Novak Djokovic is known for many things – good looks, abundant charm, belting tennis – but it is his fame as a mimic that has served him well in Australia. His impressions of Maria Sharapova brought the house down at the US Open and, four months on, he copied Russia's most photographed export to the letter as he followed her path to the Australian Open title.

Two new champions, two remarkable performances – and the season was only four weeks old.

Djokovic's talent for impersonation surfaced long ago. Back in the days when he was a junior, he watched Roger Federer win the trophy here and as the Swiss smiled and laughed and enjoyed the moment of victory, the young Djokovic wanted to be that man, he wanted to experience that moment exactly as Federer had done.

"I watched Roger with the trophy," he said. "I thought, Geez, I'm going to work for this one day."

At last he got his reward, beating the mighty Federer in the semi final and then getting the better of both his own nerves and expectations and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6. He was Serbia's first ever grand slam champion, but given the rise and rise of the players from his tiny country, he is unlikely to be the last.

It was Djokovic's second grand slam final (he lost to Federer in New York), but it was his first as the favourite. For the first time there was no Federer to face, for the first time he was expected to win and for the first time he felt the pressure that Federer carries with him in every tournament. It was also likely to be his best chance to win a major title for the foreseeable future as the world No.1 will return hungrier than ever for success.

"It feels different," he said. "Most of last year I was the underdog but this year I came here as the third best player in the world and until the semi final, I was expected to win. Then in the final, I feel the pressure and expectations from myself, from everyone – I am the favourite."

Tsonga's run to the final had taken everyone by surprise. Ranked No 38 in the world, the tall Frenchman, who bears a striking resemblance to a young Muhammad Ali, knocked out Andy Murray in the first round and then marched on to take out Richard Gasquet and Mikhail Youzhny before he blasted Rafael Nadal off the court in the semi finals. After years of struggling with injury, the 22 year old was finally able to show off the talent that had made him one of the most eye catching juniors of his generation.

But when it came to facing Djokovic, Tsonga's luck finally ran out. He had been riding the crest of a wave for two weeks but as soon as Djokovic fought back in the second set of the final, breaking serve for the first time, that run was over. He could never regain that superb form that had allowed him to pound the ball with stunning power and unerring accuracy. But Tsonga would be back. He had a taste for life at the top and the Australian Open final was merely the first course.

"Not everybody can beat players who I beat," he said. "So I know Richard or Youzhny or Rafael, they are very good players.  And beat them, it's very difficult, and I did it, so of course, I'm confident now."

As for Djokovic, he had achieved his dream and he had dealt with his nerves, the occasion and his opponent in more or less that order. So what had made the difference?

"I didn't play Roger," he said with a smile. "It was kind of strange feeling to get into the match as the favourite.  It's always dangerous to play against the underdog, the player who doesn't have really anything to lose. He was really aggressive, going for the shots since the start.  That's where I really needed to calm down and really try to keep my focus. 

"Obviously playing in a Grand Slam final in the US Open gave me a lot of experience which I used. In these crucial moments I was being probably more patient and more focused, so I think that's one of the turning points."

Sharapova's emphatic victory sent a ripple of anxiety through the locker room. In the four years since she won her first grand slam title, ambushing Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final in 2004, she has been warning all who would care to listen that she still had a long way to go, that she was nowhere near the finished article yet – firstly she had to stop growing, then she had to build up her strength and fitness and all the while she had to gain experience. By beating Ana  Ivanovic 7-5, 6-3 she gave notice that, at last, everything was coming together and she was approaching her best.

Last year was a miserable season of injury and depressing results. It began with a pounding by the younger Williams sister in the final here and then deteriorated rapidly. By the spring, she had developed a serious shoulder injury that simply refused to clear as the months wore on and she spent the rest of the year playing to a fraction of her potential.

On reflection, though, none of that mattered. Even winning her third grand slam trophy, leaving her only a French Open away from a career Grand Slam (and she is still only 20), was an experience tempered by real life and a growing maturity.

As she hugged the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy, Sharapova dedicated her win to Jane Joyce, the late mother of her coach, friend and hitting partner, Michael Joyce. Jane died from cancer last spring and suddenly tennis did not seem very important any more.

"Last year was tough for me," Sharapova said in front of the 15,000 in the Rod Laver Arena. "It was tough for my coach, Michael who lost his mother. We lost a key part of our team. Whenever we are on court, it is always her name – Jane – we think of. And I want to dedicate this one to her. After that loss, I gained a new perspective on life Tennis became so small.

"She was one of the closest people to me and my family to pass away. Those last few months when I was injured, it gave me so much perspective, taught me to prioritise. She is always in my mind."

Anyone in her sights, however, was treated with disdain. In three consecutive rounds she won a set 6-0 – the last one against Justine Henin, and that doesn't happen very often. She was focused and ferocious from first ball until last and by the time she bumped into Ivanovic there was only ever going to be one winner.

The last time Ivanovic reached a major final, she froze completely and was overwhelmed by Justine Henin at the French Open. She promised then that she would learn from her mistakes and if she got another chance to play for one of the biggest prizes in the game she would make a better fist of it. She lived up to her promise but, alas, she did not have the game plan or the fire power to stop Sharapova.

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