List of Australian Open women's singles champions

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]

Australian Open women's singles champions
LocationMelbourne
Australia
VenueMelbourne Park
Governing bodyTennis Australia
Created1922 (established)
Editions98 events (2024)
56 events (Open Era)
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
Aryna Sabalenka

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 edit

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.

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 two sets since then, except from 1980 to 1982, when the tie-break was also played in final 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 both grass and Rebound Ace; 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 sets 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 edit

Australasian Championships edit

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 edit

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   RSA 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 edit

 
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.
 
Naomi Osaka is a two-time champion.
 
Ashleigh Barty won the title in 2022, becoming the first Australian woman to win the title in 44 years.
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   JPN Naomi Osaka   USA Jennifer Brady 6–4, 6–3
2022   AUS Ashleigh Barty   USA Danielle Collins 6–3, 7–6(7–2)
2023  [n] Aryna Sabalenka   KAZ Elena Rybakina 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
2024  [n] Aryna Sabalenka   CHN Zheng Qinwen 6–3, 6–2

Statistics edit

Multiple champions edit

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 (AUS) 0 4 4 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977(Dec)
  Steffi Graf (GER)[l] 0 4 4 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994
      Monica Seles (YUG / FRY / 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
  Naomi Osaka (JPN) 0 2 2 2019, 2021
  Mary Carter Reitano (AUS) 2 0 2 1956, 1959
  Aryna Sabalenka[o] 0 2 2 2023, 2024

Champions by country edit

Country Amateur Era Open Era All-time First title Last title
  Australia (AUS) 33 11 44 1922 2022
  United States (USA) 7 18 25 1938 2020
  Germany (GER)[l] 0 5 5 1988 2016
  Great Britain (GBR) 2 1 3 1935 1972
   Switzerland (SUI) 0 3 3 1997 1999
  Belarus (BLR) 0 2 2 2012 2013[o]
  Belgium (BEL) 0 2 2 2004 2011
  Czechoslovakia (TCH)  0 2 2 1980 1987
  France (FRA) 0 2 2 1995 2006
  Japan (JPN) 0 2 2 2019 2021
  Yugoslavia (YUG) 0 2 2 1991 1992
  China (CHN) 0 1 1 2014 2014
  Denmark (DEN) 0 1 1 2018 2018
  Russia (RUS) 0 1 1 2008 2008
  Yugoslavia (FRY) 0 1 1 1993 1993

See also edit

Australian Open other competitions

Grand Slam women's singles

Notes edit

  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 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.[15]
  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.
  14. ^ a b On 1 March 2022, the WTA announced that players from Belarus will not be allowed to compete under the name or flag of Belarus following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[16]
  15. ^ a b Aryna Sabalenka is from Belarus and won in 2023 and 2024, but was competing as a neutral competitor in both years because on 1 March 2022, the WTA announced that players from Belarus will not be allowed to compete under the name or flag of Belarus following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[17]

References edit

General
  • "Grand Slam Tournaments – Australian Open" (PDF). usta.com. United States Tennis Association. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  • "Women's Singles". Australian Open. 31 January 2010. Archived from the original on 15 January 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
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 25 May 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Rod Laver Arena". mopt.com.au. Melbourne & Olympic Parks. Archived from the original on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  3. ^ a b Schlink, Leo (14 January 2008). "Plexicushion replaces Rebound Ace at Australian Open". Herald Sun. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  4. ^ a b Bevan, Chris (11 January 2008). "On-court blues for Aussie tennis?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  5. ^ "List of Classified Court Surfaces". itftennis.com. ITF Licensing. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  6. ^ a b c "Tournament profile – Australian Open". atpworldtour.com. ATP Tour, Inc. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
  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 20 May 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  8. ^ a b "1977 Grand Slam calendar". atpworldtour.com. ATP Tour, Inc. Archived from the original on 10 July 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  9. ^ a b "1986 Grand Slam calendar". atpworldtour.com. ATP Tour, Inc. Archived from the original on 10 July 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  10. ^ a b "Australian Open – History – Year-by-year". australianopen.com. IBM, Tennis Australia. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  11. ^ "Roddick survives 83-game epic". The Guardian. 22 January 2003. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  12. ^ Jones, Cathy (March 2006). "Daphne Akhurst Australian Tennis Champion" (PDF). Strathfield Scene. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  13. ^ "Australian Open – Prize Money". australianopen.com. IBM, Tennis Australia. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  14. ^ a b c "Women's Singles". ausopen.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Women's Singles". australianopen.com. IBM. Archived from the original on 15 January 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  16. ^ "Joint Statement by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis". WTA Tour. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Joint Statement by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis". WTA Tour. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.

External links edit