Fifty parting thoughts from the Australian Open
No. 8 Stanislas Wawrinka and No. 4 Li Na both won their first Australian Open titles.
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• Let's also consider the fans. Never mind the notion that fans come because they want to watch elite athletes play their best, not to stagger around the court, clearly compromised, before cooling off with ice vests during breaks. Permitting play was dangerous to the spectators, too.
Serena Williams lost in the fourth round of the Australian Open for the second time in three years.
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Maria Sharapova lost to Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round of the Australian Open.
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• An unsolicited marketing tip for the folks in television: What's to prevent you from selling sponsorship to a particular round? "In our first Morgan Stanley quarterfinal, Azarenka will play Radwanska for a shot at the Beef 'O' Brady's semifinals."
No. 119 Stephane Robert made the fourth round as a lucky loser.
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• Thanks, everyone, for the emails and tweets. That was good fun. Nothing like geeking out on tennis for two weeks. Back to my day job now, but we'll do it again soon.
