This Final Is a Swede 16 Party

“We are yellow. We are blue. We are Swedish. Who are you?”

We can think of a better question for the loud legions of singing and chanting yellow-and-blue-faced Swedes at Melbourne Park:

Who is Thomas Johansson?

It is far easier to describe how he won the Australian Open today against Marat Safin of Russia than to answer the aforementioned question. This surprising successor to the likes of Mats Wilander and Stefan Edberg declared earlier in the tournament, “Look at me, I’m not interesting,” almost making the monotoned Thomas Enqvist seem a little less dull by comparison.

Enqvist couldn’t quite conquer his nerves after winning the first set against Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the final here three years ago, losing in four. Tightness got to Johansson, too, creeping into his game in the fourth set.

Doubting Thomas?

Safin had something to do with it, of course. He seemed flat in the second and third sets, and part of the fourth, looking flat-footed and unwilling to hit out on his backhand side until falling behind a service break in the fourth.

But the final Safin surge was not enough as he ultimately ran out of comebacks. The 16th-seeded Johansson won his first Grand Slam title, defeating No. 9 Safin, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (4), in 2 hours 53 minutes. He won it on his fourth match point, retrieving a drop shot and then watching Safin’s lob float long.

Johansson showed impressive versatility. He hit 16 aces, had four double faults and was three for 14 on break-point opportunities.

Johansson, 26, became the first Swedish player to win the Australian Open since Wilander in 1988 and is the lowest-seeded player to win this tournament in the Open era. Mark Edmondson, who was unseeded, won in 1976.

Safin, who turned 22 today, was trying to add a second Grand Slam title to his resume, which already includes the 2000 U.S. Open. But he looked as if he was running on fumes after a strong first set. In the semifinals, Safin, helped by a well-timed rain delay, came back from a two-sets-to-one deficit against Tommy Haas of Germany, winning 11 of the last 13 games.

“He played too good today,” Safin said of Johansson. “I couldn’t do anything as you can see. I tried my best, but I couldn’t.”

Safin showed some humor and charm as he turned to Johansson during the award ceremony.

“It is a very important thing, enjoy it as much as you can,” he said.

Johansson was gracious in victory. “He [Safin] played some great tennis today,” he said. “I was really lucky to win today.”

He wished Safin happy birthday.

“I’m almost over the hill,” Johansson said. “He’s 22. I’m [almost] 27. I feel very old.”

Johansson hardly looked it. He had a grueling five-set semifinal against Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic but that match was played the night before the Safin-Hass match.

Because of the threat of rain today, the roof of Rod Laver Arena was partially closed and the lights were on. Though the day was not especially hot, Safin looked weary from his semifinal. What brought him back to contend in the fourth was a momentary serving lapse by Johansson in the fourth game. Safin broke him when he started missing his first serve.

They stayed on serve, holding with relative ease until the tiebreaker. Johansson took a 5-0 lead. Safin was distraught, talking to himself after missing a shot, and tumbled to the ground as a cross-court passing shot sailed past.

Safin fought off three match points. On the first, as he stood to serve, trailing, 1-6, a fan called out, heckling him: “Happy birthday!” It stopped Safin for a minute but he saved the first match point by ripping a forehand winner. On the second, Safin hit a service winner and Johansson looked tense on the third, knocking a backhand wide.

The moment of victory was delayed briefly until Safin’s lob drifted out. The Swede, typically, stayed within himself, pumping a fist and blowing a kiss to his entourage.

As it turned out, he had some nervous moments getting to the tournament. “My coach forgot to call the car,” he said. “We had to take a taxi.”

It was sort of a metaphor for his career. Johansson may have been late to Grand Slam success. But on a surprising day at the surprising 2002 Australian Open ... he eventually got there.

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Aussie Winners

The last 10 winners in the men’s final of the Australian Open:

Year: Player

2002: Thomas Johansson

2001: Andre Agassi

2000: Andre Agassi

1999: Yevgeny Kafelnikov

1998: Petr Korda

1997: Pete Sampras

1996: Boris Becker

1995: Andre Agassi

1994: Pete Sampras

1993: Jim Courier