Sunday, January 27, 2019

Australian Open Championships

I began following professional tennis a couple years ago, and have come to especially enjoy the Grand Slam Tournaments. I have already written about the Wimbledon and US Open Championships and will now write about the Australian Open. I have recently followed this tournament from beginning to end as it comes to its conclusion. (I intend to write about the 4th major tournament, The French Roland Garros Open as the tournament approaches in May).

The first thing I will say about the Australian Open is that it is much more difficult to follow than the other 3 tournaments. That is because of the massive 16 hour time difference from the Eastern Coast to the Canberra Australian time zone. Most of the best matches of the Australian Open happen while we are in bed here on the eastern coast around 12 to 5 am. There are a few matches in the early stages of the tournament that begin around 7 and 9pm eastern time, but as the tournament progresses they occur much later into the night. The men and womens' finals are broadcast at 3:30 am on eastern time.

I had this similar problem when I followed the World Cup in 2002 set in South Korea. All the live matches were over night on the east coast. During that summer I was so dedicated to the tournament that I made an extra effort to stay up over night to watch these games live (especially when team USA played and went to the quarterfinals). No sport quite compares to my dedication of the World Cup, and the Australian Open is certainly no exception. I probably only caught a handful of live matches and had to follow the rest thru podcasts and next day recaps. Nonetheless I grew quite intrigued by the history and prestige of this major Grand Slam tournament of tennis.

History of the Australian Open

The Australian Open was first held in 1905 in the city of Melbourne as a national tennis championship. It quickly became the largest tennis tournament in the southern hemisphere. By 1922 the women's championship was merged with the men's championship.  And by 1924 it was decided by the International Tennis Lawn Federation that the Australian Open should be a World Major tournament. It was the last founded tournament of the big 4, with the first being the Wimbledon Championship founded in 1877, the US Open in 1881, and the French Open in 1891.

The Australian Open was first played on grass courts but eventually moved to hard courts in 1988. The host city was also alternated between Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Christchurch, and Hastings. But by 1972 it was decided to keep Melbourne as the permanent residence of the tournament due to higher attendance and profitability. The tournament is held annually in the month of January, as the 1st of the 4 Grand Slams. It is often referred to as the "Happy Slam" and holds the record for the highest attendance set just last year in 2018.

The main venue of the tournament is the Rod Laver Arena which seats 16,200. The venue was originally built in 1987 and referred to then as the National Tennis Center at Flinders Park. However in the year 2000 it was renamed the Rod Laver Arena after one of Australia's all time greatest tennis players Rod Laver. He went on to win 11 Grand Slam titles during the 1960s, 3 of which were Australian Open titles in 1960, 1962, and 1969. Margaret Court Arena is also a significant venue in the tournament giving homage to the greatest female tennis player in history. Margaret Court went on to win 24 Grand Slam titles throughout the 1960s-1970s, including 8 Australian Opens. (Serena Williams is just 1 title away from 24, and 2 away from surpassing Margaret Court to become the most decorated female tennis player of all time)


2019 Female Stars

  • Naomi Osaki (JPN) The young 21 year old went on win her 2nd consecutive Grand Slam title at this tournament by defeating Petra Kvitova in the final match. She has a very quirky personality yet her power, agility, and competitiveness makes her one of the best tennis players in the world. She will now be ranked #1 and has a very bright future ahead of her.
  • Petra Kvitova (CZE) The 28 year old vet, fell just short of yet another Grand Slam title, in losing to Osaki in a highly contested 3 set match. Kvitova is already a well decorated tennis star with 2 titles at Wimbeldon in 2011 and 2014.
  • Karolina Pliskova (CZE) The 26 year old Czech star went on to her 2nd Grand Slam semi-final however was defeated at this tournament by Osaki. Pliskova has made it as far as the finals in the 2017 US Open however has still yet to acheive a Grand Slam title. She is still young and in the prime of her career and certainly has a good chance to do so. 
  • Danielle Collins (USA) She was no doubt the female break-out star of this tournament, making
    it further then she ever has before. She was my favorite player to watch for her spunky competitive nature. Unlike the other tennis professionals she made her rise thru college sports. She lost to Petra Kvitova in the semi-finals, in what appeared to be a contested first set yet a collapse in the second set. I should think this break-thru performance will give her a further hunger for future grand slams to come. 
  • Serena Williams (USA) The all time greatest female tennis player has yet to win a Grand Slam since she gave birth a year and a half ago. She lost in the finals in Wimbeldon and the US Open and did not even make the finals in this tournament. She lost a peculiar quarterfinal match against Petra Kvitova in which she was up 5-1 in the 3rd set. She had an epic collapse that saw Petra take advantage of. Curious on the reasoning for her sudden collapse which is very unlike her dominant behavior. 
  • Elina Svitolina (UKR): This up-and-comer made it to her 4th Grand Slam quarterfinal however once again was unable to advance after losing to Osaki. 
  • Ashleigh Barty (AUS): This young home crowd favorite Aussie, made it to the quarterfinals however lost to Petra Kvitova. This is the furthest she has ever been and at only 22 she has a bright future ahead of her. 
  • Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) She made it to her 5th quarterfinals yet once again was unable to advance after losing to Danielle Collins.  



2019 Male Stars


  • Novak Djokovic (SRB) He went on to win his 15th Grand Slam Title, and 3rd consecutive one, by defeating Raphael Nadal in the final match. Novak has shown perfect form the past few tournaments now. He has surpassed Pete Sampras on the all time Grand Slam title list. He is chasing behind Nadal's 17 titles and Federer's 24 to be considered one of the greatest of all time. 
  • Raphael Nadal (ESP) He was nearly perfect in all his matches, winning all 3 sets in each of his matches. However he was defeated by his arch-nemesis Djokovic in the final match. Nadal has been struggling with injuries the last few years now, however he better shape up soon if he wants to continue to chase Federer's title count as well as compete with the rising Djokovic. 
  • Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) He was the young breakthrough star on the men's side, who shocked the world by his defeat of Federer in the 4th round. I actually watched this game live as I could not sleep and thought Federer was in control yet Tsitsipas was showing great poise. After I went to sleep I woke up to hear the shocking news that Stefanos had won. He later lost to Nadal in the semi-finals. At the young age of 20  this young up-and-coming Greek rock-star has a very promising future.  
  • Lucas Pouille (FRA) He made it the furthest he ever has before by defeating Milos Raonic to make it to his first ever grand slam semi-final. However he got dominated in the semi-final by Djokovic 
  • Frances Tiafoe (USA) The young 21 year old American made it the furthest he ever has before to the quarterfinals. His breakthrough victory came in the second round by defeating Kevin Anderson (who was ranked 5th in the world) Tiafoe brings a fresh new look to the tennis game and has a promising future ahead of him.  
  • Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) The Spanish vet made it to his first ever quarterfinal in a grand slam however lost to the young up-and-comer Stefanos Tsitsipas. 
  • Milos Raonic (CAN) The Canadian Vet once again fell short of securing his first ever grand slam title. He lost in the quarterfinals to Lucas Pouille.
  • Kei Nishikori (JPN) The Japanese star made it to yet another quarterfinal (his 7th one) yet no further. He was defeated by Djokvoic much due to fatigue and injuries suffered in his previous match. Nishikori came close in the 2014 US Open as runner-up, however has still yet to secure a Grand Slam title. 


Men's Past Champions

Year
Winner
2nd
Score
2019
Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Rafael Nadal (Spain)
6–3, 6–2, 6–3
2018
Roger Federer (Swiz)
Marin Čilić (Croatia)
6–2, 6–7(5–7), 6–3, 3–6, 6–1
2017
Roger Federer (Swiz)
Rafael Nadal (Spain)
6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3
2016
Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Andy Murray (UK)
6-1, 7-5, 7-6(7-3)
2015
Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Andy Murray (UK)
7–6(7–5), 6–7(4–7), 6–3, 6–0
2014
Stanislas Wawrinka (Swiz)
Rafael Nadal (Spain)
6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
2013
Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Andy Murray (UK)
6-7(7-2), 7-6(7-3), 6-3, 6-2
2012
Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Rafael Nadal (Spain)
7-5, 4-6, 2-6, 7-6, 7-5
2011
Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Andy Murray (UK)
6-4, 6-2, 6-3
2010
Roger Federer (Swiz)
Andy Murray (UK)
6-3, 6-4, 7-6
2009
Rafael Nadal (Spain)
Roger Federer (Swiz)
7–5, 3–6, 7–6(3), 3–6, 6–2
2008
Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
4-6 6-4 6-3 7-6(2)
2007
Roger Federer (Swiz)
Fernando Gonzalez (Chile)
7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4
2006
Roger Federer (Swiz)
Marcos Baghdatis
5-7 7-5 6-0 6-2
2005
Marat Safin
Lleyton Hewitt
1-6 6-3 6-4 6-4
2004
Roger Federer (Swiz)
Marat Safin
7-6(3) 6-4 6-2
2003
Andre Agassi
Rainer Schüttler
6-2 6-2 6-1
1981
Johan Kriek
S. Denton
62 76 67 64
1989
Ivan Lendl
M. Mecir
62 62 62
2002
Thomas Johansson
Marat Safin
3-6 6-4 6-4 7-6(4)
2001
Andre Agassi
A.Clement
6-4, 6-2, 6-2
2000
Andre Agassi
Y. Kafelnikov
3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
1999
Yevgeny Kafelnikov
T. Enqvist
4-6 6-0 6-3 7-6(1)
1998
Petr Korda
M. Rios
6-2 6-2 6-2
1997
Pete Sampras
C. Moya
6-2 6-3 6-3
1996
Boris Becker
M. Chang
6-2 6-4 2-6 6-2
1995
Andre Agassi
P. Sampras
4-6 6-1 7-6 6-4
1994
Pete Sampras
T. Martin
7-6 6-4 6-4
1993
Jim Courier
S. Edberg
6-2 6-1 2-6 7-5
1992
Jim Courier
S. Edberg
6-3 3-6 6-4 6-2
1991
Boris Becker
I. Lendl
1-6 6-4 6-4 6-4
1990
Ivan Lendl
S. Edberg
4-6 7-6 5-2 (ret.)
1988
Mats Wilander
P. Cash
6-3 6-7 3-6 6-1 8-6
1987
Stefan Edberg
P. Cash
6-3 6-4 3-6 5-7 6-3
1983
Mats Wilander
I. Lendl
6-1 6-4 6-4
1986
Not held
1985
Stefan Edberg
M. Wilander
64 63 63
1984
Mats Wilander
K. Curren
67 64 76 62
1982
Johan Kriek
S. Denton
63 63 62
1980
Brian Teacher
K. Warwick
75 76 63
1979
Guillermo Vilas
J. Sadri
76 63 62
1978
Guillermo Vilas
J. Marks
64 64 36 63
1977 #2
Vitas Gerulaitis
J. Lloyd
63 76 57 36 62
1977 #1
Roscoe Tanner
G. Vilas
63 63 63
1976
Mark Edmondson
J. Newcombe
67 63 76 61
1975
John Newcombe
J. Connors
75 36 64 75
1974
Jimmy Connors
P. Dent
76 64 46 63
1973
John Newcombe
O. Parun
63 67 75 61
1972
Ken Rosewall
M. Anderson
76 63 75
1971
Ken Rosewall
A. Ashe
61 75 63
1970
Arthur Ashe
D. Crealy
64 97 62
1969
Rod Laver
A. Gimeno
63 64 75
1968
Bill Bowrey
J. Gisbert
75 26 97 64
1967
Roy Emerson
A. Ashe
64 61 61
1966
Roy Emerson
A. Ashe
64 68 62 63
1965
Roy Emerson
F. Stolle
79 26 64 75 61
1964
Roy Emerson
F. Stolle
63 64 62
1963
Roy Emerson
K. Fletcher
63 63 61
1962
Rod Laver
R. Emerson
86 06 64 64
1961
Roy Emerson
R. Laver
16 63 75 64
1960
Rod Laver
N. Fraser
57 36 63 86 86
1959
Alex Olmedo
N. Fraser
61 62 36 63
1958
Ashley Cooper
M. Anderson
75 63 64
1957
Ashley Cooper
N. Fraser
63 9-11 64 62
1956
Lew Hoad
K. Rosewall
64 36 64 75
1955
Ken Rosewall
L. Hoad
97 64 64
1954
Mervyn Rose
R. Hartwig
62 06 64 62
1953
Ken Rosewall
M. Rose
60 63 64
1952
Ken McGregor
F. Sedgman
75 12-10 26 62
1951
Dick Savitt
K. McGregor
63 26 63 61
1950
Frank Sedgman
K. McGregor
63 64 46 61
1949
Frank Sedgman
J. Bromwich
63 63 62
1948
Adrian Quist
J. Bromwich
64 36 63 26 63
1947
Dinny Pails
J. Bromwich
46 64 36 75 86
1946
Jack Bromwich
D. Pails
57 63 75 36 62
1941-45
Not held
World War II
1940
Adrian Quist
J. Crawford
63 61 62
1939
Jack Bromwich
A. Quist
64 61 63
1938
Don Budge
J. Bromwich
64 62 61
1937
Viv McGrath
J. Bromwich
63 16 60 26 61
1936
Adrian Quist
J. Crawford
62 63 46 36 97
1935
Jack Crawford
F. Perry
26 64 64 64
1934
Fred Perry
J. Crawford
63 75 61
1933
Jack Crawford
K. Gledhill
26 75 63 62
1932
Jack Crawford
H. Hopman
46 63 36 63 61
1931
Jack Crawford
H. Hopman
64 62 26 61
1930
Gar Moon
H. Hopman
63 61 63
1929
John Gregory
R. Schlesinger
62 62 57 75
1928
Jean Borotra
R.O. Cummings
64 61 46 57 63
1927
Gerald Patterson
J. Hawkes
36 64 36 18-16 63
1926
John Hawkes
J. Willard
61 63 61
1925
James Anderson
G. Patterson
11-9 26 62 63
1924
James Anderson
R. Schlesinger
63 64 36 57 63
1923
Pat Wood
C.B. St. John
61 61 63
1922
James Anderson
G. Patterson
60 36 36 63 62
1921
Rhys Gemmell
A. Hedeman
75 61 64
1920
Pat Wood
R. Thomas
63 46 68 61 63
1919
A.R.F. Kingscote
E. Pockley
64 60 63
1916-18
Not held
World War I
1915
Francis Lowe
H. Rice
46 61 61 64
1914
Pat Wood
G. Patterson
64 63 57 61
1913
Ernie Parker
H. Parker
26 61 62 63
1912
J. Cecil Parke
A. Beamish
36 63 16 61 75
1911
Norman Brookes
H. Rice
61 62 63
1910
Rodney Heath
H. Rice
64 63 62
1909
Tony Wilding
E. Parker
61 75 62
1908
Fred Alexander
A. Dunlop
36 36 60 62 63
1907
Horace Rice
H. Parker
63 64 64
1906
Tony Wilding
H. Parker
60 64 64
1905
Rodney Heath
A. Curtis
46 63 64 64

Women's Past Champions

Year
Winner
2nd
Score
2019
Naomi Osaka (Japan)
Petra Kvitová (Czech Republic)
7–6(7–2), 5–7, 6–4
2018
Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)
Simona Halep (Romania)
7–6(7–2), 3–6, 6–4
2017
Serena Williams (USA)
Venus Williams (USA)
6–4, 6–4
2016
Angelique Kerber (Germany)
Serena Williams (USA)
6–4, 3–6, 6–4
2015
Serena Williams (USA)
Maria Sharapova (Russia)
6–3, 7–6(7–5)
2014
Li Na (China)
Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia)
7-6(7-3), 6-0
2013
Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)
Li Na (China)
4-6, 6-4, 6-3
2012
Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)
Maria Sharapova (Russia)
6-3, 6-0
2011
Kim Clijsters
Li Na (China)
3-6, 6-3, 6-3
2010
Serena Williams (USA)
Justine Henin
6-4, 3-6, 6-2
2009
Serena Williams (USA)
Dinara Safina
6–0, 6–3
2008
Maria Sharapova
Ana Ivanović
7-5 6-3
2007
Serena Williams (USA)
Maria Sharapova
6-1, 6-2
2006
Amelie Mauresmo
Justine Henin-Hardenne
6-1, 2-0 retired
2005
Serena Williams (USA)
Lindsay Davenport (USA)
2-6, 6-3, 6-0
2004
Justine Henin-Hardenne
Kim Clijsters
6-3, 4-6, 6-3
2003
Serena Williams (USA)
Venus Williams (USA)
7-6(4), 3-6, 6-4
2002
Jennifer Capriati
Martina Hingis
4-6, 7-6(7), 6-2
2001
Jennifer Capriati
Martina Hingis
6-4, 6-3
2000
Lindsay Davenport
Martina Hingis
6-1, 7-5
1999
Martina Hingis
A. Mauresmo
62 63
1998
Martina Hingis
C. Martinez
63 63
1997
Martina Hingis
M. Pierce
62 62
1996
Monica Seles
A. Huber
64 61
1995
Mary Pierce
A.S. Vicario
63 62
1994
Steffi Graf
A.S. Vicario
60 62
1993
Monica Seles
S. Graf
46 63 62
1992
Monica Seles
M.J. Fernandez
62 63
1991
Monica Seles
J. Novotna
57 63 61
1990
Steffi Graf
M.J. Fernandez
63 64
1989
Steffi Graf
H. Sukova
64 64
1988
Steffi Graf
C. Evert
61 76
1987
Hana Mandlikova
M. Navratilova
75 76
1986
Not held
1985
Martina Navratilova
C. Evert Lloyd
62 46 62
1984
Chris Evert Lloyd
H. Sukova
67 61 63
1983
Martina Navratilova
K. Jordan
62 76
1982
Chris Evert Lloyd
M. Navratilova
63 26 63
1981
Martina Navratilova
C. Evert Lloyd
67 64 75
1980
Hana Mandlikova
W. Turnbull
60 75
1979
Barbara Jordan
S. Walsh
63 63
1978
Chris O'Neil
B. Nagelsen
63 76
1977
Evonne Cawley
H. Gourlay
63 60
1977
Kerry Reid
D. Balestrat
75 62
1976
Evonne Cawley
R. Tomanova
62 62
1975
Evonne Goolagong
M. Navratilova
63 62
1974
Evonne Goolagong
C. Evert
76 46 60
1973
Margaret Court
E. Goolagong
64 75
1972
Virginia Wade
E. Goolagong
64 64
1971
Margaret Court
E. Goolagong
26 76 75
1970
Margaret Court
K. Melville
61 63
1969
Margaret Court
B.J. King
64 61
1968
Billie Jean King
M. Smith
61 62
1967
Nancy Richey
L. Turner
61 64
1966
Margaret Smith
N. Richey
walkover
1965
Margaret Smith
M. Bueno
57 64 52 (ret)
1964
Margaret Smith
L. Turner
63 62
1963
Margaret Smith
J. Lehane
62 62
1962
Margaret Smith
J. Lehane
60 62
1961
Margaret Smith
J. Lehane
61 64
1960
Margaret Smith
J. Lehane
75 62
1959
Mary Reitano
T. Schuurman
62 63
1958
Angela Mortimer
L. Coghlan
63 64
1957
Shirley Fry
A. Gibson
63 64
1956
Mary Carter
T. Long
36 62 97
1955
Beryl Penrose
T. Long
64 63
1954
Thelma Long
J. Staley
63 64
1953
Maureen Connolly
J. Sampson
63 62
1952
Thelma Long
H. Angwin
62 63
1951
Nancye Bolton
T. Long
61 75
1950
Louise Brough
D. Hart
64 36 64
1949
Doris Hart
N. Bolton
63 64
1948
Nancye Bolton
M. Toomey
63 61
1947
Nancye Bolton
N. Hopman
63 62
1946
Nancye Bolton
J. Fitch
64 64
1941-45
Not held
World War II
1940
Nancye Wynne
T. Coyne
57 64 60
1939
Emily Westacott
N. Hopman
61 62
1938
Dorothy Bundy
D. Stevenson
63 62
1937
Nancye Wynne
E. Westacott
63 57 64
1936
Joan Hartigan
N. Bolton
64 64
1935
Dorothy Round
N. Lyle
16 61 63
1934
Joan Hartigan
M. Molesworth
61 64
1933
Joan Hartigan
C. Buttsworth
64 63
1932
Coral Buttsworth
K. Le Messurier
97 64
1931
Coral Buttsworth
M. Crawford
16 63 64
1930
Daphne Akhurst
S. Harper
10-8 26 75
1929
Daphne Akhurst
L. Bickerton
61 57 62
1928
Daphne Akhurst
E. Boyd
75 62
1927
Esna Boyd
S. Harper
57 61 62
1926
Daphne Akhurst
E. Boyd
61 63
1925
Daphne Akhurst
E. Boyd
16 86 64
1924
Sylvia Lance
E. Boyd
63 36 64
1923
Mall Molesworth
E. Boyd
61 75
1922
Mall Molesworth
E. Boyd
63 10-8

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