List of Australian Open women's singles champions

The Australian Open[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] is an annual tennis tournament created in 1905 and played on outdoor hard courts[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4] at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia.[6]

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 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[lower-alpha 5] Country Champion Country Runner-up Score in the final[14]
1922 AUSMargaret Molesworth AUSEsna Boyd6–3, 10–8
1923 AUSMargaret Molesworth AUSEsna Boyd6–1, 7–5
1924 AUSSylvia Lance Harper AUSEsna Boyd6–3, 3–6, 8–6
1925 AUSDaphne Akhurst AUSEsna Boyd1–6, 8–6, 6–4
1926 AUSDaphne Akhurst AUSEsna Boyd6–1, 6–3

Australian Championships

Year[lower-alpha 5] Country Champion Country Runner-up Score in the final[14]
1927 AUSEsna Boyd AUSSylvia Lance Harper5–7, 6–1, 6–2
1928 AUSDaphne Akhurst AUSEsna Boyd7–5, 6–2
1929 AUSDaphne Akhurst AUSLouie Bickerton6–1, 5–7, 6–2
1930 AUSDaphne Akhurst AUSSylvia Lance Harper10–8, 2–6, 7–5
1931 AUSCoral Buttsworth AUSMarjorie Cox Crawford1–6, 6–3, 6–4
1932 AUSCoral Buttsworth AUSKathleen Le Messurier9–7, 6–4
1933 AUSJoan Hartigan AUSCoral Buttsworth6–4, 6–3
1934 AUSJoan Hartigan AUSMargaret Molesworth6–1, 6–4
1935 GBR[lower-alpha 6]Dorothy Round GBRNancy Lyle1–6, 6–1, 6–3
1936 AUSJoan Hartigan AUSNancye Wynne Bolton6–4, 6–4
1937 AUSNancye Wynne Bolton AUSEmily Hood Westacott6–3, 5–7, 6–4
1938 USADorothy Cheney AUSDorothy Stevenson6–3, 6–2
1939 AUSEmily Hood Westacott AUSNell Hall Hopman6–1, 6–2
1940 AUSNancye Wynne Bolton AUSThelma Coyne Long5–7, 6–4, 6–0
1941No competition (due to World War II)[lower-alpha 7]
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946 AUSNancye Wynne Bolton AUSJoyce Fitch6–4, 6–4
1947 AUSNancye Wynne Bolton AUSNell Hall Hopman6–3, 6–2
1948 AUSNancye Wynne Bolton AUSMarie Toomey6–3, 6–1
1949 USADoris Hart AUSNancye Wynne Bolton6–3, 6–4
1950 USALouise Brough USADoris Hart6–4, 3–6, 6–4
1951 AUSNancye Wynne Bolton AUSThelma Coyne Long6–1, 7–5
1952 AUSThelma Coyne Long AUSHelen Angwin6–2, 6–3
1953 USAMaureen Connolly USAJulia Sampson Hayward6–3, 6–2
1954 AUSThelma Coyne Long AUSJenny Staley6–3, 6–4
1955 AUSBeryl Penrose AUSThelma Coyne Long6–4, 6–3
1956 AUSMary Carter Reitano AUSThelma Coyne Long3–6, 6–2, 9–7
1957 USAShirley Fry Irvin USAAlthea Gibson6–3, 6–4
1958 GBRAngela Mortimer AUSLorraine Coghlan6–3, 6–4
1959 AUSMary Carter Reitano ZAFRenée Schuurman6–2, 6–3
1960 AUSMargaret Smith AUSJan Lehane7–5, 6–2
1961 AUSMargaret Smith AUSJan Lehane6–1, 6–4
1962 AUSMargaret Smith AUSJan Lehane6–0, 6–2
1963 AUSMargaret Smith AUSJan Lehane6–2, 6–2
1964 AUSMargaret Smith AUSLesley Turner Bowrey6–3, 6–2
1965 AUSMargaret Smith BRAMaria Bueno5–7, 6–4, 5–2, retired
1966 AUSMargaret Smith USANancy Richeywalkover
1967 USANancy Richey AUSLesley Turner Bowrey6–1, 6–4
1968 USABillie Jean King AUSMargaret Court6–1, 6–2

Australian Open

Steffi Graf is a four-time champion and won three times consecutively
Monica Seles is a four-time champion and won three times consecutively
American Serena Williams is a seven-time champion, which is an Open Era record.
Sofia Kenin is the defending champion.
Year[lower-alpha 5] Country Champion Country Runner-up Score in the final[14]
1969 AUSMargaret Court USABillie Jean King6–4, 6–1
1970 AUSMargaret Court AUSKerry Melville6–1, 6–3
1971 AUSMargaret Court AUSEvonne Goolagong2–6, 7–6(7–0), 7–5
1972 GBR[lower-alpha 6]Virginia Wade AUSEvonne Goolagong6–4, 6–4
1973 AUSMargaret Court AUSEvonne Goolagong6–4, 7–5
1974 AUSEvonne Goolagong USAChris Evert7–6(7–5), 4–6, 6–0
1975 AUSEvonne Goolagong TCH[lower-alpha 8]Martina Navratilova[lower-alpha 9]6–3, 6–2
1976 AUSEvonne Goolagong TCHRenáta Tomanová6–2, 6–2
1977 (1)[lower-alpha 10] AUSKerry Melville Reid AUSDianne Fromholtz7–5, 6–2
1977 (2)[lower-alpha 10] AUSEvonne Goolagong AUSHelen Gourlay6–3, 6–0
1978 AUSChris O'Neil USABetsy Nagelsen6–3, 7–6(7–3)
1979 USABarbara Jordan USASharon Walsh6–3, 6–3
1980 TCH[lower-alpha 8]Hana Mandlíková AUSWendy Turnbull6–0, 7–5
1981 USAMartina Navratilova[lower-alpha 9] USAChris Evert6–7(7–4), 6–4, 7–5
1982 USAChris Evert USAMartina Navratilova6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1983 USAMartina Navratilova USAKathy Jordan6–2, 7–6(7–5)
1984 USAChris Evert TCHHelena Suková6–7(4–7), 6–1, 6–3
1985 USAMartina Navratilova USAChris Evert6–2, 4–6, 6–2
1986No competition (due to date change)[lower-alpha 11]
1987 TCHHana Mandlíková USAMartina Navratilova7–5, 7–6(7–1)
1988 FRG[lower-alpha 12]Steffi Graf USAChris Evert6–1, 7–6(7–3)
1989 FRGSteffi Graf TCHHelena Suková6–4, 6–4
1990 FRGSteffi Graf USAMary Joe Fernández6–3, 6–4
1991 YUG[lower-alpha 13]Monica Seles TCHJana Novotná5–7, 6–3, 6–1
1992 YUGMonica Seles USAMary Joe Fernández6–2, 6–3
1993 YUGMonica Seles GER[lower-alpha 12]Steffi Graf4–6, 6–3, 6–2
1994 GERSteffi Graf ESPArantxa Sánchez Vicario6–0, 6–2
1995 FRAMary Pierce ESPArantxa Sánchez Vicario6–3, 6–2
1996 USA[lower-alpha 13]Monica Seles GERAnke Huber6–4, 6–1
1997  SUIMartina Hingis FRAMary Pierce6–2, 6–2
1998  SUIMartina Hingis ESPConchita Martínez6–3, 6–3
1999  SUIMartina Hingis FRAAmélie Mauresmo6–2, 6–3
2000 USALindsay Davenport  SUIMartina Hingis6–1, 7–5
2001 USAJennifer Capriati  SUIMartina Hingis6–4, 6–3
2002 USAJennifer Capriati  SUIMartina Hingis4–6, 7–6(9–7), 6–2
2003 USASerena Williams USAVenus Williams7–6(7–4), 3–6, 6–4
2004 BELJustine Henin BELKim Clijsters6–3, 4–6, 6–3
2005 USASerena Williams USALindsay Davenport2–6, 6–3, 6–0
2006 FRAAmélie Mauresmo BELJustine Henin6–1, 2–0 retired
2007 USASerena Williams RUSMaria Sharapova6–1, 6–2
2008 RUSMaria Sharapova SRBAna Ivanovic7–5, 6–3
2009 USASerena Williams RUSDinara Safina6–0, 6–3
2010 USASerena Williams BELJustine Henin6–4, 3–6, 6–2
2011 BELKim Clijsters CHNLi Na3–6, 6–3, 6–3
2012 BLRVictoria Azarenka RUSMaria Sharapova6–3, 6–0
2013 BLRVictoria Azarenka CHNLi Na4–6, 6–4, 6–3
2014 CHNLi Na SVKDominika Cibulková7–6(7–3), 6–0
2015 USASerena Williams RUSMaria Sharapova6–3, 7–6(7–5)
2016 GERAngelique Kerber USASerena Williams6–4, 3–6, 6–4
2017 USASerena Williams USAVenus Williams6–4, 6–4
2018 DENCaroline Wozniacki ROUSimona Halep7–6(7–2), 3–6, 6–4
2019 JPNNaomi Osaka CZEPetra Kvitová7–6(7–2), 5–7, 6–4
2020 USASofia Kenin ESPGarbiñe Muguruza4–6, 6–2, 6–2

Statistics

Multiple champions

Player Amateur Era Open Era All-time Years
 Margaret Smith Court (AUS)74111960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973
 Serena Williams (USA)0772003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017
 Nancye Wynne Bolton (AUS)6061937, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1951
 Daphne Akhurst Cozens (AUS)5051925, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1930
 Evonne Goolagong Cawley (AUS)0441974, 1975, 1976, 1977(Dec)
 Steffi Graf (GER)[lower-alpha 12]0441988, 1989, 1990, 1994
  Monica Seles (YUG) (USA)[lower-alpha 13]0441991, 1992, 1993, 1996
 Joan Hartigan Bathurst (AUS)3031933, 1934, 1936
 Martina Hingis (SUI)0331997, 1998, 1999
 Martina Navratilova (USA)[lower-alpha 9]0331981, 1983, 1985
 Victoria Azarenka (BLR)0222012, 2013
 Coral Buttsworth (AUS)2021931, 1932
 Jennifer Capriati (USA)0222001, 2002
 Chris Evert (USA)0221982, 1984
 Thelma Coyne Long (AUS)2021952, 1954
 Hana Mandlíková (CZE)0221980, 1987
 Margaret Molesworth (AUS)2021922, 1923
 Mary Carter Reitano (AUS)2021956, 1959

Champions by country

Former country ¤
Country Amateur Era Open Era All-time First title Last title
 Australia (AUS)33104319221978
 United States (USA)7182519382020
 Germany (GER)[lower-alpha 12]05519882016
  Switzerland (SUI)03319971999
 Great Britain (GBR)21319351972
 Yugoslavia (YUG) ¤03319911993
 Belarus (BLR)02220122013
 Belgium (BEL)02220042011
 Czechoslovakia (TCH) ¤[lower-alpha 8]02219801987
 France (FRA)02219952006
 China (CHN)01120142014
 Denmark (DEN)01120182018
 Japan (JPN)01120192019
 Russia (RUS)01120082008

Notes

  1. Known as the Australasian Championships (19051926) and as the Australian Championships (19271968) 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. Each year is linked to an article about that particular event's draw.
  6. 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. Czechoslovakia (TCH, 19181992), does not include the totals of Czech Republic (CZE, 1993present) and Slovakia (SVK, 1993present).
  9. 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. 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. FRG was West Germany, but after unification in 1990 became just Germany (GER).
  13. 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. 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. "Rod Laver Arena". mopt.com.au. Melbourne & Olympic Parks. Archived from the original on 2009-09-13. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  3. Schlink, Leo (2008-01-14). "Plexicushion replaces Rebound Ace at Australian Open". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  4. 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. "Tournament profile – Australian Open". atpworldtour.com. ATP Tour, Inc. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  7. "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. "1977 Grand Slam calendar". atpworldtour.com. ATP Tour, Inc. Archived from the original on 2009-07-10. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  9. "1986 Grand Slam calendar". atpworldtour.com. ATP Tour, Inc. Archived from the original on 2009-07-10. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  10. "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. "Women's Singles". australianopen.com. IBM. Archived from the original on 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2009-02-06.

See also

Australian Open other competitions

Grand Slam women's singles

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