Ash Barty risked losing her status as the world's number one women's tennis player last year, preferring to return home to Queensland to be with family and friends after being away for seven months and bypassing the WTA finals.
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There was time to relax, but it was far from a holiday. Barty trained hard with long-time coach Craig Tyzzer, with a focus to start 2022 strongly.
Clearly, her game has elevated to another level - the serve has developed greater accuracy and penetration and the forehand has become an even more lethal weapon. Barty is the pride of the nation after becoming the first Australian woman to win her home Grand Slam in 44 years.
The straight sets win over American Danielle Collins gave her a cherished Australian Open to go with her Grand Slam triumphs at Roland Garros and Wimbledon and the match underlined how far Barty has come as a player. She handled the pressure of playing at home with aplomb, displaying confidence and an air of invincibility without a hint of arrogance.
In the second set, Collins slipped away to a 5-1 lead after Barty missed numerous opportunities to claw her way back.
Lesser players would have conceded and prepared for a monumental mental and physical effort in a deciding third set, but not Barty. As she demonstrated consistently throughout the tournament, and she regained her composure after being challenged and forced the set into a tiebreaker.
With her full array of strokes and amazing athleticism on show, Barty's victory sent the partisan crowd at Rod Laver Arena into a frenzy and sparked off a national celebration.
She joined an elite group of active players who have won Grand Slam titles on all surfaces - clay, grass and hard courts - alongside Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
While Barty enjoys her latest success, Collins' effort in making her first Grand Slam final deserves enormous praise.
The American's fierce competitiveness took her a long way and she conducted herself magnificently post-match with a graceful, dignified speech. But the highlight of the presentation ceremony was the surprise appearance of seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Evonne Goolagong Cawley.
There have been several horrendous blunders leading up to and during this Australian Open - notably the debacle over Djokovic's visa and Tennis Australia's decision to ban T-shirts highlighting the plight of Chinese player Peng Shuai, which was subsequently overturned after howls of protest - but TA struck the right chord by inviting Goolagong Cawley to make the trophy presentations.
Barty's emotional embrace with her heroine since she first picked up a racquet created a magical, moving moment in Australian sporting history. Later they were joined by another Indigenous champion in Olympic gold medallist Cathy Freeman, whose achievements also provided inspiration for a young Barty.
Capping off a wonderful night for Australian tennis, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis captured the men's doubles title, defeating countrymen Matt Ebden and Max Purcell in straight sets.
While Kyrgios and Kokkinakis' energy and antics in inciting spectators might irk traditionalists, their entertainment value is unquestioned as they attract new, younger fans to the stands and on TV. Both have enormous scope for growth in their game and hopefully, this championship can lead to better results, maybe as a team and as singles players.
Remarkable Rafa wins war
Nadal is an incredible athlete and his historic win over Daniil Medvedev in a memorable men's final is testament to his remarkable resilience, fitness and mental strength.
In the first two sets, Medvedev ruled with his outstanding court coverage and big serve as Nadal served poorly and made too many unforced errors.
Nadal eventually started to play on his terms to take the third set and the gruelling final two sets became a war of attrition.
Finally, after almost five and a half hours, the indefatigable Spaniard, 35, prevailed over the big Russian, who is almost 10 years his junior.
To secure a historic 21st Grand Slam singles title and overtake Djokovic and Federer, Nadal reignited the GOAT debate as he accomplished something he had not done previously - come from two sets down in a Grand Slam final to win.
What made the victory even more special was his struggle with a lingering foot injury that threatened to end his glittering career.
The popular Spaniard was sidelined for almost five months before he arrived in Australia this summer, yet battled through the pain and now has his sights set on a 14th title at Roland Garros in four months.
By winning his second Australian Open, Nadal has won each Grand Slam twice - he has four US Open and two Wimbledon crowns to go with his amazing record in the French Open.
Medvedev was brave in defeat. He is a feisty competitor who will add to his sole Grand Slam triumph.
While spectators seem to find it difficult to cheer him for various reasons, the Russian's talent is undeniable.
The epic men's final drew the curtain on a wonderful two weeks that attracted massive TV ratings and worldwide interest.
There was plenty of fun and great highlights, interspersed with controversy and even spiteful clashes on and off the court.
Novak who? The Australian Open has been and always will be bigger than one individual.
Has Howard got it right? Email: howardkotton11@gmail.com; Twitter: @hpkotton59
