The first set was remarkable enough. Serena Williams became the most successful women's player in professional tennis history when she vanquished older sister Venus. This was her 23th grand slam win, now only one behind the great Australian Margaret Court. At 35 years and 125 days she also extended her record as the oldest woman to win a major in the open era.
And what an effort, too, from Venus Williams, to make the final at age 36 and when she has long had to deal with autoimmune disease Sjogrens Syndrome (diagnosed in 2011). It was her first grand slam final since 2009.
The next day came the ``Fed Express' '' triumph in the men's final in Melbourne, in an astonishing set of circumstances. ``Aged'' 35-year-old Roger Federer had had his day at the pinnacle of tennis, so the pundits claimed, it being five years since his previous grand slam victory. The father of two sets of twins, Federer had the previous six months off with injury after slipping on a bathroom floor, dropping in the rankings to 17th.
But when the current best players, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic lost, the improbable began to seem possible. Could Federer make the final? Could he win?
Meanwhile, on the other side of the draw, Rafael Nadal (30), Federer's nemesis, was making his own comeback, having also been plagued by injury. Could the Spaniard - who had not lost to Federer at a grand slam since Wimbledon in 2007 - take part in another epic battle with his Swiss friend? Could one of the greatest rivalries in sport be revived?
So it proved. Three hours and 38 minutes and five sets later the seesaw tilted Federer's way and the 18th grand slam - now four ahead of Nadal - was his.
``I told myself to play free,'' Federer said. ``You play the ball. You don't play the opponent. Be free in your head. Be free in your shots. Go for it. The brave will be rewarded here. I didn't want to go down just making shots, seeing forehands rain down on me from Rafa.''
Federer, despite no Murray or Djokovic, had beaten four of the top 10 players. Instead of slicing backhands, he attacked. And, after several heart-stopping moments and several momentum swings, he somehow overcame the pressure and the demons of recent-year failures and persevered. This was his third five-setter of the tournament. Nadal, who fought through a marathon semi himself, retains a record 9-3 in grand slams against his respected rival and 23-11 overall.
This is a golden era in men's tennis for both quality and depth. Supposedly, over-the-hill Federer could but hold his own near but not at the top. The script, however, was rewritten. The man who many regard as the greatest tennis player of the modern era had at least this one last hurrah.
No wonder the tournament engendered so much interest, so much enjoyment; no wonder sport can generate positive feelings around the globe. Game set and match to the Australian Open, and to Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Venus Williams.
