History of the Australian Open

• The tournament began in 1905 as the Australasian Championships, held at the Warehouseman’s Cricket Ground in Melbourne.
• It was open to amateurs only and rotated among cities in Australia and New Zealand.
• The first winner was Rodney Heath who defeated fellow Australian Arthur Curtis in four sets to claim the inaugural title.
• Due to the remote location and difficult travel, the tournament often attracted fewer international players than the other Slams.

• In 1927, the name changed to the Australian Championships, reflecting its focus on Australia.
• The tournament was still played on grass courts and moved between cities including Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Melbourne.
• Australian tennis legends like Jack Crawford, Frank Sedgman, Ken Rosewall and ‘Rocket’ Rod Laver emerged during this era.
• In 1962 and 1969, Rod Laver completed the calendar-year Grand Slam, winning all four majors.

• The tournament opened to professional players in 1969, becoming the Australian Open.
• It struggled for prestige compared to the other majors, with some top players skipping the event.
• The tournament was still held on grass and frequently hosted at Kooyong Stadium in Melbourne.
• Champions included Björn Borg, Guillermo Vilas, and Mats Wilander.

• In 1988, the event moved from Kooyong to the new Melbourne Park, originally called Flinders Park.
• The surface switched from grass to hard court (Rebound Ace) — a key moment that marked the modern era.
• The new stadium featured the first-ever retractable roof at a Grand Slam.
• This move raised the tournament’s profile, making it more accessible and attractive to global players.

• Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Steffi Graf, and Monica Seles dominated in the ‘90s.
• Roger Federer (6 titles), Serena Williams (7 titles), Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic (record 10 titles as of 2024) shaped the 2000s and 2010s.
• In 2008, the surface changed from Rebound Ace to Plexicushion, offering more consistency and speed.

• The tournament became known as the “Happy Slam” for its atmosphere and hospitality.
• Innovations included:
  • Extreme Heat Policy to protect players.
  • Night finals and later scheduling for global viewership.
  • Hawk-Eye challenge system and electronic line-calling in 2021 (fully replacing line judges).

For more interesting articles to improve you your knowledge of tennis click here!