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List of Australian Open women's singles champions

Australian Open Women's Singles Champions
LocationMelbourne
Australia
VenueMelbourne Park
Governing bodyTennis Australia
Created1922 (established)
Open Era: 1969
(50 editions, including 2018)
SurfaceGrass (1922–1987)
Rebound Ace (1988–2007)
Plexicushion
(2008–present)
Prize moneyA$ 4,000,000 (2018)
TrophyDaphne Akhurst Memorial Cup
WebsiteAustralian Open
Most titles
Amateur era7: Margaret Court
Open era7: Serena Williams
Most consecutive titles
Amateur era7: Margaret Court
Open era3: Margaret Court
3: Evonne Goolagong
3: Steffi Graf
3: Monica Seles
3: Martina Hingis
Current champion
Sofia Kenin
(First title)

The Australian Open[a][b] is an annual tennis tournament created in 1905 and played on outdoor hard courts[c][d] at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia.[6]

The women's singles was first contested in 1922 along with the women's and mixed doubles competition as the last three events to be added. The Australian Open is played during two weeks mid-January, and has been chronologically the first of the four Grand Slam tournaments of the tennis season since 1987. The event was not held from 1940 to 1945 because of World War II, and 1986 because Tennis Australia wanted to move the tournament start from mid-December 1986 to mid-January 1987.[1][7] Margaret Court holds the all-time record for singles titles at this tournament with 11; 7 in the Amateur Era and 4 in the Open Era. Serena Williams holds the Open Era record with 7 singles titles.

History

Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne, Australia have all held the event. The competition switched locations every year before it settled in 1972 at the Kooyong Stadium, moving to Flinders Park, now Melbourne Park, in 1988.[1] Several calendar changes took place for the Australian Open, from January to December in 1972 to bypass the January-to-June International Lawn Tennis Federation (ITLF) ban of World Championship Tennis (WCT) players; from late to early December in 1977 to avoid the Christmas holidays, which resulted in having two Opens in the season;[8] and back to January, when the planned December 1986 edition was moved to early 1987, leaving no Open for the 1986 season.[9][10]

An all British and an all American final were contested in 1935 and 1979 respectively, but otherwise every other final contested until 1980 featured an Australian player. No Australian woman has reached the final since 1980.

The women's singles' rules have undergone several changes, since the first edition. This event has been contested in a knockout format, and all matches played at the best-of-three sets.[6] Since 1922, all sets have been decided in the advantage format, with six games and two games difference. The lingering death best-of-twelve points tie-break was introduced in 1971, and used for the first four sets since then, except from 1980 to 1982, when the tie-break was also played in fifth sets.[6][11]

The court surface changed once, from grass (1922–1987) to hard courts, since the move to Flinders Park in 1988.[1][3][4] No tennis player has won this event on grass and Rebound Ace, but Serena Williams is the only player to win the tournament on two different surfaces, winning her first three titles on Rebound Ace and her last four on Plexicushion.[2]

The champion receives a miniature replica of the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, named after the five-time champion, which was first awarded to the champion in 1934.[12] In 2010, the winner received prize money of A$2,100,000.[13]

In the Australasian Championship, Margaret Molesworth (1922–1923) and Daphne Akhurst (1925–1926) co-hold the records for most wins and most consecutive wins.[7]

In the Australian Championships, Margaret Court (1960–1966) holds the records for most titles with seven wins, and most consecutive titles with seven from (1960–1966).[7]

In the Australian Open, Serena Williams (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009–2010, 2015, 2017) has the most victories, with seven. The record for most consecutive titles is three held by the following players: Margaret Court (1969–1971), Evonne Goolagong (1974–1976), Steffi Graf (1988–1990), Monica Seles (1991–1993), Martina Hingis (1997–1999).[7]

Overall in the Championship's history, Margaret Court (1960–1973) holds the records for most titles with eleven wins, and most consecutive titles with seven from (1960–1966).[7]

This event has been won in straight set during the Open Era of tennis by the following players: Margaret Court in 1969, 1970 and 1973, Virginia Wade in 1972, Kerry Melville Reid in 1977 January, Evonne Goolagong in 1975, 1976 and 1977 December, Chris O'Neil in 1978, Barbara Jordan in 1979, Hana Mandlíková in 1980 and 1987, Martina Navratilova in 1983, Steffi Graf in 1988, 1989 and 1994, Monica Seles in 1992 and 1996, Mary Pierce in 1995, Martina Hingis in 1997, 1998 and 1999, Lindsay Davenport in 2000, Jennifer Capriati in 2001, Amélie Mauresmo in 2006, Maria Sharapova in 2008, Victoria Azarenka in 2012, Li Na in 2014 and Serena Williams in 2007, 2009, 2015 and 2017.

Finals

Australasian Championships

Year[e] Country Champion Country Runner-up Score in the final[14]
1922 AUS Margaret Molesworth AUS Esna Boyd 6–3, 10–8
1923 AUS Margaret Molesworth AUS Esna Boyd 6–1, 7–5
1924 AUS Sylvia Lance Harper AUS Esna Boyd 6–3, 3–6, 8–6
1925 AUS Daphne Akhurst AUS Esna Boyd 1–6, 8–6, 6–4
1926 AUS Daphne Akhurst AUS Esna Boyd 6–1, 6–3

Australian Championships

Year[e] Country Champion Country Runner-up Score in the final[14]
1927 AUS Esna Boyd AUS Sylvia Lance Harper 5–7, 6–1, 6–2
1928 AUS Daphne Akhurst AUS Esna Boyd 7–5, 6–2
1929 AUS Daphne Akhurst AUS Louie Bickerton 6–1, 5–7, 6–2
1930 AUS Daphne Akhurst AUS Sylvia Lance Harper 10–8, 2–6, 7–5
1931 AUS Coral Buttsworth AUS Marjorie Cox Crawford 1–6, 6–3, 6–4
1932 AUS Coral Buttsworth AUS Kathleen Le Messurier 9–7, 6–4
1933 AUS Joan Hartigan AUS Coral Buttsworth 6–4, 6–3
1934 AUS Joan Hartigan AUS Margaret Molesworth 6–1, 6–4
1935 GBR[f] Dorothy Round GBR Nancy Lyle 1–6, 6–1, 6–3
1936 AUS Joan Hartigan AUS Nancye Wynne Bolton 6–4, 6–4
1937 AUS Nancye Wynne Bolton AUS Emily Hood Westacott 6–3, 5–7, 6–4
1938 USA Dorothy Cheney AUS Dorothy Stevenson 6–3, 6–2
1939 AUS Emily Hood Westacott AUS Nell Hall Hopman 6–1, 6–2
1940 AUS Nancye Wynne Bolton AUS Thelma Coyne Long 5–7, 6–4, 6–0
1941 No competition (due to World War II)[g]
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946 AUS Nancye Wynne Bolton AUS Joyce Fitch 6–4, 6–4
1947 AUS Nancye Wynne Bolton AUS Nell Hall Hopman 6–3, 6–2
1948 AUS Nancye Wynne Bolton AUS Marie Toomey 6–3, 6–1
1949 USA Doris Hart AUS Nancye Wynne Bolton 6–3, 6–4
1950 USA Louise Brough USA Doris Hart 6–4, 3–6, 6–4
1951 AUS Nancye Wynne Bolton AUS Thelma Coyne Long 6–1, 7–5
1952 AUS Thelma Coyne Long AUS Helen Angwin 6–2, 6–3
1953 USA Maureen Connolly USA Julia Sampson Hayward 6–3, 6–2
1954 AUS Thelma Coyne Long AUS Jenny Staley 6–3, 6–4
1955 AUS Beryl Penrose AUS Thelma Coyne Long 6–4, 6–3
1956 AUS Mary Carter Reitano AUS Thelma Coyne Long 3–6, 6–2, 9–7
1957 USA Shirley Fry Irvin USA Althea Gibson 6–3, 6–4
1958 GBR Angela Mortimer AUS Lorraine Coghlan 6–3, 6–4
1959 AUS Mary Carter Reitano ZAF Renée Schuurman 6–2, 6–3
1960 AUS Margaret Smith AUS Jan Lehane 7–5, 6–2
1961 AUS Margaret Smith AUS Jan Lehane 6–1, 6–4
1962 AUS Margaret Smith AUS Jan Lehane 6–0, 6–2
1963 AUS Margaret Smith AUS Jan Lehane 6–2, 6–2
1964 AUS Margaret Smith AUS Lesley Turner Bowrey 6–3, 6–2
1965 AUS Margaret Smith BRA Maria Bueno 5–7, 6–4, 5–2, retired
1966 AUS Margaret Smith USA Nancy Richey walkover
1967 USA Nancy Richey AUS Lesley Turner Bowrey 6–1, 6–4
1968 USA Billie Jean King AUS Margaret Court 6–1, 6–2

Australian Open

A blonde haired woman in a white polo shirt
Steffi Graf is a four-time champion and won three times consecutively
A brown haired woman, in black pants and blue shirt with a microphone in hand
Monica Seles is a four-time champion and won three times consecutively
A black woman with a blue dress holding a tennis racket out in front of her
American Serena Williams is a seven-time champion, which is an Open Era record.
Sofia Kenin is the defending champion.
Year[e] Country Champion Country Runner-up Score in the final[14]
1969 AUS Margaret Court USA Billie Jean King 6–4, 6–1
1970 AUS Margaret Court AUS Kerry Melville 6–1, 6–3
1971 AUS Margaret Court AUS Evonne Goolagong 2–6, 7–6(7–0), 7–5
1972 GBR[f] Virginia Wade AUS Evonne Goolagong 6–4, 6–4
1973 AUS Margaret Court AUS Evonne Goolagong 6–4, 7–5
1974 AUS Evonne Goolagong USA Chris Evert 7–6(7–5), 4–6, 6–0
1975 AUS Evonne Goolagong TCH[h] Martina Navratilova[i] 6–3, 6–2
1976 AUS Evonne Goolagong TCH Renáta Tomanová 6–2, 6–2
1977 (1)[j] AUS Kerry Melville Reid AUS Dianne Fromholtz 7–5, 6–2
1977 (2)[j] AUS Evonne Goolagong AUS Helen Gourlay 6–3, 6–0
1978 AUS Chris O'Neil USA Betsy Nagelsen 6–3, 7–6(7–3)
1979 USA Barbara Jordan USA Sharon Walsh 6–3, 6–3
1980 TCH[h] Hana Mandlíková AUS Wendy Turnbull 6–0, 7–5
1981 USA Martina Navratilova[i] USA Chris Evert 6–7(7–4), 6–4, 7–5
1982 USA Chris Evert USA Martina Navratilova 6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1983 USA Martina Navratilova USA Kathy Jordan 6–2, 7–6(7–5)
1984 USA Chris Evert TCH Helena Suková 6–7(4–7), 6–1, 6–3
1985 USA Martina Navratilova USA Chris Evert 6–2, 4–6, 6–2
1986 No competition (due to date change)[k]
1987 TCH Hana Mandlíková USA Martina Navratilova 7–5, 7–6(7–1)
1988 FRG[l] Steffi Graf USA Chris Evert 6–1, 7–6(7–3)
1989 FRG Steffi Graf TCH Helena Suková 6–4, 6–4
1990 FRG Steffi Graf USA Mary Joe Fernández 6–3, 6–4
1991 YUG[m] Monica Seles TCH Jana Novotná 5–7, 6–3, 6–1
1992 YUG Monica Seles USA Mary Joe Fernández 6–2, 6–3
1993 YUG Monica Seles GER[l] Steffi Graf 4–6, 6–3, 6–2
1994 GER Steffi Graf ESP Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–0, 6–2
1995 FRA Mary Pierce ESP Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–3, 6–2
1996 USA[m] Monica Seles GER Anke Huber 6–4, 6–1
1997 SUI Martina Hingis FRA Mary Pierce 6–2, 6–2
1998 SUI Martina Hingis ESP Conchita Martínez 6–3, 6–3
1999 SUI Martina Hingis FRA Amélie Mauresmo 6–2, 6–3
2000 USA Lindsay Davenport SUI Martina Hingis 6–1, 7–5
2001 USA Jennifer Capriati SUI Martina Hingis 6–4, 6–3
2002 USA Jennifer Capriati SUI Martina Hingis 4–6, 7–6(9–7), 6–2
2003 USA Serena Williams USA Venus Williams 7–6(7–4), 3–6, 6–4
2004 BEL Justine Henin BEL Kim Clijsters 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
2005 USA Serena Williams USA Lindsay Davenport 2–6, 6–3, 6–0
2006 FRA Amélie Mauresmo BEL Justine Henin 6–1, 2–0 retired
2007 USA Serena Williams RUS Maria Sharapova 6–1, 6–2
2008 RUS Maria Sharapova SRB Ana Ivanovic 7–5, 6–3
2009 USA Serena Williams RUS Dinara Safina 6–0, 6–3
2010 USA Serena Williams BEL Justine Henin 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
2011 BEL Kim Clijsters CHN Li Na 3–6, 6–3, 6–3
2012 BLR Victoria Azarenka RUS Maria Sharapova 6–3, 6–0
2013 BLR Victoria Azarenka CHN Li Na 4–6, 6–4, 6–3
2014 CHN Li Na SVK Dominika Cibulková 7–6(7–3), 6–0
2015 USA Serena Williams RUS Maria Sharapova 6–3, 7–6(7–5)
2016 GER Angelique Kerber USA Serena Williams 6–4, 3–6, 6–4
2017 USA Serena Williams USA Venus Williams 6–4, 6–4
2018 DEN Caroline Wozniacki ROU Simona Halep 7–6(7–2), 3–6, 6–4
2019 JPN Naomi Osaka CZE Petra Kvitová 7–6(7–2), 5–7, 6–4
2020 USA Sofia Kenin ESP Garbiñe Muguruza 4–6, 6–2, 6–2
2021

Statistics

Multiple champions

Player Amateur Era Open Era All-time Years
Margaret Smith Court (AUS) 7 4 11 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973
Serena Williams (USA) 0 7 7 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017
Nancye Wynne Bolton (AUS) 6 0 6 1937, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1951
Daphne Akhurst Cozens (AUS) 5 0 5 1925, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1930
Evonne Goolagong Cawley (AUS) 0 4 4 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977(Dec)
Steffi Graf (GER)[l] 0 4 4 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994
Monica Seles (YUG) (USA)[m] 0 4 4 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996
Joan Hartigan Bathurst (AUS) 3 0 3 1933, 1934, 1936
Martina Hingis (SUI) 0 3 3 1997, 1998, 1999
Martina Navratilova (USA)[i] 0 3 3 1981, 1983, 1985
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 0 2 2 2012, 2013
Coral Buttsworth (AUS) 2 0 2 1931, 1932
Jennifer Capriati (USA) 0 2 2 2001, 2002
Chris Evert (USA) 0 2 2 1982, 1984
Thelma Coyne Long (AUS) 2 0 2 1952, 1954
Hana Mandlíková (CZE) 0 2 2 1980, 1987
Margaret Molesworth (AUS) 2 0 2 1922, 1923
Mary Carter Reitano (AUS) 2 0 2 1956, 1959

Champions by country

Former country ¤
Country Amateur Era Open Era All-time First title Last title
Australia (AUS) 33 10 43 1922 1978
United States (USA) 7 18 25 1938 2020
Germany (GER)[l] 0 5 5 1988 2016
Switzerland (SUI) 0 3 3 1997 1999
Great Britain (GBR) 2 1 3 1935 1972
Yugoslavia (YUG) ¤ 0 3 3 1991 1993
Belarus (BLR) 0 2 2 2012 2013
Belgium (BEL) 0 2 2 2004 2011
Czechoslovakia (TCH) ¤[h] 0 2 2 1980 1987
France (FRA) 0 2 2 1995 2006
China (CHN) 0 1 1 2014 2014
Denmark (DEN) 0 1 1 2018 2018
Japan (JPN) 0 1 1 2019 2019
Russia (RUS) 0 1 1 2008 2008

Notes

  1. ^ Known as the Australasian Championships (1905–1926) and as the Australian Championships (1927–1968) during the Amateur Era.[1]
  2. ^ The tournament entered the Open Era with the 1969 edition, allowing professional players to compete alongside amateurs.[1]
  3. ^ Since 1988, Rod Laver Arena features a retractable roof and lights, allowing indoor and night-time play.[2]
  4. ^ The Australian Open specifically uses Plexicushion Prestige hardcourts, categorized as a "Medium" speed surface by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).[3][4][5]
  5. ^ a b c Each year is linked to an article about that particular event's draw.
  6. ^ a b Three wins by players from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1922–present).
  7. ^ The tournament was not held from 1941 to 1945 because of World War II.[7]
  8. ^ a b c Czechoslovakia (TCH, 1918–1992), does not include the totals of Czech Republic (CZE, 1993–present) and Slovakia (SVK, 1993–present).
  9. ^ a b c Martina Navratilova was born in Czechoslovakia, but competed as an American after the US Open in 1975, having sought asylum in the United States, which made her relinquish her Czechoslovakian citizenship.[14]
  10. ^ a b Two Australian Opens were in held in 1977 because of a date change, the first in January and the second in December.[8]
  11. ^ The tournament was not held in 1986 because of a date change. See 1986 Australian Open tournament.[9][10]
  12. ^ a b c d FRG was West Germany, but after unification in 1990 became just Germany (GER).
  13. ^ a b c Monica Seles won her first three titles as a Yugoslavian, but the last one was won as an American after gaining citizenship.

References

General
  • "Grand Slam Tournaments – Australian Open" (PDF). usta.com. United States Tennis Association. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  • "Women's Singles". Australian Open. 2010-01-31. Archived from the original on 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e Foenander, Tristan. "History of the Australian Open – the Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific". australianopen.com. IBM, Tennis Australia. Archived from the original on 2009-05-25. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  2. ^ a b "Rod Laver Arena". mopt.com.au. Melbourne & Olympic Parks. Archived from the original on 2009-09-13. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  3. ^ a b Schlink, Leo (2008-01-14). "Plexicushion replaces Rebound Ace at Australian Open". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  4. ^ a b Bevan, Chris (2008-01-11). "On-court blues for Aussie tennis?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  5. ^ "List of Classified Court Surfaces". itftennis.com. ITF Licensing. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
  6. ^ a b c "Tournament profile – Australian Open". atpworldtour.com. ATP Tour, Inc. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Grand Slam Tournaments – Australian Open" (PDF). usta.com. United States Tennis Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  8. ^ a b "1977 Grand Slam calendar". atpworldtour.com. ATP Tour, Inc. Archived from the original on 2009-07-10. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  9. ^ a b "1986 Grand Slam calendar". atpworldtour.com. ATP Tour, Inc. Archived from the original on 2009-07-10. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  10. ^ a b "Australian Open – History – Year-by-year". australianopen.com. IBM, Tennis Australia. Archived from the original on 2009-08-03. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  11. ^ "Roddick survives 83-game epic". The Guardian. 2003-01-22. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  12. ^ Jones, Cathy (March 2006). "Daphne Akhurst Australian Tennis Champion" (PDF). Strathfield Scene. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  13. ^ "Australian Open – Prize Money". australianopen.com. IBM, Tennis Australia. Archived from the original on 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  14. ^ a b c d "Women's Singles". australianopen.com. IBM. Archived from the original on 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2009-02-06.

External links

See also

Australian Open other competitions

Grand Slam women's singles

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