Australian Open 2012

Novak Djokovic

In the longest Grand Slam final in the Open Era, Djokovic outlasted Rafael Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 to defend his crown and win his third straight major final. The match stretched for five hours, 53 minutes and was Djokovic's seventh straight victory over Nadal in finals.

Rafael Nadal

After the match, Nadal (left) said of the marathon match: "Physically, was the toughest match I ever played. ... I am tired." Nadal recorded a quality win over Roger Federer in the semifinals, but still is yet to find an answer for Djokovic.

Victoria Azarenka

No. 3 Azarenka was dominant in her win over Maria Sharapova. So much so that just after winning, she dropped to her knees, looked up to her box and mouthed "What just happened?" What happened? You won your first Grand Slam title over one of the WTA's fiercest competitors and took over the No. 1 ranking from Caroline Wozniacki in the process.

Maria Sharapova

Sharapova just couldn't get it going in the final against Victoria Azarenka, losing 12 of the final 13 games. She hit 30 unforced errors, but seemingly leaves Melbourne in high spirits. "I'm proud of the fact that I made it this far," she said after the match. "I have a lot to look forward to this year."

Petra Kvitova

The Czech's bid for a second major title and the No. 1 ranking evaporated in a semifinal loss to Maria Sharapova, the woman she beat to win Wimbledon last year.

Kim Clijsters

The defending champ fell in the semifinals in what may have been her final match in Melbourne.

Andy Murray

Murray is still chasing his first Grand Slam title, and with new coach Ivan Lendl in his corner, Murray had dropped just one set all tournament entering his semifinal match against Novak Djokovic.

Roger Federer

In his 1,000th career match, Roger Federer rolled past nemesis Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 to reach his ninth straight Australian Open semifinal. But once there the Swiss lost to longtime rival Rafael Nadal in four sets.

Caroline Wozniacki

Wozniacki lost her No. 1 ranking, which she held for 67 weeks, via a quarterfinal loss to Kim Clijsters.

Serena Williams

Serena Williams earned her 500th career WTA Tour win in Melbourne, but took an ugly fourth-round exit at the hands of Ekaterina Makerova shortly thereafter.

Juan Martin del Potro

The 2009 U.S. Open champion reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal since winning in New York.

David Nalbandian

The Argentine veteran got upset after chair umpire Kader Nouni would not allow him to challenge an incorrect overrule during a key moment of a second-round match against John Isner. Nalbandian called Nouni ''stupid'' after his five-set loss and later was fined $8,000 for throwing water at a staff member. He is appealing the fine.

Andy Roddick

Roddick retired from his second-round match against Lleyton Hewitt because of a hamstring injury.

Samantha Stosur

The U.S. Open champion struggled again at her home Grand Slam tournament, losing in the first round to Sorana Cirstea.

Mardy Fish

Mardy Fish entered as the top seeded American on either side of the draw. He exited in the second round, just as he did in 2011, via a 7-6 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (6) loss to Alejandro Falla.

John Isner

Isner lost a five-setter to Feliciano Lopez in the third round, leaving the United States without a man in the Australian Open fourth round for the first time in the Open Era.

Ana Ivanovic

Former No. 1 Ivanovic had her best showing at the Australian Open since reaching the final in 2009 (a loss to Maria Sharapova). But she was out-gunned by Petra Kvitova in a 6-2, 7-6 (2) fourth-round loss.

Bernard Tomic

The 19-year-old Australian was one of the big stories of Week 1, rallying from two sets down to beat No. 22 Fernando Verdasco in the first round and winning a five-setter against No. 13 Alexandr Dolgopolov in the third round. Ultimately, Tomic lost to Roger Federer in straight sets in the fourth round.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands

Mattek-Sands showed off a little ink in her first-round match against Agnieszka Radwanska. But despite firing 81 winners, the American seemed to run out of steam after a grueling first set and lost to the No. 8 seed 6-7 (10), 6-4, 6-2.