| | 2012 Australian Open Tennis Championships - Men Preview | | From The Sports Network | | | | Dates: Monday, January 16th through Sunday, January 29th | | Site: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia | | Courts and Capacities: Rod Laver Arena: 15,000; Hisense Arena: 10,000; Margaret Court Arena: 6,000 | | Other Court Capacities:Court 2 (3,000); Court 3 (3,000) | | Surface: "True Blue" Plexicushion | | Official Ball:Wilson | | Television: ESPN and ESPN 2, Seven Network and Fox Sports (Australia) | | Annual: 100th | | Defending Champion: Novak Djokovic def. Andy Murray, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 | | Doubles Champions: Bob and Mike Bryan d. Bhupathi and Paes, 6-3, 6-4 | | Total Purse: $26,810,757 ($26,000,000 in Australian Dollars) | | Shares: First Place - $2,372,025; 2nd - $1,186,010; Semifinalist - $450,685 |
| | | 2012 Australian Open Tennis Championships - Men's Seeds | | From The Sports Network | | | | Seeded Players | | 1. Novak Djokovic - A,W,U | 17. Richard Gaquet | | 2. Rafael Nadal - F | 18. Feliciano Lopez | | 3. Roger Federer | 19. Viktor Troicki | | 4. Andy Murray | 20. Florian Mayer | | 5. David Ferrer | 21. Stanislas Wawrinka | | 6. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga | 22. Fernando Verdasco | | 7. Tomas Berdych | 23. Milos Raonic | | 8. Mardy Fish | 24. Kei Nishikori | | 9. Janko Tipsarevic | 25. Juan Monaco | | 10. Nicolas Almagro | 26. Marcel Granollers | | 11. Juan Martin Del Potro | 27. Juan Ignacio Chela | | 12. Gilles Simon | 28. Ivan Ljubicic | | 13. Alexandr Dolgopolov | 29. Radek Stepanek | | 14. Gael Monfils | 30. Kevin Anderson | | 15. Andy Roddick | 31. Jurgen Melzer | | 16. John Isner | 32. Alex Bogomolov Jr | | | | A - Australian Open champion | | F - French Open champion | | W - Wimbledon champion | | U - U.S. Open champion | | |
| 2012 Australian Open Players to Watch - Men | | From The Sports Network | | | | Finish Last Nine Years | | Player (Open Record) | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | | Novak Djokovic (25-5) | --- | --- | 1st | 1st | 4th | Won | QF | QF | Won | | Andy Murray (18-6) | --- | --- | --- | 1st | 4th | 1st | 4th | Rup | Rup | | Roger Federer (59-8) | 4th | Won | SF | Won | Won | SF | Rup | Won | SF | | David Ferrer (19-9) | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 4th | 4th | QF | 3rd | 2nd | SF | | Rafael Nadal (29-6) | --- | 3rd | 4th | --- | QF | SF | Won | QF | QF | | Stanislas Wawrinka (12-6) | --- | --- | --- | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | 3rd | 3rd | QF | | Tomas Berdych (16-8) | --- | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 4th | 4th | 4th | 2nd | QF | | Alexandr Dolgopolov (4-1) | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | QF | | Andy Roddick (37-10) | SF | QF | SF | 4th | SF | 3rd | SF | QF | 4th | | Fernando Verdasco (15-8) | --- | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | SF | 4th | 4th | | Nicolas Almagro (8-7) | --- | --- | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 4th | 4th | | Tommy Robredo (17-11) | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 4th | QF | 2nd | 4th | 1st | 4th | | Jurgen Melzer (11-9) | 1st | 3rd | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 4th | | Milos Raonic (3-1) | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 4th | | Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (17-5) | --- | --- | --- | --- | 1st | Rup | QF | SF | 3rd | | John Isner (5-4) | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 1st | 1st | 4th | 3rd | | Marcos Baghdatis (19-7) | --- | --- | 4th | Rup | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 3rd | 3rd | | Gael Monfils (10-6) | --- | --- | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | --- | 4th | 3rd | 3rd | | Ivan Ljubicic (13-12) | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | QF | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 3rd | | Mikhail Youzhny (18-11) | 4th | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | QF | 1st | 3rd | 3rd | | Viktor Troicki (4-4) | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 3rd | | Richard Gasquet (10-8) | 1st | 1st | --- | 1st | 4th | 4th | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | | Kei Nishikori (2-2) | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 1st | --- | 3rd | | Juan M. Del Potro (10-5) | --- | --- | --- | --- | 2nd | 2nd | QF | 4th | 2nd | | P. Kohlschreiber (12-7) | --- | --- | 4th | 2nd | 2nd | 4th | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | | Florian Mayer (8-8) | --- | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | | Juan Monaco (6-7) | --- | --- | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | 2nd | | Feliciano Lopez (11-9) | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 2nd | | Albert Montanes (4-10) | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 2nd | | Janko Tipsarevic (7-7) | --- | --- | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | | Michael Llodra (3-10) | 1st | --- | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | | Thomaz Bellucci (2-3) | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | | Mardy Fish (13-9) | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | --- | QF | 3rd | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | | Radek Stepanek (11-9) | 3rd | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | | Gilles Simon (9-5) | --- | --- | --- | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | QF | --- | 2nd | | David Nalbandian (25-9) | QF | QF | QF | SF | 4th | 3rd | 2nd | --- | 2nd | | Nikolay Davydenko (21-10) | 1st | 2nd | QF | QF | QF | 4th | --- | QF | 1st | | Ivo Karlovic (7-8) | --- | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 2nd | 4th | 1st | | Lleyton Hewitt (27-15) | 4th | 4th | Rup | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 1st | 4th | 1st | | Marcel Granollers (2-4) | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | | Jarkko Nieminen (13-10) | 3rd | 2nd | 3rd | 3rd | 2nd | QF | 1st | 2nd | 1st | | Ernests Gulbis (1-4) | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st | | Jeremy Chardy (1-3) | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 2nd | 1st | 1st | | Sam Querrey (4-5) | --- | --- | --- | --- | 3rd | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st | | Kevin Anderson (0-4) | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | | Potito Starace (0-6) | --- | --- | 1st | 1st | 1st | --- | 1st | 1st | 1st | | Juan I. Chela (12-10) | 2nd | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 3rd | 1st | --- | 1st | 1st | | Julien Benneteau (3-7) | 1st | --- | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | --- | | Juan C. Ferrero (20-10) | QF | SF | 3rd | 3rd | 2nd | 4th | 1st | 1st | --- | | Alex Bogomolov Jr. (1-3) | 1st | 1st | --- | 2nd | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | 1st | - First-Round Loser | | QF | - Quarterfinalist | | 2nd | - Second Round | | SF | - Semifinalist | | 3rd | - Third Round | | Rup | - Runner-Up | | 4th | - Fourth Round | | --- | - Did Not Play | |
| Australian Open Championships - Past Men's Singles Champions | | From The Sports Network | | | | Year | Results | | 2011 | Novak Djokovic def. Andy Murray, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 | | 2010 | Roger Federer def. Andy Murray, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11) | | 2009 | Rafael Nadal def. Roger Federer, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-2 | | 2008 | Novak Djokovic def. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) | | 2007 | Roger Federer def. Fernando Gonzalez, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, 6-4 | | 2006 | Roger Federer def. Marcos Baghdatis, 5-7, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2 | | 2005 | Marat Safin def. Lleyton Hewitt, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 | | 2004 | Roger Federer def. Marat Safin, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, 6-2 | | 2003 | Andre Agassi def. Rainer Schuettler, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 | | 2002 | Thomas Johansson def. Marat Safin, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) | | 2001 | Andre Agassi def. Arnaud Clement, 6-4 6-2 6-2 | | 2000 | Andre Agassi def. Yevgeny Kafelnikov, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 | | 1999 | Yevgeny Kafelnikov def. Thomas Enqvist, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) | | 1998 | Petr Korda def. Marcelo Rios, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 | | 1997 | Pete Sampras def. Carlos Moya, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 | | 1996 | Boris Becker def. Michael Chang, 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 | | 1995 | Andre Agassi def. Pete Sampras, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-4 | | 1994 | Pete Sampras def. Todd Martin, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 | | 1993 | Jim Courier def. Stefan Edberg, 6-2, 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 | | 1992 | Jim Courier def. Stefan Edberg, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 | | 1991 | Boris Becker def. Ivan Lendl, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 | | 1990 | Ivan Lendl def. Stefan Edberg, 4-6, 7-6, 5-2 (ret) | | 1989 | Ivan Lendl def. Miloslav Mecir, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 | | 1988 | Mats Wilander def. Pat Cash, 6-3, 6-7, 3-6, 6-1, 8-6 | | 1987 | Stefan Edberg def. Pat Cash, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3 | | 1986 | Not Held | | 1985 | Stefan Edberg def. Mats Wilander, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 | | 1984 | Mats Wilander def. Kevin Curren, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 | | 1983 | Mats Wilander def. Ivan Lendl, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 | | 1982 | Johan Kriek def. Steve Denton, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 | | 1981 | Johan Kriek def. Steve Denton, 6-2, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 | | 1980 | Brian Teacher def. Kim Warwick, 7-5, 7-6, 6-3 | | 1979 | Guillermo Vilas def. John Sadri, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 | | 1978 | Guillermo Vilas def. John Marks, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 | | 1977 | Vitas Gerulaitis def. John Lloyd, 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 3-6, 6-2 | | 1977 | Roscoe Tanner def. Guillermo Vilas, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 | | 1976 | Mark Edmondson def. John Newcombe, 6-7, 6-3, 7-6, 6-1 | | 1975 | John Newcombe def. Jimmy Connors, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 | | 1974 | Jimmy Connors def. Phil Dent, 7-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 | | 1973 | John Newcombe def. Onny Parun, 6-3, 6-7, 7-5, 6-1 | | 1972 | Ken Rosewall def. Mal Anderson, 7-6, 6-3, 7-5 | | 1971 | Ken Rosewall def. Arthur Ashe, 6-1, 7-5, 6-3 | | 1970 | Arthur Ashe def. Dick Crealy, 6-4, 9-7, 6-2 | | 1969 | Rod Laver def. Andres Gimeno, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 | | 1968 | Bill Bowrey def. Juan Gisbert, 7-5, 2-6, 9-7, 6-4 | | 1967 | Roy Emerson def. Arthur Ashe, 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 | | 1966 | Roy Emerson def. Arthur Ashe, 6-4, 6-8, 6-2, 6-3 | | 1965 | Roy Emerson def. Fred Stolle, 7-9, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-1 | | 1964 | Roy Emerson def. Fred Stolle, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 | | 1963 | Roy Emerson def. Ken Fletcher, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 | | 1962 | Rod Laver def. Roy Emerson, 8-6, 0-6, 6-4, 6-4 | | 1961 | Roy Emerson def. Rod Laver, 1-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 | | 1960 | Rod Laver def. Neale Fraser, 5-7, 3-6, 6-3, 8-6, 8-6 | | 1959 | Alex Olmedo def. Neale Fraser, 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 | | 1958 | Ashley Cooper def. Mal Anderson, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 | | 1957 | Ashley Cooper def. Neale Fraser, 6-3, 9-11, 6-4, 6-2 | | 1956 | Lew Hoad def. Ken Rosewall, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 | | 1955 | Ken Rosewall def. Lew Hoad, 9-7, 6-4, 6-4 | | 1954 | Mervyn Rose def. Rex Hartwig, 6-2, 0-6, 6-4, 6-2 | | 1953 | Ken Rosewall def. Mervyn Rose, 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 | | 1952 | Ken McGregor def. Frank Sedgman, 7-5, 12-10, 2-6, 6-2 | | 1951 | Richard Savitt def. Ken McGregor, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 | | 1950 | Frank Sedgman def. Ken McGregor, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 | | 1949 | Frank Sedgman def. Ken McGregor, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 | | 1948 | Adrian Quist def. John Bromwich, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 | | 1947 | Dinny Pails def. John Bromwich, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 8-6 | | 1946 | John Bromwich def. Dinny Pails, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 | | 1945 | Not Held | | 1944 | Not Held | | 1943 | Not Held | | 1942 | Not Held | | 1941 | Not Held | | 1940 | Adrian Quist def. Jack Crawford, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 | | 1939 | John Bromwich def. Adrian Quist, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 | | 1938 | Don Budge def. John Bromwich, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 | | 1937 | Vivian McGrath def. John Bromwich, 6-3, 1-6, 6-0, 2-6, 6-1 | | 1936 | Adrian Quist def. Jack Crawford, 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 9-7 | | 1935 | Jack Crawford def. Fred Perry, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 | | 1934 | Fred Perry def. Jack Crawford, 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 | | 1933 | Jack Crawford def. Keith Gledhill, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 | | 1932 | Jack Crawford def. Harry Hopman, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 | | 1931 | Jack Crawford def. Harry Hopman, 6-4, 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 | | 1930 | Gar Moon def. Harry Hopman, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 | | 1929 | John Gregory def. R.E. Schlesinger, 6-2, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 | | 1928 | Jean Borotra def. R.O. Cummings, 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 5-7, 6-3 | | 1927 | Gerald Patterson def. John Hawkes, 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 18-16, 6-3 | | 1926 | John Hawkes def. Jim Willard, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 | | 1925 | James Anderson def. Gerald Patterson, 11-9, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 | | 1924 | James Anderson def. R.E. Schlesinger, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3 | | 1923 | Pat O'Hara Wood def. C.B. St. John, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 | | 1922 | Pat O'Hara Wood def. Gerald Patterson, 6-0, 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 | | 1921 | Rhys Gemmell def. A. Hedeman, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 | | 1920 | Pat O'Hara Wood def. Ron Thomas, 6-3, 4-6, 6-8, 6-1, 6-3 | | 1919 | A.R.F. Kingscote def. E.O. Pockley, 6-4, 6-0, 6-3 | | 1918 | Not Held | | 1917 | Not Held | | 1916 | Not Held | | 1915 | Francis Lowe def. Horace Rice, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-4 | | 1914 | Pat O'Hara Wood def. Gerald Patterson, 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 | | 1913 | Ernie Parker def. H.A. Parker, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 | | 1912 | J. Cecil Parke def. A.E. Beamish, 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-1, 7-5 | | 1911 | Norman Brookes def. Horace Rice, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 | | 1910 | Rodney Heath def. Horace Rice, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 | | 1909 | Tony Wilding def. E.F. Parker, 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 | | 1908 | Fred Alexander def. A.W. Dunlop, 3-6, 3-6, 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 | | 1907 | Horace Rice def. H.A. Parker, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 | | 1906 | Tony Wilding def. H.A. Parker, 6-0, 6-4, 6-4 | | 1905 | Rodney Heath def. A.H. Curtis, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 |
| | | NOTES: | Novak Djokovic started an amazing run at the Australian Open in 2011, as he swept through seven matches, dropping one set en route to his second title Down Under in four years.
Djokovic, who won 43 consecutive matches before losing to Roger Federer in the French Open semifinals last year, cruised to a straight-set win over Andy Murray, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3, in the championship match.
The Australian Open title was one of 10 championships in which Djokovic laid claim to, which included three Grand Slam titles.
The third-seeded Djokovic and fifth seed Murray were locked in a tight first set before Djokovic held for a 5-4 lead and then broke his Scottish counterpart to take the stanza. Murray decided to challenge the final point of the set when he thought his forehand clipped the baseline, but Djokovic took the set in 59 minutes.
A rattled Murray would watch Djokovic win seven straight games en route to a commanding 5-0 lead in the second set, which went to the Serb in a mere eight games in 40 minutes.
In the third set, Djokovic tallied a trio of service breaks, including one that gave him a 5-3 lead and a chance to serve for the championship. The Serb held his serve to win the title, as Murray set up the championship point with a running forehand off the net cord, and lost it with one final forehand into the net.
After suffering a five-set defeat to Rafael Nadal in the 2009 championship match, Roger Federer rebounded to capture the 2010 event in straight sets over Andy Murray for his fourth career Australian Open title. With the win, Federer equaled the men's Open Era record for Aussie Open crowns (Andre Agassi).
The former world No. 1 Federer handled Murray in 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11) fashion on Day 14 at Melbourne Park for his 16th and last Grand Slam singles title. The Swiss icon also titled here in 2004, 2006 and 2007 and is 16-7 in his career major finals.
Although he was stretched to four sets in his opening-round win against Igor Andreev (6-0 in the fourth), Federer was barely tested the next three rounds, as he defeated Victor Hanescu, Albert Montanes and Lleyton Hewitt in straight sets. After dropping the opening set against sixth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko in the quarterfinals, Federer won the next three to close out the match. Federer then whipped 10th-ranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straights before wiping out Murray in the final.
In 2009, it took an epic five-set match for Nadal to knock off Federer and capture his first Australian Open title. With the win, Nadal became the first Spaniard to win this coveted Grand Slam event.
The gutsy Nadal needed 4 hours, 23 minutes to hold off his great rival Federer, as the Mallorcan strongman crossed the finish line with a 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-2 decision at Rod Laver Arena. This marked Nadal's first-ever major title on a hardcourt and the first Aussie Open final to go five sets since Mats Wilander defeated Pat Cash in 1988, the first year at Melbourne Park.
After failing to reach the quarterfinals in his first four appearances in Melbourne, Federer has dominated this event the past eight years, winning four times and posting a 49-4 match record. Federer, who had controlled the tennis scene in recent years, has won just one of the last eight Grand Slam events.
The 2008 Australian Open featured a new surface, as WM Loud, an Australian-owned company, is the supplier of the surface for the next five years. The cushioned acrylic surface, which is not a hard court, is what differentiates the Aussie Open from the other Grand Slam tournaments. The surface retains less heat during days of extreme temperature.
The venue name change from Flinders Park to Melbourne Park occurred in January of 1996. In 2000, Melbourne Park's main stadium was re-christened Rod Laver Arena in tribute to one of Australia's greatest champions. The Australian Open shifted from grass courts to Rebound Ace in 1988 when the tournament moved from Kooyong to its permanent home at Flinders Park (now Melbourne Park). The tournament was called the Australia Championships from 1927-68. The tournament has been held at six different sites: Melbourne (55), Sydney (17), Adelaide (14), Brisbane (7), Perth (3) and New Zealand (2). The draw will include 128 players (104 Direct, 16 Qualifiers and up to eight wildcards). Mark Edmondson is the only player in the history of the men's draw to win this tournament as a non-seed (1976).
Australians have won this event 50 times, followed by the United States (17), Sweden (6), Great Britain (5), Czech Republic and Switzerland (4), New Zealand, Argentina, Germany, South Africa, Russia and Serbia (2) and France andSpain (1). Lleyton Hewitt became the youngest man ever to qualify for the Australian Open in 1997 at the age of 15.
Robin Soderling and Marin Cilic have withdrawn from the Championship. Soderling is recovering from an illness and Cilic is still suffering from a knee injury.
The winner of this championship receives the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, which is presented by the State Lawn Tennis Associations and the friends of Mr Norman E. Brookes.
|
| |
