As we put the first major of 2008 to bed, here’s my Aussie Open Report Card:

A+: Novak Djokovic

Relentless 20-year-old Serb navigates a tough draw, dissess No.1 Roger Federer in the semifinals and wins his first of what should be many majors.

A+: Maria Sharapova

Storms through the tournament without dropping a set and announces with clinical precision that she’s ready to reclaim the top ranking.

A: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Smokin’ Jo burst from the background with a sublime combination of power, speed, athleticism and feathery touch at the net. Literally blew Rafael Nadal off the court in semifinal dismantling.

A: Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich

Israeli pair is first to win a major for their country.

A-: Ana Ivanovic

“Aussie Ana” won over the Melbourne crowds, beat Venus Williams for the first time and didn’t implode in the final, though there is still work to do on emotional management and shot selection.

B+: Plexicusion

New blue surface that replaced Rebound Ace acquitted itself well. Players noted extra-puffy balls after a few games, but there were few complaints once the tournament got underway and it supported some great matches.

B: Australian Tennis

Little-known Casey Dellacqua beat No. 15 Patty Schnyder and then former No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo on her way to the fourth round, and Bernard Tomic became the youngest winner of a junior boy’s major at 15 years, three months

B-: Roger Federer

Kept his record 209-week streak at No. 1 alive but wasn’t his dominating self - including a rare admission that his success has created a“monster.” Now he has a two-front war on his hands with Nadal on clay and Djokovic on cement.

C: Serena Williams

Defending champ came in fit and prepared but deflated in straight-set loss to Jelena Jankovic in the quarterfinals. The game’s best server was broken seven of nine times.

C-: Andy Roddick and American tennis

Roddick served a career-best 42 aces against Philipp Kohlschreiber but still couldn’t get the job done in a five-set, third round defeat by being dominated from the baseline. Meantime, the USA, in advancing no one beyond the quarterfinals in any draw, tied its worst performance in the Open era.

D: Venus Williams and Sania Mirza

Declined to move to “lesser” Vodafone Arena after the day session runs long, meaning officials had to choose between starting the highly anticipated Hewitt-Baghdatis match at close to midnight or send home disappointed (and possibly irate) fans. The match concludes at 4:34 a.m. Just in case that wasn’t enough, the women’s final in ’09 will be moved to a night slot.

D: Clan Djokovic

Father Srdjan, mother Dijana, and brothers Djordje and Marko, who sat with matching sponsor’s gear that spelled out “N-O-L-E” in the player’s box looked silly - or as Linda Pearce of the Age pointed out,“disturbingly Griswaldish.”

F+: Tournament Security

Melbourne police mace rowdy but certainly not dangerous Greek fans (and everyone sitting nearby) at a match between Konstantinos Economidis and Chilean Fernando Gonzalez. This, a year after Serbian and Croatian fans brawl on Melbourne Park grounds.

F: Yuri Sharapov

After his daughter said he looked like an “assassin” in his new hooded Nike camouflage sweatshirt, acted like the first three letters of that description when he made a throat-slashing motion at the conclusion of Maria’s quarterfinal win over Justine Henin.

F-: The WTA

The women’s tour passed off the class-less and frankly stupid Sharapov incident as an “inside joke” and did nothing.

Honorable Mention: Finally, I can’t sign off without giving an A++ honorable mention to my fantastic hosts in Melbourne, Grant and Steven. All I can say is they did my laundry five times, and folded it, too.