Australian Open 2015 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:

 

 
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.

Australian title leaders (all-time)

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:

                                                All-time Grand Slam men’s singles titles

Rank

No. of titles

Player
1. 17 Roger Federer
2= 14
Rafael Nadal
Pete 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:

Age of 15-time Grand Slam winners

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.

All-time Grand Slam singles title leaders

(men and women)

Rank

No. of titles

Player
1. 24 Margaret Court
2. 22
Steffi Graf
3. 19 Helen Wills Moody
4= 18 Chris EvertMartina Navratilova

Serena Williams

5. 17 Roger Federer

 

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)

Player
No. of Australian Open final appearances before winning the title
Years
Andy Murray 4?? Lost 2010, 2011, 2013
Marat Safin 3 Lost 2002, 2004. Won 2005

 

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.

 

Australian Open appearances (all-time)


Rank
Player Australian Opens played
1.2.

3.

4.

5=

 

Lleyton Hewitt Fabrice Santoro

John 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)


Rank
Player No. of Grand Slams played
1.2=

 

4.

5.

Jimmy ConnorsAndre Agassi

Jimmy 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.


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

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
203-38 Pete Sampras 45-9
Novak Djokovic 18725180-33

178-47

Novak Djokovic
Rafael NadalWayne Ferreira
43-641-8

39-14

John McEnroe 167-38 Andy Roddick 38-11
Boris Becker 163-40 Mats Wilander 36-7
Lleyton HewittMats Wilander
Bjorn Borg

Guillermo Vilas

Andy Murray

145-60144-37
141-17

139-45

134-33

Jim Courier
Andy MurrayDavid Ferrer Marat Safin

*John Newcombe

Lleyton Hewitt

35-8
33-932-12

31-8

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 Lopez

David Ferrer

Fernando Verdasco

Tomas 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-Lopez

Tommy 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 Hewitt

Andre Agassi

6363

61

5 Jonas Bjorkman 58
6= Michael ChangJimmy Connors

Wayne Ferreira

5757

57

Ivan Lendl 57
10 Tommy Haas 56

Players at 2015 Australian Open in bold (totals include this event)

 

WAWRINKA DEFENDSWawrinka 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)

 

Australian Open (11)

Roland Garros (16)
Ken Rosewall 1971-72 Jan Kodes 1970-71
Guillermo Vilas 1978-79 Bjorn Borg 1974-75
Johan Kriek 1981-82 Bjorn Borg 1978-81 (3 successful defences)
Mats Wilander 1983-84 Ivan Lendl 1986-87
Stefan Edberg 1985-87* (*not played in 1986) Jim Courier 1991-92
Ivan Lendl 1989-90 Sergi Bruguera 1993-94
Jim Courier 1992-93 Gustavo Kuerten 2000-01
Andre Agassi 2000-01 Rafael Nadal 2005-08 (3 successful defences)
Roger Federer 2006-07Novak Djokovic 2011-12-13 (2 successful defences) Rafael Nadal 2010-14 (4 successful defences)
Wimbledon (17) US Open (12)
Rod Laver 1968-69 John McEnroe 1979-81 (2 successful defences)
John Newcombe 1970-71 Jimmy Connors 1982-83
Bjorn Borg 1976-80 (4 successful defences) Ivan Lendl 1985-87 (2 successful defences)
John McEnroe 1983-84 Stefan Edberg 1991-92
Boris Becker 1985-86 Pete Sampras 1995-96
Pete Sampras 1993-95 (2 successful defences) Patrick Rafter 1997-98
Pete Sampras 1997-2000 (3 successful defences) Roger Federer 2004-08 (4 successful defences)
Roger Federer 2003-07 (4 successful defences)

 

 

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.

 

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:

Venue of first Grand Slam title

Australian Open (11) Roland Garros (21)
Jimmy Connors 1974 Ken Rosewall 1968 Jim Courier 1991
Mark Edmondson 1976 Jan Kodes 1970 Sergi Bruguera 1993
Roscoe Tanner 1977 Andres Gimeno 1972 Thomas Muster 1995
Vitas Gerulaitis 1977 Bjorn Borg 1974 Yevgeny Kafelnikov 1996
Brian Teacher 1980 Adriano Panatta 1976 Gustavo Kuerten 1997
Johan Kriek 1981 Guillermo Vilas 1977 Carlos Moya 1998
Stefan Edberg 1985 Mats Wilander 1982 Albert Costa 2002
Petr Korda 1998 Yannick Noah 1983 Juan Carlos Ferrero 2003
Thomas Johansson 2002 Ivan Lendl 1984 Gaston Gaudio 2004
Novak Djokovic 2008 Michael Chang 1989 Rafael Nadal 2005
Stan Wawrinka 2014 Andres Gomez 1990

 

 Wimbledon (9)    US Open (13)  
Rod Laver 1968 Arthur Ashe 1968
John Newcombe 1970 Stan Smith 1971
Boris Becker 1985 Ilie Nastase 1972
Pat Cash 1987 Manuel Orantes 1975
Michael Stich 1991 John McEnroe 1979
Andre Agassi 1992 Pete Sampras 1990
Richard Krajicek 1996 Patrick Rafter 1997
Goran Ivanisevic 2001 Marat Safin 2000
Roger Federer 2003 Lleyton Hewitt 2001
Andy RoddickJuan Martin del Potro

Andy Murray

Marin Cilic

20032009

2012

2014

 

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.

 

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 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 HEROESWith 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)

Player

Hard court titles

Roger Federer 57
Andre Agassi 46
Novak DjokovicPete Sampras 3736
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)

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.

 

Doha Chennai Brisbane* Sydney Auckland
2006 Roger FedererChampion Ivan LjubicicQuarterfinals Florent Serra1st round James Blake3rd round Jarkko Nieminen3rd round
2007 Ivan Ljubicic1st round Xavier Malisse1st round Novak DjokovicRound of 16 James BlakeRound of 16 David FerrerRound of 16
2008 Andy Murray1st round Mikhail YouzhnyQuarterfinals Michael Llodra1st round Dmitry Tursunov2nd round Philipp KohlschreiberRound of 16
2009 Andy MurrayRound of 16 Marin CilicRound of 16 Radek Stepanek3rd round David Nalbandian 2nd round Juan Martin del PotroQuarterfinals
2010 Nikolay DavydenkoQuarterfinals Marin CilicSemifinals Andy RoddickQuarterfinals Marcos Baghdatis3rd round John IsnerRound of 16
2011 Roger FedererSemifinals Stan WawrinkaQuarterfinals Robin SoderlingRound of 16 Gilles Simon2nd round David FerrerSemifinals
2012 Jo-Wilfried TsongaRound of 16 Milos Raonic3rd round Andy MurraySemifinals Jarkko Nieminen1st round (ret.) David FerrerQuarterfinals
2013 Richard GasquetRound of 16 Janko TipsarevicRound of 16 Andy MurrayRunner-up Bernard Tomic
3rd round
David FerrerSemifinals
2014 Rafael NadalRunner-up Stan WawrinkaChampion Lleyton Hewitt1st round Juan Martin del Potro2nd round John Isner1st round
2015 David Ferrer??? Stan Wawrinka??? Roger Federer??? tbc
???
tbc
???

*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)

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 DohertyJohn 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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