2009 Men's Singles

Local fans had everything to cheer about at Australian Open 2009, Jelena Dokic putting past troubles behind her with a barnstorming run to the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park. A wildcard, she fought past three seeded players – No.17 Anna Chakvetadze, No.11 Caroline Wozniacki and No.29 Alisa Kleybanova – en route and, once there, she played one of the most enthralling matches of the women’s event, taking world No.1 Dinara Safina to three tight sets. Ultimately it was Serena Williams who took the women’s singles honours, however, defeating Safina in the final for her fourth Australian Open title. The men’s draw produced some classic contests, not least Fernando Gonzalez’ five-set third-round victory over Richard Gasquet and Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco’s record-breaking five-hour, 14-minute five set semifinal. When the dust settled, it was left to world No.1 Nadal and No.2 Roger Federer to do battle for the men’s singles title in a dream final, the Spaniard living up to his top seeding after another incredible five-setter. The trophy presentation produced more drama with Federer unable to complete his runners-up speech through tears of disappointment and Nadal, his conqueror, consoling the Swiss with a comforting arm around his shoulder. In the stands, the tournament attracted more than 500,000 patrons for the tenth-consecutive year, recording the highest day/night attendance in Grand Slam history on three separate days in the first week. The new record, 66,018 patrons, was set on Saturday 24 January.

1st Round