2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN
This is the 103rd edition of the Australian Championships, which began in 1905, as well as being the 47th Australian Open and the 188th Grand Slam tournament of the Open Era.
Melbourne Park hosts the tournament for the 28th year. It was first played here in 1988, when the venue was known as Flinders Park.
POINTS AND PRIZE MONEY… Total prize money for the men’s singles at the 2015 Australian Open is AUD$14,398,000. Individual prize money and ATP Ranking points are:
Prize Money(AUD$) |
ATP Ranking Points |
|||
Champion |
3,100,000 |
2000 |
||
Finalist |
1,550,000 |
1200 |
||
Semifinalist |
650,000 |
720 |
||
Quarterfinalist |
340,000 |
360 |
||
Round of 16 |
175,000 |
180 |
||
Third Round |
97,500 |
90 |
||
Second Round |
60,000 |
45 |
||
First Round |
34,500 |
10 |
A QUICK 2014 GRAND SLAM® REVIEW… The Grand Slams were won by 4 different men in 2014, 2 of whom were first time major winners. Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic broke through to win their first Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open and US Open respectively, breaking the stranglehold of the ‘big four’.
Rafael Nadal maintained his dominance at Roland Garros by claiming a 9th title and extending his record for the most titles won at any one Grand Slam event, while Novak Djokovic lifted a second Wimbledon trophy to take his tally of majors to 7. It was the 5th consecutive year that all major titlists had come from Europe.
A FIFTH AUSSIE TITLE FOR DJOKOVIC?… Having won the Australian Open title in 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013, Djokovic is bidding to become the second man in history to win 5 or more Australian Open singles titles. Roger Federer is also looking to win 5 titles here. The only man to collect more than 5 titles in Melbourne is Roy Emerson.
Player |
Titles won |
Years |
Roy Emerson |
6 |
1961, 1963-67 |
Andre Agassi |
4 |
1995, 2000-01, 2003 |
Jack Crawford |
4 |
1931-33, 1935 |
Novak Djokovic |
4 |
2008, 2011-13 |
Roger Federer |
4 |
2004, 2006-07, 2010 |
Ken Rosewall |
4 |
1953, 1955, 1971-72 |
NADAL EYES CAREER GRAND SLAM DOUBLE… Nadal is bidding to become the first man in the Open Era – and only the third man in history – to win each of the 4 Grand Slam titles twice. Roy Emerson and Rod Laver are the only players to have won each Grand Slam on 2 or more occasions.
NB: While Laver completed the feat in 1969, some of the titles were won before the start of the Open Era.
CAN NADAL CLOSE THE GAP?… By winning his 9th Roland Garros title in 2014 Nadal won his 14th major title and moved into joint-2nd place with Pete Sampras on the all-time list for Grand Slam men’s singles titles. The Spaniard could take sole occupancy of 2nd place – and close the gap on Federer – if he wins a 2nd Australian Open trophy:
Rank |
No. of titles |
Player |
1. |
17 |
Roger Federer |
2= |
14 |
Rafael NadalPete Sampras |
4. |
12 |
Roy Emerson |
5= |
11 |
Bjorn BorgRod Laver |
7 |
10 |
Bill Tilden |
Players competing at 2015 Australian Open in bold
NADAL AGE TO WIN 15 MAJORS… If Nadal wins his 2nd Australian Open crown, to add to his 9 Roland Garros trophies, 2008 and 2010 Wimbledon victories, and 2010 and 2013 US Open titles, he would become the oldest man and 3rd-oldest player in history to win 15 Grand Slam titles. Nadal will be 28 years, 243 days old on the final day of the tournament:
Player | 15th Grand Slam title | Age |
Serena Williams | 2012 US Open | 30 years, 348 days |
Martina Navratilova | 1986 US Open | 29 years, 324 days |
Chris Evert | 1983 Roland Garros | 28 years, 166 days |
Margaret Court | 1970 Wimbledon | 27 years, 353 days |
Roger Federer | 2009 Wimbledon | 27 years, 331 days |
Helen Wills Moody | 1932 Roland Garros | 26 years, 244 days |
Steffi Graf | 1994 Australian Open | 24 years, 230 days |
FEDERER CHASING WOMEN’S ALL-TIME GREATS… Federer is bidding for his 18th major title here in Melbourne. Victory would see him tie Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Serena Williams in equal 4th place on the list for most Grand Slam singles titles.
FOURTH TIME LUCKY FOR MURRAY?… Murray is looking to become the first man in the Open Era to win the Australian Open title after losing 3 finals in Melbourne. Murray fell to Federer in the 2010 final and to Djokovic in the 2011 and 2013 finals. Marat Safin is the only player to lose 2 or more Australian Open finals before winning the title.
MOST AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINAL APPEARANCES… Djokovic is bidding to equal Stefan Edberg and Roger Federer in first place for the most Australian Open final appearances. Federer, meanwhile, could take sole occupancy of first place if he reaches the final for a sixth time here.
No. of Australian Open final appearances (Open Era)
Player |
No. of Australian Open final appearances |
Stefan Edberg |
5 |
Roger Federer |
5 |
Andre Agassi |
4 |
Novak Djokovic |
4 |
Ivan Lendl |
4 |
Mats Wilander |
4 |
HEWITT SETS AUSSIE RECORD… Lleyton Hewitt is making his 19th appearance in Melbourne, setting a new record for the most Australian Open appearances. Hewitt also holds the record for the most consecutive appearances in Melbourne.
Rank |
Player |
Australian Opens played |
1.2.3.
4. 5=
|
Lleyton Hewitt Fabrice SantoroJohn Alexander
Roger Federer Phil Dent Brad Drewett Mikhail Youzhny |
19* 18 17 16* 15 15 15 |
Players at 2015 Australian Open in bold,
*denotes a consecutive streak which is active through 2015 Australian Open
Hewitt is in 5th place for the most appearances at a single Grand Slam.
Rank |
Player |
No. of Grand Slams played |
1.2=
4. 5. |
Jimmy ConnorsAndre AgassiJimmy Connors
Fabrice Santoro Lleyton Hewitt |
22 (US Open) 21 (US Open) 21 (Wimbledon) 20 (Roland Garros) 19 (Australian Open) |
THE 30s CLUB… At 33 years 177 days Federer is looking to become the oldest man to win the Australian Open since Ken Rosewall, who was 37 years 62 days when he lifted the title in 1972.
Federer, who won 2012 Wimbledon aged 30 years, 335 days, is also looking to become the fifth man in the Open Era to win 2 or more Grand Slams titles after turning 30. Andre Agassi was the last man to achieve the feat, winning the Australian Open in 2001 at 30 years, 274 days and again aged 32 years, 272 days in 2003.
Player |
Titles won aged over 30 |
Years |
Rod Laver |
4 |
1969 |
Ken Rosewall |
4 |
1968, 1970, 1971, 1972 |
Andre Agassi |
2 |
2001, 2003 |
Jimmy Connors |
2 |
1982, 1983 |
MOST OPEN ERA MATCH-WINS… Federer is looking to extend his Open Era record for Grand Slam match-wins. Djokovic and Nadal could both climb the list for most Australian Open match-wins this year. Djokovic could climb as high as third in the list if he reaches the final. The leading Open Era performers are as follows:
All Grand Slams Australian Open
Player | Win-loss | Player | Win-loss |
Roger FedererJimmy Connors | 279-45233-49 | Roger Federer Stefan Edberg |
73-11 56-10 |
Andre Agassi | 224-53 | Andre Agassi | 48-5 |
Ivan Lendl | 222-49 | Ivan Lendl | 48-10 |
Pete Sampras | 203-38 | Pete Sampras | 45-9 |
Rafael NadalNovak DjokovicStefan Edberg | 187-25180-33178-47 | Novak Djokovic Rafael NadalWayne Ferreira |
43-641-839-14 |
John McEnroe | 167-38 | Andy Roddick | 38-11 |
Boris Becker | 163-40 | Mats Wilander | 36-7 |
Lleyton HewittMats Wilander Bjorn BorgGuillermo Vilas Andy Murray |
145-60144-37 141-17139-45 134-33 |
Jim Courier Andy MurrayDavid Ferrer Marat Safin*John Newcombe Lleyton Hewitt |
35-8 33-932-1231-8 30-7 30-18 |
Note: players at 2015 Australian Open in bold, *Also played pre-Open Era
61st CONSECUTIVE MAJOR FOR FEDERER… Federer is competing in his 61st straight major here, which sees him extend his record for the longest streak of Open Era Grand Slam singles appearances.
Rank |
Player |
Consecutive Grand Slam Events Played |
1.2. | Roger FedererWayne Ferreira | 61* (2000 Aus Open-2015 Aus Open)56 (1991 Aus Open-2004 US Open) |
3. | Stefan Edberg | 54 (1983 Wimbledon-1996 US Open) |
4.5.6.
7= |
Feliciano LopezDavid Ferrer Fernando VerdascoTomas Berdych Fabrice Santoro |
52* (2002 Roland Garros-2015 Aus Open)49* (2003 Aus Open-2015 Aus Open)47* (2003 Wimbledon-2015 Aus Open)
46* (2003 US Open-2015 Aus Open) 46 (1998 US Open-2010 Aus Open) |
8. | Dominik Hrbaty | 44 (1997 Aus Open-2007 US Open) |
9= | Novak DjokovicGuillermo Garcia-LopezTommy Robredo | 41*(2005 Aus Open-2015 Aus Open)41*(2005 Aus Open-2015 Aus Open)41 (2001 Aus Open-2011 Aus Open) |
Players at 2015 Australian Open in bold, *denotes a streak which is active through 2015 Australian Open
MOST GRAND SLAMS PLAYED… Federer and Hewitt are playing in their 63rd Grand Slam event at this year’s Australian Open. They are in 2nd place for the most Grand Slams played in the Open Era.
Rank | Player |
Grand Slam Events Played |
1 | Fabrice Santoro |
70 |
2=4 | Roger FedererLleyton HewittAndre Agassi |
63 63 61 |
5 | Jonas Bjorkman |
58 |
6= | Michael ChangJimmy ConnorsWayne Ferreira |
57 57 57 |
Ivan Lendl |
57 |
|
10 | Tommy Haas |
56 |
Players at 2015 Australian Open in bold (totals include this event)
WAWRINKA DEFENDS… Wawrinka won his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open last year. However, Melbourne traditionally appears to be the hardest place to retain a title. There have been only 2 Grand Slam events since the last successful title defence, which was Rafael Nadal at 2014 Roland Garros.
Among all 4 Grand Slam events, a defending champion has lost in the 1st round 4 times, including twice at the Australian Open:
Year/Event | Defending Champion | 1st round result |
1977 (Dec) Australian Open | Roscoe Tanner | l. Chris Lewis 36 63 62 16 64 |
1997 Australian Open | Boris Becker | l. Carlos Moya 57 76 36 61 64 |
1999 US Open | Patrick Rafter | l. Cedric Pioline 46 46 75 63 1-0 ret. (shoulder injury) |
2003 Wimbledon | Lleyton Hewitt | l. Ivo Karlovic 16 76 63 64 |
CHAMPION SUBSEQUENT YEAR
1969 Rod Laver Did not play
1970 Arthur Ashe Lost Final to Ken Rosewall
1971 Ken Rosewall Won title
1972 Ken Rosewall Lost 2nd Round to Karl Meiler
1973 John Newcombe Lost QF to Ross Case
1974 Jimmy Connors Lost Final to John Newcombe
1975 John Newcombe Lost Final to Mark Edmondson
1976 Mark Edmondson Lost QF to Ken
Rosewall
1977 (Jan) Roscoe Tanner Lost 1st Round to Chris Lewis
1977 (Dec) Vitas Gerulaitis Did not play
1978 Guillermo Vilas Won title
1979 Guillermo Vilas Lost SF to Kim Warwick
1980 Brian Teacher Did not play
1981 Johan Kriek Won title
1982 Johan Kriek Lost QF to Mats Wilander
1983 Mats Wilander Won title
1984 Mats Wilander Lost Final to Stefan Edberg
1985 Stefan Edberg Won title (1987)
1986 No tournament
1987 Stefan Edberg Lost SF to Mats Wilander
1988 Mats Wilander Lost 2nd Round to Ramesh Krishnan
1989 Ivan Lendl Won title
1990 Ivan Lendl Lost Final to Boris Becker
1991 Boris Becker Lost 3rd Round to John McEnroe
1992 Jim Courier Won title
1993 Jim Courier Lost SF to Pete Sampras
1994 Pete Sampras Lost Final to Andre Agassi
1995 Andre Agassi Lost SF to Michael Chang
1996 Boris Becker Lost 1st Round to Carlos Moya
1997 Pete Sampras Lost QF to Karol Kucera
1998 Petr Korda Lost 3rd Round to Todd Martin
1999 Yevgeny Kafelnikov Lost Final to Andre Agassi
2000 Andre Agassi Won title
2001 Andre Agassi Did not play
2002 Thomas Johansson Did not play
2003 Andre Agassi Lost SF to Marat Safin
2004 Roger Federer Lost SF to Marat Safin
2005 Marat Safin Did not play (left knee injury)
2006 Roger Federer Won title
2007 Roger Federer Lost SF to Novak Djokovic
2008 Novak Djokovic Lost QF to Andy
Roddick (retired)
2009 Rafael Nadal Lost QF to Andy Murray (retired)
2010 Roger Federer Lost SF to Novak Djokovic
2011 Novak Djokovic Won title
2012 Novak Djokovic Won title
2013 Novak Djokovic Lost QF to Stan Wawrinka
2014 Stan Wawrinka ???
SEVEN GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS IN MAIN DRAW… There are 7 Grand Slam tournament champions appearing in the 2015 Australian Open men’s main draw, including 4 former Australian Open winners: Djokovic, Federer, Nadal and Wawrinka.
Juan Martin del Potro (1) |
2009 US Open |
Novak Djokovic (7) |
2008/11/12/13 Australian Open; 2011/14 Wimbledon; 2011 US Open |
Roger Federer (17) |
2003/04/05/06/07/09/12 Wimbledon; 2004/06/07/10 Australian Open; 2004/05/06/07/08 US Open; 2009 Roland Garros |
Lleyton Hewitt (2) |
2001 US Open; 2002 Wimbledon |
Andy Murray (2) |
2012 US Open; 2013 Wimbledon |
Rafael Nadal (14) |
2005/06/07/08/10/11/12/13/14 Roland Garros; 2008/10 Wimbledon; 2009 Australian Open; 2010/13 US Open |
Stan Wawrinka (1) |
2014 Australian Open |
TWENTY-SIX AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPIONS IN OPEN ERA… Of the 54 different Open Era Grand Slam champions, 26 have won the Australian Open at least once in their careers. Andre Agassi, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer head the list with 4 Open Era titles each.
Rod Laver* 1969 *also won pre-Open Era Australian Open titles
Arthur Ashe 1970
Ken Rosewall* 1971-72
John Newcombe 1973, 1975
Jimmy Connors 1974
Mark Edmondson 1976
Roscoe Tanner 1977 (Jan)
Vitas Gerulaitis 1977 (Dec)
Guillermo Vilas 1978-79
Brian Teacher 1980
Johan Kriek 1981-82
Mats Wilander 1983-84, 1988
Stefan Edberg 1985, 1987
Ivan Lendl 1989-90
Boris Becker 1991, 1996
Jim Courier 1992-93
Pete Sampras 1994, 1997
Andre Agassi 1995, 2000-01, 2003
Petr Korda 1998
Yevgeny Kafelnikov 1999
Thomas Johansson 2002
Roger Federer 2004, 2006-07, 2010
Marat Safin 2005
Novak Djokovic 2008, 2011-13
Rafael Nadal 2009
Stan Wawrinka 2014
ONE-SLAM WONDERS… 26 of the 54 Open Era Grand Slam singles champions also belong to the ‘One-Slam Wonder’ Club, lifting a sole Grand Slam title in the Open Era. Juan Martin del Potro and Stan Wawrinka are the men playing in this year’s Australian Open singles who could win a 2nd major.
Player | Time since Grand Slam title | Sole Grand Slam title |
Juan Martin del Potro | 5 years, 4 months | 2009 US Open |
Stan Wawrinka | 1 year | 2014 Australian Open |
FIRST-TIME WINNER… In the Open Era, 11 men have notched up their first major by winning the Australian Open:
HOW HAS THE TOP SEED FARED DOWN UNDER?… Of the 45 Australian Opens played since 1969, 16 top seeds have gone on to win the title. In 2002 Lleyton Hewitt became the only Australian Open top seed in the Open Era to date to exit in the 1st round.
Top Seed Australian Open Round Achieved
1970 Tony Roche Lost QF
1971 Rod Laver Lost 3rd Round
1972 John Newcombe Lost QF
1973 Ken Rosewall Lost 2nd Round
1974 John Newcombe Lost QF
1975 Jimmy Connors Lost Final
1976 Ken Rosewall Lost SF
1977 (Jan) Guillermo Vilas Lost Final
1977 (Dec) Vitas Gerulaitis Won title
1978 Guillermo Vilas Won title
1980 Guillermo Vilas Lost QF
1981 Guillermo Vilas Lost 3rd Round
1983 Ivan Lendl Lost Final
1984 Ivan Lendl Lost Round of 16
1985 Ivan Lendl Lost SF
1986 No tournament
1987 Ivan Lendl Lost SF
1988 Ivan Lendl Lost SF
1989 Mats Wilander Lost 2nd Round
1991 Stefan Edberg Lost SF
1992 Stefan Edberg Lost Final
1993 Jim Courier Won title
1994 Pete Sampras Won title
1995 Pete Sampras Lost Final
1996 Pete Sampras Lost 3rd Round
1998 Pete Sampras Lost QF
1999 Pete Sampras Withdrew
2001 Gustavo Kuerten Lost 2nd Round
2002 Lleyton Hewitt Lost 1st Round
2003 Lleyton Hewitt Lost Round of 16
2004 Andy Roddick Lost QF
2005 Roger Federer Lost SF
2007 Roger Federer Won title
2008 Roger Federer Lost SF
2009 Rafael Nadal Won title
2010 Roger Federer Won title
2011 Rafael Nadal Lost QF
2012 Novak Djokovic Won title
2013 Novak Djokovic Won title
2014 Rafael Nadal Lost Final
2015 Novak Djokovic ???
THE NO. 1 RANKING… Federer could become No. 1 when the ATP rankings are released on Monday 2 February if he wins the Australian Open title and Djokovic fails to reach the 4th round.
AUSSIES LOOK TO END TITLE DROUGHT… Mark Edmondson was the last Australian to win the Australian Open men’s singles title, doing so in 1976, as well as becoming the only recorded unseeded player to win here. None of the other 3 Grand Slam tournaments has gone longer without a resident national champion.
Event | Last Native Champion |
Australian Open | Mark Edmondson 1976 |
Roland Garros | Yannick Noah 1983 |
Wimbledon | Andy Murray 2013 |
US Open | Andy Roddick 2003 |
In 2005, Lleyton Hewitt became the first Australian to reach the men’s final here since Pat Cash reached back-to-back finals in 1987 and 1988. An Aussie has reached the final at a Grand Slam event only 10 times in the 107 majors since Cash’s 1988 final appearance, and only once at the Australian Open. Hewitt’s 2002 Wimbledon title marked the last time an Australian man lifted a Grand Slam trophy.
Australian Open
2005 Lleyton Hewitt Runner-up lost to Marat Safin 16 63 64 64
Wimbledon
2000 Patrick Rafter Runner-up lost to Pete Sampras 67 76 64 62
2001 Patrick Rafter Runner-up lost to Goran Ivanisevic 63 36 63 26 97
2002 Lleyton Hewitt Champion defeated David Nalbandian 61 63 62
2003 Mark Philippoussis Runner-up lost to Roger Federer 76 62 76
US Open
1997 Patrick Rafter Champion defeated Greg Rusedski 63 62 46 75
1998 Patrick Rafter Champion defeated Mark Philippoussis 63 36 62 60
Mark Philippoussis Runner-up lost to Patrick Rafter 63 36 62 60
2001 Lleyton Hewitt Champion defeated Pete Sampras 76 61 61
2004 Lleyton Hewitt Runner-up lost to Roger Federer 60 76 60
HARD COURT HEROES… With 57 hard court titles, Federer is top on the list of Open Era hard court title leaders. Murray could equal Ivan Lendl in 5th place on the list for most Open Era hard court titles if he wins the title here.
Player |
Hard court titles |
Roger Federer |
57 |
Andre Agassi |
46 |
Novak Djokovic |
Pete Sampras
37
36
Ivan Lendl
26
Andy Murray
25
Among active players, Federer owns almost double the number of hard court titles of the second placed (Djokovic) and third placed (Murray) players combined:
Player |
Hard court titles |
Last hard court title |
Roger Federer |
57 |
2015 Brisbane |
Novak Djokovic |
37 |
2014 ATP World Tour Finals |
Andy Murray |
25 |
2014 Valencia |
Lleyton Hewitt |
20 |
2014 Brisbane |
Rafael Nadal |
16 |
2014 Doha |
A GOOD WARM-UP DOESN’T GUARANTEE SUCCESS… In 2014 Stan Wawrinka became the first player since Federer in 2006 to win the Australian Open having won a pre-Australian Open tournament. Wawrinka won Chennai before lifting his first Grand Slam trophy in Melbourne.
Here are the Australian Open finishes for the pre-Australian Open tournament winners since Federer’s success in 2006.
*previously Adelaide until 2008
TWIN TERRITORY… Men’s doubles top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan hold the record for the most doubles titles in the Open Era (103) and have also won the most Grand Slam doubles titles (16) in the Open Era.
The Australian Open is their most successful Grand Slam. They have won the title here 6 times, compared with Roland Garros (2), Wimbledon (3) and the US Open (5). They are bidding to reach their 10th Australian Open final and win their 7th title in Melbourne. The Bryans failed to reach the Australian Open final on 2 occasions between 2004-2014 – in 2008 when they fell in the quarterfinals, and last year when they lost in the 3rd round.
Rank | Player |
No. of titles |
|
1. | Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan |
16 |
|
2. | John Newcombe/Tony Roche |
12 |
|
3. | Todd Woodbridge/Mark Woodforde |
11 |
|
4= | Lawrence Doherty/Reggie Doherty |
John Bromwich/Adrian Quist
10
WILD CARDS… Home players received 5 of the 8 available wild cards, with James Duckworth, Thanasi Kokkinakis, John Millman, Luke Saville, joining Australian Open wild card play-off winner Jordan Thompson in the main draw. American Denis Kudla won the USTA Australian Open wild card play-off while Lucas Pouille of France received a wild card as part of a reciprocal arrangement with the French Tennis Federation. China’s Ze Zhang won the Asia/Pacific Australian Open wild card play-off.
MISSING YOU ALREADY… Players who appeared on the original entry list but withdrew before the draw was made are as follows: Tommy Haas (shoulder), Jack Sock (hip), Radek Stepanek (back), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (arm), Janko Tipsarevic (lung infection) and Marin Cilic (shoulder).
SEEDED FOR THE FIRST TIME… David Goffin and Pablo Cuevas are seeded at a Grand Slam for the first time. Roberto Bautista Agut, Leonardo Mayer, Lukas Rosol and Santiago Giraldo are seeded at the Australian Open for the first time.
FROM BOYS TO MEN… There are 7 former Australian Open junior singles champions playing in this year’s main draw: Marcos Baghdatis (2003), Gael Monfils (2004), Donald Young (2005), Bernard Tomic (2008), Jiri Vesely (2011), Luke Saville (2012) and Nick Kyrgios (2013). Stefan Edberg is the only player to have won both the junior and senior title here in the Open Era. He captured the boys’ singles title in 1983, before winning the men’s singles in 1985 and 1987.
Mikhail Youzhny (1999), Luke Saville (2011) and Thanasi Kokkinakis (2013) reached the boys’ final here.
Topics: 2015 Australian Open, Atp, Sports, Tennis
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