The Women at the Australian Open

Posted by Hiland on September 15, 2008

When popular fifth seed Russian Maria Sharapova upset fourth seed Serbian Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 6-3 in the 2008 Australian Open, there was no doubt that the year’s first Grand Slam had attracted the cream of the women’s tennis world. The two 20 year olds exhibited the international allure for which the tournament has proudly become known. Tennis Australia, the tournament organizer, was delighted to draw the world’s top ten players. With an average age of 23 years, this group of hard hitting baseline players, packed crowds into both the Rod Laver Arena and the Hisense Arena and helped boost the Open’s attendance to an all-time high.

Players from more than 60 countries arrived in Melbourne to challenge for the 2008 Margaret Smith Court trophy. Their participation marked the culmination of a concentrated effort by Tennis Australia to boost the women’s draw. Boasting two remodeled stadiums covered by retractable roofs and featuring newly installed fast paced acrylic surfaces, the tournament is well suited for today’s power hitters. The retractable roofs have helped protect the players from the intense heat during the mid January Australian summer. The stabilized playing conditions and increased purse have now assured the open of an imposing women’s draw every year.

Women at the Australian Open have a long history. The inaugural event was hosted in Melbourne in 1905. Women’s singles and doubles were first contested in 1922. The tournament was opened to professionals in 1969.

Australian Mall Molesworth defeated Esna Boyd 6-3, 10-8 in 1922. Molesworth defended her title in 1923 again defeating her rival Esna Boyd who has the unique distinction of being the tournament’s runner-up 6 times. Boyd’s career peaked when she won the Open in 1927.

Noted serve and volley player Daphne Akhurst won her first of five titles in 1925. Australian Nancy Wynne Bolton claimed the first of her six Australian Open trophies in 1927. Nancy holds the remarkable distinction of winning her final and sixth singles trophy in 1951. The span of 14 years is the longest span between championships of any of the Grand Slam events.

In a tournament historically dominated by Australian women, the queen of the Open is undoubtedly Margaret Smith Court, who has won the singles championship 11 times. Margaret was also runner-up in 1968, losing to Billie Jean King, whom she defeated in the 1969 championship match. The modern day trophy is named for Ms. Court. In her spectacular career, Margaret Court won 24 Grand Slam singles tournaments. During the 1960’s, Australian tennis featured Margaret Court, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson. These three Australians delighted their fans by claiming 16 of the possible 20 singles championships during the decade.

Other four time winners of the Australian Open are Steffi Graf and Monica Seles. Three time winners are Jean Hartigan, Martina Hingis, Serena Williams and Marina Navratilova.

The Women’s Australian Open has some unusual records. In 1978, play was opened to professionals but an inspirational championship was celebrated by unseeded Chris O’Neill. The eldest woman to win the event was Thelma Long, who was nearly 39 years old when she claimed the trophy in 1954. The youngest player to win the tournament was Martina Hingis in 1967. At the time, Ms. Hingis was 16 years, 3 months old.

Below is a list of previous Australian Open Champions

1922 Mall Molesworth 1923 Mall Molesworth 1924 Sylvia Lance 1925 Daphne Akhurst 1926 Daphne Akhurst 1927 Esna Boyd 1928 Daphne Akhurst 1929 Daphne Akhurst 1930 Daphne Akhurst 1931 Coral Buttsworth 1932 Coral Buttsworth 1933 Joan Hartigan 1934 Joan Hartigan 1935 Dorothy Round 1936 Joan Hartigan 1937 Nancye Wynne 1938 Dorothy Bundy 1939 Emily Westacott 1940 Nancye Wynne 1946 Nancye Wynne Bolton 1947 Nancye Wynne Bolton 1948 Nancye Wynne Bolton 1949 Doris Hart 1950 Louise Brough 1951 Nancye Wynne Bolton 1952 Thelma Long 1953 Maureen Connolly 1954 Thelma Long 1955 Beryl Penrose 1956 Mary Carter 1957 Shirley Fry 1958 Angela Mortimer 1959 Mary Reitano 1960 Margaret Smith 1961 Margaret Smith 1962 Margaret Smith 1963 Margaret Smith 1964 Margaret Smith 1965 Margaret Smith 1966 Margaret Smith 1967 Nancy Richey 1968 Billie Jean King

1969 Margaret Court 1970 Margaret Court 1971 Margaret Court 1972 Virginia Wade 1973 Margaret Court 1974 Evonne Goolagang 1975 Evonne Goolagang 1976 Evonne Goolagong Cawley 1977 Kerry Reid (Jan.) 1977 Evonne Goolagong Cawley (Dec.) 1978 Chris O’Neil 1979 Barbara Jordan 1980 Hana Mandlikova 1981 Martina Navratilova 1982 Chris Evert Lloyd 1983 Martina Navratilova 1984 Chrois Evert Lloyd 1985 Martina Navratilova 1987 Hana Mandlikova 1988 Steffi Graf 1989 Steffi Graf 1990 Steffi Graf 1991 Monica Seles 1992 Monica Seles 1993 Monica Seles 1994 Steffi Graf 1995 Mary Pierce 1996 Monica Seles 1997 Martina Hingis 1998 Martina Hingis 1999 Martina Hingis 2000 Lindsay Davenport 2001 Jennifer Capriati 2002 Jennifer Capriati 2003 Serena Williams 2004 Justine Henin-Hardenne 2005 Serena Williams 2006 Amelie Mauresmo 2005 Serena Williams 2006 Amelia Mauresmo 2007 Serena Williams 2008 Maria Sharapova

Tennis Australia has laid a solid foundation for the world’s finest players to strut their stuff. As tumultuous as the 2008 women’s tennis season has been, the 2009 Australian Open shapes up to be a power packed, star studded shootout between the games brightest international stars.