Australian Open 2012 Schedule: Day 14 TV Schedule, Matches and Bracket Guide
The season's first Grand Slam is going to come to and end early Sunday morning and it will be the best two players in the world closing the show out.
No. 1 Novak Djokovic will look to overcome the final obstacle in his bid to repeat as champion. Standing in his way is No. 2 Rafael Nadal, who is appearing in his second Australian Open final, winning it in 2009.
This Grand Slam has been a learning experience for both the men and women.
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We have seen a changing of the guard on the women's side as Victoria Azarenka not only won her first Grand Slam, but became the No. 1 ranked player in the world in doing so. Maria Sharapova made an impressive run to the finals, but was downed 6-3, 6-0 by Azarenka.
On the men's side, it's now clearer than ever that if Roger Federer's Grand Slam window is closing, if it's not completely shut. He was playing fantastic tennis coming in, had everything working in his favor, but dropped the semifinal to Nadal 7-6, 2-6, 6-7, 4-6.
On the other side of the bracket, you had Andy Murray finally show some toughness to match his talent. In prior years, he would fold rather easily when facing Djokovic, Nadal, or Federer in Grand Slams. That is no longer the case, as Murray dropped a five-set semifinal heartbreaker to Djokovic.
But enough looking back, there is still one more match to be played, and it will be a good one. If Nadal isn't hungry for this one, then he's simply not human. In 2011, Djokovic enjoyed one of the best seasons in the history of the game. He beat Nadal in six finals; two of those came in Grand Slams.
In addition to the men's final, tennis lovers will also get a chance to the teams of Elena Vesnina/Leander Paes and Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Horia Tecau square off for the mixed doubles final. That match will be a nice contest to lead into what should be an epic main event between Nadal and Djokovic.
Check out the full schedule of Day 14's matches.
DirecTV subscribers can also catch every match through the Australian Open Experience.
You can find a full schedule below and at the official website of the Australian Open.
Full Bracket Found at ESPN.
Mixed doubles final - 12:30 a.m. EST. Tennis Channel
| No. 5 Elena Vesnina and Leander Paes | vs. | No. 8 Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Horia Tecau |
Men's final - 3:30 a.m. EST. ESPN2
| No. 1 Novak Djokovic | vs. | No. 2 Rafael Nadal |
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