We were dormant for much of December, then had two weeks of warm-up events in Australia and BAM - we're quickly here for the first Major of the season! There is considerable excitement about the year's first 'Grand Slam' (as nearly everyone is determined to call it), which was founded in 1905 when it was called the Australasian Championships. The tournament’s nickname is the “Happy Slam.”
Quick AO fun facts: Ken Rosewall is the youngest player to win the Australian Open at 18 years old in 1953, and the oldest at 35 in 1972. Meanwhile, in the women’s division, Martina Hingis is considered the youngest to win the tournament at 16 years old, and Thelma Coyne Long as the oldest at age 35 yrs and 3 mo. (Serena Williams was a month older than Thelma when she won her last AO in 2017 at age 35 and 4 mo.).
The AO has had its fair share of hiccups over its existence. Before 1977, the games were from December to January. Following the games from December 1976 to January 1977, the organisers wanted the second tournament for that year to be held in December 1977. The drawback was that not a lot of players competed. But if the tournament happened twice in 1977, it was not held at all in 1986. During the 80s, the games were held on the last week of November to the first week of December. That was the setup until 1985. After that year, the games have since been held in the middle of January, starting in 1987. And that was why there was no Australian Open in 1986.
The AO has been staged twice in New Zealand – 1906 & 1912. Djokovic holds the record for the most Men’s Singles titles with 7 wins; Margaret Court holds the record for the most Women’s Singles Titles with 11 wins; and Ash Barty is the last Australian female to win the AO.
The AO was a Grass Court Event until 1988. Out of the four Grand Slams, Melbourne Park is the only venue to have three stadium courts covered by a retractable roof. The Australian Open holds the record for the latest ever match conclusion with the Lleyton Hewitt vs Marcos Baghdatis match in 2008 concluding at 4:33am. The first AO in 1905 was played on a cricket ground which is today known as Albert Reserve Tennis Centre. And, after winning both his Australian Open Singles titles Jim Courier jumped into the Yarra River for a swim
So let's play ball!👇
