The Australian Open and Grand Slam Tennis: A Different View

The Australian Open: A Perspective

By Haruka


So what is it about the Australian Open? Yes, it is the first major tennis event of the year. Yes, it is a test of endurance, and while all events are testing, the sweltering heat of Australia (ignore the retractable roof, it is called humidity and that sky rockets once the roof is closed), the sticky surface of the court, and the lingering jet lag faced by late arrivals to Melbourne only adds to the physical challenges the players face. And no, I am not talking about the top players; they are in Australia for at least two weeks before the event. Even the lower ranked players have begun to head towards Australia at the end of December to play in some of the tournaments that precede the Australian Open Series. Many of these players do not participate in the exhibitions the top players play in during December and arrive rusty after finishing their seasons in October or November.


Because of the longevity of the tennis season, many players arrive with injuries that they got in the previous year. The Australian Open is the youngest Open and as the youngest open its exuberant personality coupled with the psychological anticipation and performance anxiety that can cripple players, anything goes and anyone can win. Marat Safin , with his injured knee won 2005 Australian Open in a high intensity match that not only was the talk of the town for the rest of the year but also sparked the hope of Marat fans for his resurgence.


A crucial factor of the Australian Open is when it takes place. The Australian Open starts towards the middle of January and finishes at the end of the month. Since the next grand slam, The French Open, is not until the end of May, Wimbledon follows that event in June and the US Open begins the end of August, this leaves the Australian Open champions five months of bragging rights. It also gives a boost to their confidence and the mental intimidation helps the player in the following tournaments. Even the final four get honorable mentions for the rest of the year.

For players like Marcos Baghdatis whose miraculous run to the final of the Australian Open catapulted him into the big kids swimming pool (though he has not quite learned how to swim in those deep waters, he is not leaving that pool any time soon) and others – think 19 year old Amelie Mauresmo, it is the gateway to the big time, the way to get your name mentioned and your career followed by tennis fans around the world. In Rafael Nadal's first break through year, he pushed Lleyton Hewitt to the max and gave him the momentum to win not only eleven single titles that included his first Grand Slam win; The French Open. It also effects the losers because they are then under pressure to produce results in the following tournaments they play in. As the Australian Open officially starts the New Year of tennis we will see what whose star continues to shine, start to shine or fade.


The Australian Open now has an Australian Open Series that is just like the U.S Open series. The Australian Open Series gives players an added incentive to get into shape and be ready to play Grand Slam tennis when the Open begins. Unlike the US Open series where many of the top players do not show up due to their various attempts to recover due to the back to back Slams, the Australian Open is successful in drawing big names because it gets players into shape after the off season. The Asian/Pacific Rim tournaments that kick start the tennis season can be nicknamed the "Rebound Ace" season. The clay court season, though the entire year has clay court events, reaches its height with Roland Garros . The United States summer hard court season has its US Open Series. Only Wimbledon at the present time has no "season" and seems to be sandwiched in after the French Open. Though there are talks about changing the Open schedule, there is no solution that anybody is willing to agree to.


Purists talk about the tradition and history of Wimbledon to justify its premier position in the world of tennis. The grass courts of Wimbledon encourage serve and volley play, a style of play which seems to be enshrined by American and British players and not by many other players in the rest of the world. It is interesting that in the Open era of the thirty nine Wimbledon Champions only three were from countries that had not at one point had British troops on their soil. The grass court style of play does not encourage tactical thinking. Hitting the ball hard and then rushing the net can hardly be considered tactical. Another reason for the decline of grass courts and grass court season is the expense it takes to maintain grass courts. While there is talk of creating a grass court season this can only be done if they change the Grand Slam schedule and find a sponsor that would not mind covering the year round cost for the upkeep of the grass courts.


Wimbledon was the first major title that tested a tennis player's skill. And as the oldest title a certain amount of honor goes to the winner. There is no tennis player alive who will complain about winning Wimbledon but a tennis players career is no longer judged solely on winning Wimbledon.





The Australian Open starts January 15, 2007 and ends January 28th 2007 .