Perhaps we have been spoiled in recent times, what with the Nadal-Verdasco and Hewitt-Baghdatis epics of recent times or the public rehabilitation of Jelena Dokic, but this year's Open had none of those matches that people will be talking about for years to come.

The best match of all might have been the second-round women's match between Justine Henin and Elena Dementeiva, which despite Henin winning in straight sets, went for 170 minutes. For drama and quality, it had no peer.

Because the Open is such an all-encompassing event, particularly in Melbourne, much of the comment and criticism is to do with matters not necessarily on the court.

Chief among them is the Channel Seven coverage. The host broadcaster copped it on several fronts, both for the quality of the coverage and at times, the lack of it.

Short of being mandated by the Federal Government, commercial broadcasters with the rights to sporting events will take whatever liberties they can with their broadcasts, by delaying them or cutting them short for news and other programming. We've seen it happen with AFL, cricket and golf, so tennis was bound to be next.

The annual Bernard Tomic v the world saga played itself out again. Damir Dokic anyone? What other 17 year old complains at being out past midnight? To its credit, Tennis Australia, is taking no rubbish from the Tomic camp. Croatia is a 24-hour flight away. Don't forget to buy some duty-free on your way out and to take some of the Croatian fans, who thought they were at the soccer and not the tennis, with you.

The scheduling put a few other noses out of joint, with not all the women's tennis sorority happy about losing their automatic right to the first match on Rod Laver Arena every evening. But it's a bit rich to command equal prizemoney without some accommodating when it comes to scheduling and other matters.

We don't buy into the gnashing of teeth about the state of Australian tennis that coincides with the Open every year. The Australian Open should not be confused with Australian tennis. Yes, the Open helps underwrite the sport in this country, but results at Melbourne park should not be taken as a referendum on how our players are going.

That's for the Paul McNamees and the Craig Tileys of this world to debate, and until the circus comes to town again in another 11 months, it is this discussion that will generate tennis most of its headlines.

Although with a new football season almost upon us, not the largest headlines.