The 22 best photos from the first week of the Australian Open

The first week of the Australian Open is in the books, and while much of the tournament has been overshadowed by allegations of match-fixing, the actual tennis has been reliably excellent.

Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka are among the biggest men's names that failed to reach the quarterfinals, and the women's singles tournament has been treated to a fairy-tale run by Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai, who had previously never won a main draw match at a Grand Slam and is now in the quarterfinals.

Still, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams remain the favorites to win, but it won't be easy. Williams has yet to drop a set so far, but faces Maria Sharapova in the quarterfinals. Djokovic, meanwhile, needed five sets to best Gilles Simon and reach the quarters, and Roger Federer and Andy Murray both loom in the coming rounds.

Along with great tennis, the Australian Open also produces some of the best photography in sports, year in and year out. The shadows, sky, and heat down under always combine for a breathtaking collection of photographs. Here are our 22 favorites from the first week.