2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN MEN’S TENNIS PREVIEW

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Men’s Tournament Preview

 

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:

 

 

 

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.

 

 

Australian title leaders (all-time)

 

 

 

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:

 

All-time Grand Slam men’s singles titles

 

 

 

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:

 

Age of 15-time Grand Slam winners

 

 

 

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.

 

All-time Grand Slam singles title leaders

(men and women)

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 No. of Australian Open final appearances before winning first title (Open Era)

 

 

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)

 

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.

 

Australian Open appearances (all-time)

Rank	Player	Australian Opens played
1.2.3. 4. 5=	Lleyton Hewitt  Fabrice SantoroJohn Alexander Roger Federer Phil Dent Brad Drewett Mark Woodforde Mikhail Youzhny	19* 18 17 16* 15 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.

 

Most appearances at a single Grand Slam (all-time)

 

 

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.

 

Players aged over 30 to win 2 or more Grand Slams (all-time)

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

Successful Grand Slam title defences (Open Era)

Among all 4 Grand Slam events, a defending champion has lost in the 1st round 4 times, including twice at the Australian Open:

 

Defending Grand Slam champions losing in 1st round (Open Era)

 

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

 

Australian Open title defence attempts (Open Era)

 

                                    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.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

FIRST-TIME WINNER… In the Open Era, 11 men have notched up their first major by winning the Australian Open:

Venue of first Grand Slam title

 

 

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

 

1969                Rod Laver                              Won title

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

1979                Guillermo Vilas                      Won title

1980                Guillermo Vilas                        Lost QF

1981                Guillermo Vilas                        Lost 3rd Round

1982                Johan Kriek                           Won title

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

1990                Ivan Lendl                              Won title

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

1997                Pete Sampras                        Won title

1998                Pete Sampras                         Lost QF

1999                Pete Sampras                         Withdrew

2000                Andre Agassi                         Won title

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

2006                Roger Federer                       Won title

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.

 

 

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 Grand Slam finalists since 1988

 

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.

 

Hard court title leaders (Open Era)

 

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:

 

Hard court title leaders (active)

 

 

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.

 

 

Doubles Grand Slam Team Title-Leaders (all-time)

 

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.

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