," said Williams, who was fined $92,000 in the aftermath of her profanity-laced tirade at a line judge during a semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters in New York last September. "One moment doesn't make one person's career. It's all about the moments you put together."

Other highlights from the season's first Grand Slam:

•Justine Henin is back. Though she came up a few games short in her 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 loss to Williams in the singles final, Henin, 27, delivered some thrills -- including a second-round victory against Elena Dementieva -- and showed she will be a contender at every tournament all year. She will reappear in the rankings after her next event (three tournaments are required). Even so, the French Open ought to think about seeding her in the top four when the tour gets to Paris for major No. 2.

•Kim Clijsters looked like she was ready to be a factor -- until she took the worst beating of her career, a 6-1, 6-0, third-round thrashing at the hands of Nadia Petrova. Hopefully just a hiccup for the reigning U.S. Open champ -- who beat Henin in her season opener in Brisbane -- should be back in the mix the next time out, however.

•Though not in the vicinity of Britian's situation, the major drought for American men extends to 25 Slams. Andy Roddick's 2003 U.S. Open title is the USA's last. Roddick can still be a threat at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, and John Isner looked good until he lost to Murray in the fourth round, but that drought no doubt looks likely to continue.

•Americans did fare well in the doubles. Serena Williams teamed with sister Venus to win the women's doubles -- their fourth Australian Open crown and their 11th overall in Grand Slams -- and Bob and Mike Bryan claimed their fourth title in Melbourne and their eighth Grand Slam title overall.

•The Chinese women made history with Li Na and Zheng Jie reaching the semifinals -- the first time China has ever had two players advance to that level in a Slam.

•The Russian women bucked recent history, delivering no semifinalists for the second Slam in a row but for only the third time in the last 24 Slams ('10 Australian Open, '09 U.S. Open, '07 Wimbledon).