Tennis: Overview of 2021 Australian Open  

The 109th Edition of Australian Open (53rd in Open Era) took place from February 8-21, 2021 at the Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia.

Chronologically, it is the First Grand Slam event (out of 4) of each Year in both the Men’s & Women’s Tour.  It takes place on a Hard surface (called as Hard Courts).

• The Tournament is organized by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

Novak Djokovic beats Daniil Medvedev to win his 9th Australian Open TitleNovak Djokovic (Serbia) defeated Daniil Medvedev (Russia) to win the 2021 Australian Open Men’s Title (The Men’s Singles Trophy of Australian Open is also known as Norman Brookes Challenge Cup).

• It is Djokovic’s 9th Australian Open Title & overall 18th Grand Slam Title.
• Djokovic’s first Australian Open Title came in 2008.
• Djokovic is now 2 Grand Slam Titles short of Joint-Slam record for 20 titles held by Roger Federer (Switzerland) & Rafael Nadal (Spain).

Naomi Osaka defeats Jennifer Brady to win her 2nd Australian Open TitleNaomi Osaka (Japan) defeated Jennifer Brady (USA) to win the 2021 Australian Open Women’s Title (The Women’s Singles Trophy of Australian Open is also known as Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup).

• It is Naomi’s 2nd Australian Open Title & overall 4th Grand Slam Title.
• Naomi’s 1st Australian Open Title came in 2019.
• Naomi is only the 3rd player after Monica Seles & Roger Federeer to win their first 4 Major Finals.
• With the victory, Naomi Osaka moved to 2nd Rank in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Rankings. The #1 Rank is held by Ashleigh Barty of Australia.

Ivan Dodig & Filip Polasek clinch 2021 Australian Open Men’s Doubles Title

Ivan Dodig (Croatia) & Filip Polasek (Slovakia) defeated Rajeev Ram (USA) & Joe Salisbury (Great Britain) to win the 2021 Australian Open Men’s Doubles Title.

• This is their First Grand Slam Title together.

Elise Mertens & Aryna Sabalenka won the 2021 Australian Open Women’s Doubles Title

Elise Mertens (Belgium) & Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) defeated the Czech Republic pair of Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova to win the 2021 Australian Open Women’s Doubles Title.

• This is their 1st Australian Open & 2nd Grand Slam Doubles Title (previous one being 2019 US Open).

Rajeev Ram & Barbora Krejcikova won the 2021 Australian Open Mixed Doubles Crown

Rajeev Ram (USA) & Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic) defeated the Australian Pair of Matthew Ebden & Samantha Stosur to clinch the 2021 Australian Open Mixed Doubles Title.

• This is Rajeev Ram & Krejcikova pair’s 2nd Australian Open Title (previous one being in 2019).

Russia’s Aslan Karatsev becomes the 1st Man to reach Grand Slam Semi-final on Debut

Russia’s Aslan Karatsev created history by becoming the 1st male qualifier to reach a Grand Slam Singles Semi Finals on Debut in the Open Era (since 2000).

• Aslan was also the lowest-ranked man at 114, to make the Semi Final at a Grand Slam event since Goran Ivanisevic at Wimbledon in 2001 when ranked 125.
• He was defeated in the Semi-Finals by Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.

Grand Slam events

Grand Slam tournaments (also called majors) are 4 most important annual tennis events. The 4 Grand Slam events are Australian Open, Wimbledon, French Open & US Open. They are hosted by the International Tennis Federation.

Australian Open

• It takes place at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia. Usually takes place in the Month of January. It was founded in 1905.
• It is the 1st Grand Slam event of the ATP & WTA Calendar
• Type of surface – Hard Court

Wimbledon    

• It takes place at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, United Kingdom. It is the Oldest Tennis Tournament, founded in 1877.
• It usually takes place around the months of June-July
• Type of Surface – Grass

French Open 

• It is also known as Roland Garros and takes place at the Roland Garros Stadium, Paris, France. Founded in 1891.
• It usually takes place in the months of May-June.
• Type of Surface – Clay

US Open

• It takes place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, USA. It was founded in 1881.
• Usually takes place in the months of August-September.
• Type of Surface – Hard Court
• Chronologically, it is the 4th & Final Grand Slam Tournament of the WTA & ATP Calendar.

Rankings:

ATP Men’s Rankings (as of February 22, 2021) – #1 Novak Djokovic (Serbia), #2 Rafael Nadal (Spain), #3 Daniil Medvedev (Russia)

WTA Women’s Rankings (as of February 22, 2021) – #1 Ashleigh Barty (Australia), #2 Naomi Osaka (Japan), #3 Simona Halep (Romania)

Winners of 2021 Australian Open