Top 5 upsets at the Australian Open

The Grand Slams are the centre-stages of stories. The stories of champions being born, the stories of heroics, of unrelenting grind and inspiration, which comes out as a result of the struggles the athletes go through to give out everything they possess for the ultimate showdown.The players, locked in head to head, amidst the nervous silence of the crowd, the grueling heat of the centre court and of the high-octane moment, transcend the physical aspect of the game. But there is more to Grand Slams besides the obvious physical and emotional facets of the game.The records of Slams are written in history books. Once there, the tennis player has achieved the purpose for what he picked up the racquet for: immortality. But immortality is not for everyone. Only the very best of the profession, with their inexhaustive persistence and unflinching will, can overcome the mountain-esque odds to reach the top.And for that reason, “upset” has such a special meaning in the Majors. You don’t see a former champion go out in a whisker. Champions will dig in; they will persist, and will find a way to get the job done. But sometimes, the opponent will simply go all out, and flirt with the persistence and the will of the champion. Like the champion, the underdog decides to dig in too, and wait until he finds the right moment to pull the trigger.Here are some of those momentous and inspiring memories of the underdog causing a massive upset at Melbourne Park.

#5 Marcos Baghdatis Vs Andy Roddick

Marcos Baghdatis def. Andy Roddick 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Andy Roddick has had few chances in his life to win a Slam. With an unfortunate fate of playing at the peak of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s career, Roddick never had enough to unsettle the two great champions to raise the toast at the biggest showdowns.

But at the 2006 Australian Open, the American was pondering over a new reality, especially after the withdrawal of Nadal. Seeded 2, Roddick now had only one roadblock against him – the mighty Swiss, Federer. But his past record against Federer – the precious Wimbledon final of 2004 – gave him and his supporters enough hope.

Roddick, reposing one-of-the-favorite stature, made his intentions clear by winning the first three rounds in straight sets. The 20-year-old, unseeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis undid his nascent dreams in the fourth round.

In four, winner-loaded sets, Baghdatis came out better against his American counterpart in the baseline game. In the process, Roddick let go of another opportunity to win a Major.