Any tennis fan would admit that the best part of tennis season is undoubtedly when the four Grand Slam tournaments take place. Winning a Grand Slam is a dream for every professional player, no matter how young or experienced. In Slams, pressure and intensity are off-the-charts high, and the quality of tennis is absolutely breathtaking.

The first Slam of 2013 kicked off on Jan. 14 in Melbourne, Australia. Currently studying abroad in Singapore, I had to put in extra effort during those two weeks to keep up with the tournament while adjusting to my new surroundings and enjoying this incredible experience at the same time.

Before the tournament began, I picked Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams as the players to go all the way. They both steamrolled their way through the first three rounds, playing like true champions-elect. My favorite players in the tour, Victoria Azarenka and Roger Federer, were still in the mix as well and quietly took their strides as they also made it past the first week. Most impressive by far, Andy Murray and Maria Sharapova created shockwaves with their devastating performances in their first few matches, crushing opponents and emerging as strong favorites for the crowns. The first week of the tournament finished with an epic fourth round clash between Djokovic and Stanislas Wawrinka. Fortune really favored Djokovic on occasions as he managed to edge his opponent 12-10 in the fifth set to sneak into the second week.

Personally, the second week of the Slams is when I really start to watch every match possible, because as the tournament approaches its conclusion, most of the players remaining are highly seeded. The opponents are more equal in terms of quality and desire, which leads to excellent tennis matches. However, there was one player remaining in the women’s draw who is quite inexperienced and new to the occasion — Sloane Stephens, the 19-year-old American. Her brave performance at the U.S. Open 2012 caught my eye, and I tabbed her as one of the future’s brightest players. This time around, she truly announced herself to the tennis world as she sent her idol, Serena Williams, crashing out of the tournament in the quarterfinals. Williams, struck by injury during the second set, cut an angry, frustrated figure as the match wore on and proved that nobody is perfect, and even the best of the best can have an off day. A face-off against the top seed proved a bridge too far for Stephens as Azarenka, looking to defend the championship, booked her place in the final.

Standing on the other side of the court to challenge Azarenka was the sixth seed, Li Na, who demoralized Sharapova in the semis. Everything seemed to be going Na’s way as she won the first set, but two injuries she sustained later in the match, the second being quite nasty, completely swung the balance toward Azarenka. The world No. 1 went on to win her second Slam, both in Melbourne.

On the men’s side, business was more straightforward. As usual, the top four seeds made it to the semifinal stage, but Federer and fourth seed David Ferrer had to survive five set matches in the quarter finals against Jo Wilfred Tsonga and Nicolas Almagro, respectively. Both would feel the effects of those matches in the semifinals as Ferrer was completely blown away by Djokovic and Federer conceded defeat to Murray with an exhausted display in the fifth set. The men’s final would showcase the rematch of last year’s final, in which Djokovic came out on top.

This time around, Djokovic and Murray split the first two sets via tie-breaks. Djokovic’s superior physical fitness was the difference as he took complete control of the next two sets against an exhausted Murray, who had to withstand Federer in five sets in the semifinal. The Serb ended up winning comfortably and now has four Australian Open titles to his name, becoming the first-ever player to win three in a row.

I am glad that tennis season is back; how I have missed it! And I cannot wait until May — more of the same please, Roland Garros!